How long is the dental assisting program?

A Dental Assisting program may take up to two years to complete, depending on whether it’s a certificate, diploma, or degree. However, Carrington College’s Dental Assisting certificate program can be completed in as little as nine months.

What do you need to be a dental assistant?

It may be helpful to enroll in a Dental Assisting program for relevant experience and training. Most programs are offered by community colleges, although they also may be offered by vocational or technical schools. Students typically must have a high school diploma or equivalent to enroll.

What is a dental assistant?

A dental assistant helps dentists and dental hygienists by perform a variety of tasks, including: Caring for patients Handling dental records Scheduling appointments Cleaning dental equipment

Is it worth being a dental assistant?

Dental assisting can be an exciting career path if you have an interest in oral health care. Ultimately, the decision lies with you on whether a dental assistant certificate is worth it or not.

How much is dental assistant school?

At Carrington College, our tuition differs by the campus location. Learn more about the cost of the program by reading the Carrington College Academic Catalog.

Is a dental assistant a good career?

Dental assisting can be a great choice for those interested in doing a variety of tasks and helping patients with oral care. It’s also a path that offers the potential for career advancement in a stable environment. If all of this sounds good to you, then a Dental Assisting program at Carrington College might be the route to your success.

Dental Programs

Dental Assisting

Get the hands-on training for a career in dental care. Carrington College’s Dental Assisting program prepares you to work alongside dentists, assisting with patient care, office responsibilities, and laboratory procedures—helping create healthier smiles in your community.

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Program Details

What Will I learn

Carrington College’s Dental Assisting program prepares you for a hands-on role in patient care, office administration, and laboratory procedures within a dental practice. Upon completion of the Dental Assisting program, graduates will be able to:

Complete all dental assisting duties competently for a broad scope of dental specialties in a professional setting.
Utilize infection control and safe practice techniques in a variety of clinical settings.
Establish optimum Radiation Health and Safety practices to ensure high quality diagnostic images.

Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. Within the State of California, graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) exam offered by the Dental Board of California (DBC) and apply to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.

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Cost & Financial Aid

Your education is an investment in your future, and Carrington College is here to help. We offer a variety of financial aid options, including federal, state, and private programs, Sas well as student loans, grants, and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Each program has different requirements and application instructions. Our team is here to guide you through the options and application process.

Academic Cost

For complete information on current tuition costs, please see the Academic Catalog.

The best way for us to understand your financial needs is to meet in person. Call (602) 492-1086 to set an appointment with our Student Finance Department so we can help you develop your personalized financial plan to achieve your educational goals.

Location Availability

Carrington College is proud to offer our Dental Assisting program at multiple locations around the Western U.S. To learn more about our locations, explore their pages.

Accreditation & Approvals

Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814; 415 506 0234 an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at accjc.org.

For comprehensive information on Carrington College’s accreditation and approvals, visit carrington.edu/accreditation-and-approvals/.

The Dental Board of California, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550, Sacramento, CA 95815, 877-729-7789, www.dbc.ca.gov, approves the Carrington College Dental Assisting programs at the Bakersfield, Fresno, Pleasant Hill, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro, Stockton, Temecula, Victor Valley (Hesperia), and Visalia campuses.

Carrington College’s Health Studies Associate of Science Degree program provides an opportunity for individuals to build on prior education to earn the educational credential that is often needed for advancement in the health and wellness fields.

The Health Studies AS Degree program is an online degree-completion option that offers students a broad base of general education course offerings that can be completed in as few as 7 months. Visit Our Health Studies Page

Course Catalog

Program Specific Disclosures

Continuing Education For Graduates

Student Outcomes

Real-World Skills

Prepare for a career as the face of a dental practice.

Uplevel If You’d Like

Degree completion option available.

Flexible Learning Options

Blended program options available with online lecture and on ground lab.

Affordable Tuition

Affordable tuition varies by location, learn more now.

Discover What it’s Like to Train to Become a Dental Assistant at Carrington

I really loved it because of the teacher—she made it so fun,” she says. “And it was something different for me; I hadn’t realized how important dental assistants are and how much they do.

Carrie R.

2018 Dental Assisting Graduate

Career Opportunities

You’re passionate about helping people with their smiles. That will help you succeed as a dental assistant. It is projected that opportunities for dental assistants will continue to grow. And there are some reasons for this growth, including:

Continued research showing a link between oral health and general health will increase the demand for preventive dental services.
Dentists need dental assistants to help with routine tasks, giving the dentist more time to see patients in their practice and focus on more complex procedures.

Check out our guide on becoming a Dental Assistant.

Are you interested in dentistry and passionate about helping people? Then a dental assistant career could be for you. Dental assistants work in dental offices under the supervision of dentists. They have excellent interpersonal, organizational, and listening skills. They spend much of their time working closely with dentists to support the dental patient experience. They generally require dental education that leads to a certificate or diploma program and includes hands-on dental training. This hands-on training can prepare you for typical dental office duties such as the following:

Hand instruments to dentists during procedures
Dry patients’ mouths using suction hoses and other equipment
Instruct patients in proper oral hygiene
Process x rays and complete lab tasks, under the direction of a dentist
Keep records of dental treatments
Schedule patient appointments
Work with patients on billing and payment

Those who possess skills in listening, dexterity, organization, interpersonal aptitude, and a detail-oriented approach to rules and protocols are a good fit for a dental assistant role.