Top Online Dental Assisting Schools

Increasingly dental assisting students are choosing to obtain their degree online because it offers them increased flexibility and affordability. Below we have listed the top online dental assisting schools and provided you with links that you can use to request free enrollment and financial aid information from the schools that interest you:

1.
Penn Foster Career School – This Dental Assistant Degree is designed with busy adults in mind. As part of the affordable tuition, students are given everything from textbooks to a 24-hour support line so that they can work on becoming a dental assistant from home and at their own pace.
2.
US Career Institute – This Dental Assistant Certificate is an affordable and fully accredited online dental assistant program which can be completed in as little as 4 months. Students are able work on their own schedule from home while still getting the experience of working in a clinical dental office setting through the Virtual Lab online interface.
3.
Stratford Career Institute – This Dental Assistant Course is fully online program gives you the skills needed to work alongside dentists, technicians, and hygienists and can be completed in just a few months on your own schedule.

Search our Complete Dental Assisting School Database

If none of the online dental assisting school options listed above met your needs, you can search our complete database of dental assisting schools below and find both campus and online programs offered near you.

What Types of Online Dental Assistance Degrees and Programs Are Available?

  • ASDA – Associate Degree of Science in Dental Assistance: This degree program typically takes two years to complete. It trains students to work closely with dentists and the necessary skills to assist in dental procedures.
  • CDA – Certificate in Dental Assisting: A certificate or diploma in dental assistance may take up to one year to complete. Dental assisting students receive instruction and training in dental assistance.

What education is required to become a dental assistant?

Students that wish to pursue a career path in dental assistance should at the least earn a certificate or diploma in dental assistance or under-go on the job training with a licensed dentist and learn how to assist through hands-on experience.

Another option is to earn a two-year associate degree in dental assistance. Many two-year programs also include clinics or office training with a professional dentist.

Certification from the Dental Assisting National Board is required in some states. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, dental assistants may take the board exam to obtain certification by earning a dental assistance education from an American Dental Association accredited school or as little as two years of experience as a dental assistant in an office.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Dental Assisting School?

  1. The first thing to consider when you look for a dental assistance program is accreditation. The school of your choice should be accredited through the Commission on Dental Accreditation to be considered reputable.
  2. Next, you’ll want to compare costs between the programs. Do they offer financial aid or scholarships? If you need a student loan, how much will you have to borrow to complete the program? Start by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FASFA.
  3. Will you attend your dental assisting program in a traditional classroom setting or through online classes? Students that wish to keep a full or part time job may find that online degree programs are more flexible. If you’re not an independent worker, you may want to attend traditional classes at a brick and mortar college.
  4. Does the school of your choice help in job placement after earning your certificate or degree? Does the school have a career services office to help with your job or internship search?
  5. Will the school prepare you enough to pass a licensing test as required by some states? Does the school offer radiology courses as required by some states in order to become a dental assistant?

What schools offer online dental assistance degrees?

  • Penn Foster
    • Dental Assistance Certificate

      • Penn Foster’s Career School offers students a complete online, or distance, education in dental assistance. Through the program, students can start classes immediately and complete the program at their own pace.

  • U.S. Career Institute
    • Dental Assistance Certificate

      • This online program includes a virtual lab that simulates a dental office experience. It’s also accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. The entire program costs a maximum of about $1,700.

  • Stratford Career Institute
    • Dental Assistant Career Diploma

      • This distance-based dental assisting program introduces students to the basics of dental assistance. The program covers dental anatomy, oral exam and dental charting, dental instruments, preparing the treatment room, dental radiography and labeling and filing dental x-rays.

What Salary and Career Opportunities are available to students with a dental assisting degree or certificate?

Typically dental assistants earn a salary of $25,000 to $40,000 depending on location. As of May 2006, dental assistants were earning a median of $11.94 and $17.44 an hour according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Employment rates for dental assistants are projected to be very good through 2016, states the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Growth is expected to rise approximately 29 percent during this time. Dental assisting is one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.

Online Resources For Dental Assistance Students

American Dental Association – An association comprised of dentists and dental workers armed with the latest information in the dental field and patient care.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Assistants – The need to know information on dental assisting based on the U.S. Labor of Statistics’ findings.

Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. – A nationally-recognized certification and credentialing agency for dental assistants that provides certification examinations required in some states. Certification from the board is also recognized in states that do not require it and may give dental assistants a resume boost.

Complete List of the Online Dental Assisting School Feature Articles