Accredited Online Dental Assistant Schools
Search For Schools
When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
Dental assisting offers exciting career opportunities for people who want to work in the professional fields of dental hygiene or dentistry. Dental assistants are paraprofessionals who work directly with patients, dental hygienists, and dentists by performing various highly essential dental clinic duties in a team setting. With a projected faster-than-average expected growth of 7 percent nationally (2022-2032), dental assisting can be a rewarding and in-demand career option for people who enjoy working in teams and those wishing to explore future careers in dental hygiene or dentistry.
Studies show that diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders are causing decreased healthy immune functions. This can result in an increased rate of periodontal disease and other oral infections. These findings and a large aging population are the two driving factors behind this profession’s projected steady job growth.
Dental assistants perform various clinical and administrative jobs while interacting with patients, dental hygienists, dentists, and administrative professionals. In addition to scheduling appointments and gathering patients’ information and medical history, dental assistants also support dentists. At the same time, they tend to their patients’ dental and oral hygiene needs.
Dental assistants also prepare and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment and communicate post-surgery care instructions to patients. Other duties include handing tools to a dentist during a procedure, setting up and breaking down operating spaces, and contributing to various office management and administrative tasks.
There are various professional pathways to becoming a dental assistant, and educational requirements vary from state to state. Some states require new professionals to graduate from an accredited educational program and pass a national exam before working in a dental clinic. Some states replace formal education requirements with on-the-job training experience, allowing dental assistants to learn skills in a clinic.
Once dental assistant students complete their training, there are options to pursue professional certification. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is affiliated with the American Dental Association and has accredited over 220 dental assisting programs in the United States. After graduating from an accredited program or completing designated on-the-job training approved by a dentist, dental assistants can choose to take the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) examination to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
Read on to learn more about dental assistant school requirements, accrediting organizations, and online dental assisting programs.
Admissions Requirements & Accreditation of Dental Assisting Programs
While requirements vary from state to state, many dental assisting program schools require the following documentation as part of their application process:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts
- Personal essay
- Prerequisite coursework
- Background check
- CPR certification
- Drug screening
- Physical examination
- Attendance at information, advising, and orientation sessions
Accreditation is an essential factor to consider when selecting a dental assisting program. Financial aid is granted only to students attending accredited educational institutions. For dental assisting, programs accredited by the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) are known to be held to high standards of educational quality and are valued by students and employers. CODA evaluates various dental programs and schools, including predoctoral, advanced, and allied dental education programs.
Online Dental Assisting Programs
Featured below are eight online and accredited dental assisting programs.
Please note that while CODA does not accredit Monroe Community College, Sinclair Community College, Pen Foster, Hudson Valley Community College, and the University of Houston–Downtown, they are fully online dental assisting programs that prepare graduates to sit for the national DANB exam and state-specific dental assisting certification exams.
The 24-credit online dental assisting rapid track (DART) certificate program at Monroe Community College is available for currently employed dental assistants who work with a sponsoring dentist. Combining clinical training with online courses, the program helps students develop advanced skills in laboratory procedures, chairside dental assisting procedures, radiographic techniques, manipulation of dental materials, infection control procedures, and specialty assisting procedures.
Courses include pre-clinical dental assisting; dental radiography; barrier precautions and infection control measures; biomedical foundations for dental assisting practice; dental assisting clinical experience; and dental materials.
As part of their requirements, students in this program complete 500 hours of clinical experience with a sponsoring dentist. They will also study relevant biomedical science, pathology, oral embryology and histology, ethical and legal aspects of dentistry, and therapeutics. Additionally, they will take coursework in written and oral communications and behavioral concepts.
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four semesters
Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College offers two hybrid dental assisting programs. Students in these programs benefit from on-campus laboratory and clinical experience under the supervision of a dentist. The programs prepare students to become valuable members of a dental health team and serve in various roles: chairside assistant, oral surgery assistant, office manager, laboratory assistant, and orthodontic assistant.
The dental assisting program offers two professional tracks for those seeking a certificate or an associate’s degree of applied science (AAS) in dental assisting. New cohorts begin once a year, and the hybrid program application deadline is in October.
The AAS degree program is made up of 61 credits, while the certificate comprises 39 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as chairside assisting; infection prevention; operative dentistry; dental science and health; dental materials; dental radiology; and dental office procedures.
- Location: Springfield, MO
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- Expected Time to Completion: Certificate (two semesters); AAS (four semesters)
Penn Foster offers an online career diploma in a dental assistant program preparing students to take the first steps on their dental assistant career path. Graduates of this program are prepared to sit for the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam and the Infection Control Exam (ICE) from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
This 10-course program includes classes in introduction to dental assistant; dental terminology, anatomy, and charting; preventive dentistry and ethics; infection control and dental emergencies; dental medications and materials; dental specialties; dental front office; and OSHA and radiology.
- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
- Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Fast track (three months); average time (seven months)
University of Houston–Downtown
The University of Houston’s Downtown campus features a 100-hour fully online dental assisting program with a 40-hour clinical externship. This program prepares students for entry-level dental assisting positions in clinical and administrative settings and is an ideal starting place for those interested in future dental hygienist programs.
Coursework in this program includes dental administration, coding of radiology services, dental radiology, dental cement and impression materials, patient information and assessment, the foundation of clinical dentistry, dental anatomy and physiology, and oral health and prevention of dental disease. A CPR certification course is also included in the curriculum.
After completion of this program, graduates are prepared to sit for the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) dental assisting exam offered throughout the state of Texas and DANB exams, including specialized tests for Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) and Infection Control (ICE).
- Location: Houston, TX
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Contact the program representative for sample schedules
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College offers a hybrid dental assisting diploma program preparing students for infection control management, management of dental and medical emergencies, chairside assisting procedures in specialty and general dentistry, patient education, intra- and extra-oral radiographic procedures, basic business office procedures, and fabrication of oral appliances. Students will learn theory online or in the classroom and will practice hands-on skills in the college’s state-of-the-art lab at the Sioux City campus.
The curriculum of this 35-credit diploma will include courses in dental anatomy, therapeutics, materials, fundamentals of dental assisting, radiography, specialties, office procedures, and an introduction to psychology. Graduates of this program will be prepared for licensure in Iowa and national certification through the DANB.
- Location: Sioux City, IA
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two semesters
Quinsigamond Community College
Quinsigamond Community College’s dental assisting certificate prepares graduates for performing a wide range of patient care duties in the dental office. The curriculum of this certificate provides students with the laboratory and pre-clinical experiences and theoretical content necessary for developing the ability and competence to make judgments regarding chair-side, laboratory, and intra-oral procedures. Fifty percent or more of the curriculum can be completed online.
The program consists of 39 credits and includes courses such as anatomy and physiology, dental anatomy, dental sciences, dental radiology, dental materials, practice management, and an introduction to oral pathology. All credits earned from this certificate can be applied to associate’s degrees in disciplines such as allied dental services or dental hygiene.
- Location: Worcester, MA
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- Expected Time to Completion: Four semesters
Sinclair Community College offers a short-term technical certificate in dental assisting delivered in a hybrid format. Hybrid courses involve online classes and one or two days per week of on-campus Lab experiences depending on the semester. Students in this program will be introduced to the fundamentals of working in dental offices as chair-side dental assistants. They will also be introduced to the techniques and concepts of basic equipment, oral evacuation, four-handed dentistry, and instrument identification.
The program’s 17-credit curriculum includes courses such as dental assisting techniques & materials; dental assisting office management; dental assisting radiography; introduction to dental assisting terminology; interpersonal communication; and basic life support training for healthcare providers.
Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologies RDA examination.
- Location: Dayton, OH
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 months or less
Hudson Valley Community College
The Dental Hygiene Department at Hudson Valley Community College offers an online dental assisting certificate preparing aspiring new students to perform tasks in dental offices, such as performing office duties, preparing materials for dental procedures, and sterilizing instruments. Notably, the college also offers an Alternative Dental Assisting Program (ADAP) for professionals with more than 3,500 hours of work experience and CPR certification.
The online certificate comprises 27 credits and includes courses such as dental anatomy and embryology, dental assisting radiology, dental materials for dental assistants, oral hygiene education and nutrition, and dental office procedures. It also includes 225 hours of hands-on clinical experience through a formal clinical internship.
Upon successful completion, graduates of this certificate will be eligible to apply for the Radiation Health & Safety (RHS) Exam, Infection Control Exam (ICE), and the New York State Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA) Examination. All these exams are administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) for becoming New York State Registered Dental Assistants (RDA).
- Location: Troy, NY
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two semesters
