Dental assistants perform clinical and administrative support functions within a dental office and are able to assume greater responsibilities with additional education and certifications.
Trade Schools & Online Programs
- Alvin, Manvel
- Dallas
- Dallas, Grand Prairie, San Antonio
- Houston
- Denison, Van Alstyne
- Houston, Katy, Missouri City, Stafford
- Arlington
- Cypress, Houston, Kingwood, Conroe, Tomball, Katy, Magnolia, Spring
- Amarillo, Denton, El Paso, Houston, Plano, San Antonio
- El Paso, Houston, San Antonio
- Dallas, North Richland Hills, League City
- Arlington, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, McAllen, San Antonio, Weslaco
- El Paso
- Fort Worth, Hurst, Arlington
- Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Houston, McAllen, San Antonio
- Dallas, Houston
- Weatherford, Bridgeport
Alvin College
Dental Assistant at Alvin College is a non-credit continuing-education course rather than a credit certificate, taught at the main campus in Alvin. The listing names no programmatic accreditation and shows no hours or price, so applicants should ask for the current schedule and cost, and check which Texas dental assisting registration the course prepares them for. Like the college's other non-credit health courses, it requires a $95.99 background-check, drug-screen and immunization package.
Compu-Med
Compu-Med's Dental Assistant diploma is 30.5 credits (915 clock hours) over about 45 weeks. Lectures can be on campus or online, but the 180-hour externship in a dental office is in person. In Florida the program includes expanded-duties and dental radiology training approved by the Board of Dentistry in 2015. Florida does not license dental assistants, and the CDA is a national certification exam taken separately, not a license. An Associate of Science in Dental Assisting is also offered (20 months in the Dallas catalog). Diploma prices are not published.
Concorde Career College
Concorde's Dental Assistant diploma takes as few as 9 months and ends with an unpaid externship; Memphis, TN and Southaven, MS also offer an 18-month associate degree. Tennessee's dental board approves the diploma; the program is not CODA-accredited. At Kansas City, admission is first come, first served once applicants score 8 on the Wonderlic. Total charges were $19,513 at Garden Grove, CA (BPPE 2024 report).
Fortis College & Fortis Institute
Fortis's Dental Assisting program is a diploma or certificate whose length varies by campus. The published total was $23,849 at Cincinnati, OH, Orange Park, FL and Landover, MD (2026–27) and at Birmingham, AL (2025–26); Houston North, TX listed $23,915. Richmond, VA's program holds CODA accreditation, and New Jersey campuses teach dental radiography approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Mobile, AL reported 70% placement for dental assisting graduates in 2025.
Grayson College
Dental Assisting is accredited by CODA and taught at the Denison main campus as a 35-credit certificate or a 60-credit AAS; either way, the dental assisting coursework takes 9.5 months. Students work in supervised clinicals and rotate through outside dental offices. Graduates are eligible for the Texas Registered Dental Assistant exam and the DANB Certified Dental Assistant exam. 2026-27 tuition and fees are $100 a credit in-district and $150 for other Texas residents.
Houston City College
HCC's Dental Assisting Certificate Level 1 takes 38 credits over three semesters at the Coleman campus in the Texas Medical Center or at Coleman College at Midtown; a 60-credit AAS is taught at Coleman. The program is accredited by CODA, with approval without reporting requirements, and prepares graduates for registration with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. HCC reports 100% for 44 students in 2024-25. The certificate costs about $3,211 at the 2026-27 in-district rate.
IDTC Career Center
IDTC's Dental Assistant certificate covers dental ethics and law, tooth morphology, radiology, HIPAA/OSHA rules and front-office work, plus off-site clinical experience. The school points graduates toward Texas Registered Dental Assistant status. The RDA is a registration issued by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, which accepts either a course and exam from a Board-approved provider or a DANB certificate plus the Board's jurisprudence assessment, so ask IDTC which route its graduates take. Tuition is quoted on request.
Lone Star College
Dental Assistant at Lone Star College is a hybrid continuing-education program at LSC-Kingwood and LSC-Montgomery. The college gives an average of 20 weeks full time, plus up to three more weeks to finish checklist items. It prepares students for the Registered Dental Assistant examination of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. The course price was not in the sources we checked, so ask the continuing-education office at either campus.
Milan Institute
Milan teaches Dental Assistant at five campuses: Merced, Palm Desert and Visalia, CA; Sparks, NV; and Amarillo, TX. It runs 36 weeks; the program page says 780 hours and Visalia's state filing 845. Students learn chairside tasks, including dental radiography, take CPR and First Aid, and finish with an externship in an off-site dental office. The school claims no RDA or DANB credential, which matters in California. 2024 placement was 71% at Visalia and 80% at Palm Desert.
Pima Medical Institute
Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant certificate takes about nine months, with 280 to 284 classroom hours, 200 to 336 lab hours and a 180- to 240-hour externship; California campuses follow their own curriculum. It prepares students for the NELDA exams, DANB's Radiation Health and Safety exam, and dental radiography registration in Texas and California. It is ABHES accredited, not CODA accredited. Colorado campuses add a 40-hour Expanded Duties course. Total cost was $18,940 at Tucson, AZ (1 Jul 2026); other campuses differ.
Remington College
Remington College's Dental Assisting diploma takes as few as 8 months and covers chairside assisting, oral anatomy, dental radiology, dental materials and handling dental office emergencies, with CPR certification included. Students get hands-on training in working dental practices before they finish. Remington does not name the DANB exams on its program page. Tuition was $17,519 in the 2026 catalogs of the campuses that teach it; 87% of Nashville, TN's reported cohort graduated.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute
Dental Assisting at STVT is a 68-credit-hour diploma of 15 months at the Brownsville, Corpus Christi, McAllen and Weslaco campuses. Courses cover infection control, dental science and terminology, pharmacology, dental emergencies, radiology and office procedures, plus an externship. The program FAQ points to Dental Assisting National Board and Texas Registered Dental Assistant registration. In STVT's 2025 ACCSC report every graduate who sat the licensing exam passed at all four campuses; the Brownsville and Weslaco classes reported then took a 10-month version.
Southwest University
Dental Assisting is a 14-month (54-week) AAS taught on campus. It does not appear in the 2023-24 catalog's program or tuition tables, so it appears to be a newer program, and we found no published price for it. The school names no certification exam and no CODA accreditation for it. Ask admissions for the current cost and whether the program leads to Texas registered dental assistant status.
Tarrant County College
Registered Dental Assistant training at TCC is a 25-credit Level 1 certificate at TCC Northeast in Hurst, with selective admission. On the state's FY2024 licensure report, 13 of 13 TCC dental assisting candidates passed. The program page does not state CODA accreditation, so applicants who need a CODA-accredited program should ask. Tuition and fees are $1,850 for Tarrant County residents in 2026–27; other Texas residents pay $3,400.
The College of Health Care Professions
CHCP's Dental Assistant certificate takes about 36 weeks, blending online coursework with campus labs and clinical training, with day or evening tracks at selected campuses. It prepares students for the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam. Offered at eight campuses and online.
UEI College
UEI's Dental Assistant diploma is about 34 weeks (800 clock hours on Arizona's listing), ending in a 170-hour externship at an approved local facility. Modules cover dental science and emergencies, dental anatomy, radiography, dental materials, preventive dentistry, specialties, prosthodontics and front-office work. In California it is set up as a route toward Registered Dental Assistant, including radiography and coronal polish; in Arizona it prepares for DANB's CDA exam. Total cost was $19,900 at the Huntington Park, CA campus (2025–26).
Weatherford College
Dental Assistant is a 152-contact-hour non-credit program: an introduction (20 hours), chair-side assisting (68), a Registered Dental Assistant exam review (16) and a 48-hour externship. It prepares students for the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' RDA exam, whose voucher is not included. The program is not accredited by CODA. Weatherford College's board has also approved a Dental Hygiene AAS for the Wise County Campus, but it still awaits state and accreditor approval.
How Long Does it Take?
Programs within private vocational schools take about one year to complete and graduates will be awarded a certificate or diploma. Two year programs are offered in community and junior colleges and lead to an associate in science (A.S.) degree.
Entry to either a certificate or associate’s program requires either a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED).
How Much Does it Cost?
It’s possible to earn a certificate to be a dental assistant in the state of Texas for under 2k, while some two-year associate degrees can cost upwards of 30k. Typically, the more education a dental assistant earns, the more money they will be able to make in their career.
Those looking to become dental assistants will also need to pay various fees and expenses for exams as well as possible study materials during their education process.
What Courses Should You Take?
If you are a high school student with an interest in becoming a dental assistant, it is recommended that you take courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, computers, and psychology.
For those wishing to pursue training in the field, The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association accredits nearly 300 programs throughout the country. Most dental assistant programs combine classroom study, laboratory work, and instruction in dental assisting practice and theory.
Coursework will include fundamentals of the following:
- dentistry
- dental pharmacology
- dental office procedures
- dental anatomy and physiology
- clinical dental procedures
- dental equipment
Salary
How much can you make as a dental assistant?
Below are Texas salaries which have been broken down into hourly and annual wages per metro area.
| Location | Per Hour | Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $18.70 | $38,900 |
| Amarillo | $19.23 | $39,990 |
| Austin-Round Rock | $22.99 | $47,810 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $18.95 | $39,410 |
| Big Thicket Region of Texas | $18.41 | $38,300 |
| Border Region of Texas | $17.22 | $35,830 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $17.42 | $36,240 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas | $17.72 | $36,860 |
| College Station-Bryan | $18.84 | $39,180 |
| Corpus Christi | $18.91 | $39,330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $21.85 | $45,440 |
| El Paso | $16.95 | $35,260 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas | $18.78 | $39,070 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land | $18.51 | $38,500 |
| Killeen-Temple | $19.42 | $40,400 |
| Laredo | $17.14 | $35,660 |
| Longview | $17.63 | $36,670 |
| Lubbock | $18.19 | $37,830 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $17.20 | $35,770 |
| Midland | $20.27 | $42,160 |
| North Texas Region of Texas | $17.69 | $36,800 |
| Odessa | $20.37 | $42,380 |
| San Angelo | $17.87 | $37,170 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $20.33 | $42,280 |
| Sherman-Denison | $18.74 | $38,970 |
| Texarkana | $17.83 | $37,090 |
| Tyler | $19.62 | $40,810 |
| Victoria | $19.54 | $40,650 |
| Waco | $18.49 | $38,460 |
| West Texas Region of Texas | $17.79 | $37,000 |
| Wichita Falls | $18.19 | $37,840 |
Highest Salaries in Urban Centers
Austin-Round Rock ($22.99/hr, $47,810) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($21.85/hr, $45,440) have the highest salaries, likely due to higher living costs and strong demand for healthcare workers in these metropolitan areas.
Oil and Energy Regions Offer Competitive Pay
Midland ($20.27/hr, $42,160) and Odessa ($20.37/hr, $42,380) report higher wages, possibly due to the general wage inflation seen in regions tied to the oil industry.
San Antonio and Houston Have Mid-Range Salaries
San Antonio-New Braunfels ($20.33/hr, $42,280) offers solid wages, while Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ($18.51/hr, $38,500) falls slightly below expectations for a major city, possibly due to more competition among dental assistants.
License and Certification
According to the Texas Board of Dental Examiners, there are three levels of dental assistants.
The dental assistant education requirements in Texas differ between each level.
Level 1. Qualified Dental Assistant
“Qualified Dental Assistant” is a dental assistant who has received on-the-job training or instruction through a dental assisting school. There is no credential for this level of training or instruction.
Level 2. Registered Dental Assistant
“Registered Dental Assistant” is a dental assistant who has successfully completed the state-level registration process with the SBDE (State Board of Dental Examiners).
Dental Assistants who successful register and have been issued a Dental Assistant Registration Certificate by the SBDE may use the credential “Registered Dental Assistant” or “RDA.”
Registration is required for those dental assistants who wish to take and develop X-rays.
Level 3. Certified Dental Assistant
“Certified Dental Assistant” is a dental assistant who meets the education and/or experience prerequisites established by the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB).
Experiential requirements are typically 2 to 4 years experience as a dental assistant on either a full or part time basis.
Candidates must also passes the DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Examination (including Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE) and national-level General Chairside (GC) component(s), is currently CPR-certified and continues to maintain the CDA credential by meeting DANB requirements.
Dental Assistants who complete this process may use the credential “Certified Dental Assistant” or “CDA.” The designation Certified Dental assistant is required for those who wish to perform radiologic procedures
Advantages of Certification
Certification will enable dental assistants to earn higher salaries and be eligible for such career advancement opportunities as a dental office manager, instructor in training programs, dental products sales representative, or claims processor/adjuster with health insurance carriers.
Dental assistants may also return to school to become dental hygienists and be eligible for a much broader range of clinical patient care.
What Steps Do You Need to Take?
Steps in applying for the Certified Dental Assistant Exam through DANB:
- Complete the application and mail or fax to DANB with all required documentation along with the fee of $450.00. Your training program’s DANB certification number is to be recorded on the application.
- For those students who are still attending their training program but scheduled to graduate within 90 days of test date, you may submit a letter attesting to upcoming program completion on official school stationary signed and dated by the program director.
- Graduates of accredited programs are required to submit a copy of their final transcript or diploma.
- Current CPR certificate
- DANB will review once all documentation has been received. You will receive notice in about three to four weeks from the date you submit your application and supporting paperwork. If you are approved to sit for the exam DANB will send you a “Test Admission Notice” which will be necessary in order to register and enter the testing site.
- Schedule the location, date, and time of the exam through the Pearsons Vue the DANB testing vendor. Specific instructions to register for the test will be sent with the “Test Admission Notice.”
- Once you have completed the test you will be provided with an unofficial score report subject to review by DANB.
- DANB will mail the official score report about 3 to 4 weeks after the exam date.
Career Overview
What Do They Do?
Dental assistants play a support role and perform general office duties within a private dental office or the dental department of healthcare facilities. The responsibilities of dental assistants are diverse as they become involved with direct patient care, laboratory testing, as well as routine clerical tasks.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare patients for dental examination and arrange instruments.
- Provide chair-side assistance to the dentist during examinations (e.g. handing instruments to the dentist and using suction and other devices to keep the patient’s mouths dry)
- Wash and sterilize or dispose of dental instruments and equipment after use.
- Record patient dental history and create/update/maintain patient charts.
- Educate patients with regard to proper oral hygiene and preventative dental care.
- Prepare materials to fill cavities and make dental impressions.
- Place dental dams to separate teeth for examination and/or x-rays.
- May take and develop dental X-rays under the supervision of the dentist. As per the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE), “You are permitted to make x-rays in Texas for one year from the first day of being hired as a dental assistant under the direct supervision of a dentist. During this first year of employment you will want to consider taking one of the Dental Board-approved courses listed below to continue making x-rays in your 2nd, 3rd and future years of service as a dental assistant.”
- Administer topical anesthetics to gums in preparation for root canal and other procedures and remove post-surgery sutures. .
- Administers cavity-preventative materials to teeth, and removes excess dental cement used to fill cavities.
- Administrative responsibilities may include scheduling patients appointments, creating and sending patient bills to insurance carriers, receive and record payments, and order needed office and dental supplies. .
- Dental assistants who are given laboratory duties make casts from dental impressions and create temporary crowns.
- Many states are now registering dental assistants who are then provided with additional responsibilities, such as polishing teeth and restorative procedures cavity fillings or root canal. For full details regarding the job duties that registered dental assistants (RDAs) may perform in Texas, refer to “Regulation of Dental Assistants” guidelines.
Education Requirements
According to the Commission on Dental Accreditation, there are no formal education requirements to become an entry-level dental assistant in any state and many dental assistants continue to be trained on-the-job.
In these situations, the supervising dentist, dental hygienist, or senior dental assistant teach needed skills such as dental terminology, dental procedures, chairside assistance, recording patient histories, setting up patient charts, scheduling patient appointments and other office tasks.
It may take a new dental assistant three to four months to become fully versed about job duties and able to work without constant supervision.
On the Job Training
Even those who have graduated from accredited training programs will participate in some type of formal on-the-job training or have previous experience. This training is necessary because dentists have varying work styles, office procedures, and methods of patient relations.
Because of continuing advances in technology, dental assistants will also need to be kept current with regard to new equipment, instruments, and procedures.
Employer Expectations
What Employers in Texas Look for in a Dental Assistant
Employers across Texas seek skilled, detail-oriented, and patient-focused dental assistants to support their dental teams and ensure high-quality patient care.
Many healthcare providers, such as Harris Health System, UTHealth Houston, Parkland Health and Hospital System, and UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, prioritize candidates with strong communication skills, proficiency in four-handed dentistry, and a thorough understanding of infection control and sterilization protocols.
A Texas State Board of Dental Examiners registration is a common requirement, with some employers also preferring additional certifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR.
Specialized Skills and Certifications
Dental assistants in Texas often work in general dentistry, oral surgery, and specialized fields like endodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics.
At UTHealth Houston’s School of Dentistry, for instance, assistants are expected to take CBCT scans, dental radiographs, and assist with chairside procedures. Greenhill Family Dental seeks candidates skilled in intraoral scanning, impressions, and patient education.
Many roles, such as those at Just Wright Dental, emphasize surgical and implant procedures, requiring assistants to be comfortable handling advanced dental technologies and assisting in complex treatments.
Work Environments and Responsibilities
Beyond technical skills, employers seek professionals who can multitask in fast-paced environments, educate patients on oral hygiene, and work effectively as part of a healthcare team. Positions at Ben Taub Outpatient Center and Parkland Health require assistants to work weekends, holidays, and flexible schedules in demanding hospital settings.
Some roles, like those at InGenesis, extend into administrative duties, patient scheduling, and record management, showing the crossover into healthcare administration and front-office responsibilities.
Opportunities for Veterans and Career Growth
For military veterans transitioning into dental assisting, organizations like UTHealth Houston and InGenesis recognize military occupational specialties related to dentistry and provide resources for training and employment.
With Texas’ growing healthcare sector, employers seek dental assistants who are adaptable, eager to learn, and capable of supporting diverse dental teams in clinical, academic, and hospital settings.