Private Dental Assisting Class?

I've been in the Dallas area over 20 years and I have never heard of anything like that.

There are so many regulations, state laws, certifications, license, and more that must be adhered to in order to be accredited.........I don't believe a dentist would have the time to offer private schooling if he/she wanted to actually practice dentistry.

I also think it would be against the state laws for a dentist to privately tutor a student and even if it was ok with the state....the money required for private tutoring would be woefully more expensive than $3000-$5000 which is nothing compared to paying a semester of college tuition.

Check with Quad C (Collin County Community College).. they are known to be a good community college. I've heard is it economical and a lot of students go there when they can't afford a larger university. I can't imagine tuition being less than $3000 a semester though.

Check with the financial aid offices at accredited dental schools and see what you can find out from that perspective.

Also ask your dental provider for guidance on the schools in our area (there are MANY) which are the best and more respected than others. When looking for a job.... it does matter where a degree was earned, plus you get bonuses based on the better schools for better training, etc.

Good luck to you.

What, like you want someone who is a dental assistant to teach you what they do? It wouldn't be accredited therefore useless! If it was accredited it would cost you five times, or more, what a school would cost.

I would think that even if there was a dentist who could provide accredited training that would leave you certified, you are misguided if you think that this is a least expensive option. Private training in anything is more expensive. Consider when I was a childbirth educator - you could have signed up for a hospital childbirth class, where a dozen or so couples would be taught at once. If you wanted me to teach you in your home privately, that would have cost close to 3 times that amount. A group setting is always less expensive. Sending your child to a daycare center will cost less than a private nanny is another example that I can think of.

Good luck

What about community college?

I was a dental assistant for over 20 years and fortunately did not have to attend school for it. I found a dentist that was willing to let me work for him with no pay while he trained me and then hired me after that. Maybe you could check with some dentist to see if they are willing to do that for you. I'm sure that some would be willing to do that than pay you a salary. Worth a try. The best of luck to you.

My friend attended a Vo-Tech program to be a dental assistant, I'm not sure on price, but I know it was much less than 3-5 grand.

ETA: Community colleges typically offer a degree in dental hygiene, which is different than a dental assistant. One is an actual college degree (either an associate's or a bachelor's depending on where you go) and the other is a certificate. There's a pretty significant difference in salary and job descriptions, so make sure you know which you are wanting to do.

You don't HAVE to go to school to be a dental assistant, you can do on the job training. Finding a dentist who you know, or who is friendly and needs an assistant is the way to go. You do have to have OSHA and HIPAA training no matter what, but your dentist may pay that for you, and you will need to be certified to take x-rays.

If I were you, I would get a loan and go to a community college. Most dentists want someone who can slot in and do the job and know their stuff. And don't have too much time to be training you.

A dental hygienist.