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How to Become a Dental Assisting Professional: Schools, Apprenticeships & Licensing

Two ways in: pay for school (733 U.S. schools offer Dental Support Services and Allied Professions programs at certificate/associate level, median net price $11,621/yr) or get paid to train (87 registered apprenticeship sponsors nationwide). Requirements vary sharply by state (some allow on-the-job entry, some require CODA-accredited programs + DANB exams for expanded functions); Pell-eligible programs.

US schools
733
Median net price / yr
$11,621
Median earnings (10 yr)
$38,005
Apprenticeship sponsors
87
paid training

Licensing at a glance

State license required: Texas, Florida, California, New York, Ohio, Michigan.

No state license: Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina — employers typically expect industry certification instead.

Requirements differ sharply by state — check your state's page below for the specific rule, hours, and exam, each cited to the official board.

Dental Assisting aid deadlines & apprenticeship alerts

Aid windows and sponsor application openings, for your state.

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Dental Assisting schools & apprenticeships by state

School data: U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026). Apprenticeship data: U.S. Dept of Labor. Licensing summaries cited to official state boards per state page. Methodology.