Trade Schools
If you want to spend your workday assisting dentists during procedures, performing X-rays, and interacting with patients, the dental assistant profession is worth considering.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage reported by dental assistants in Florida was $46,240 as of May 2023.
This tells us that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this, and half earned more.
Although there are no formal educational requirements for on-the-job trained dental assistants in Florida, completing a post-secondary training program is a great way to learn the skills needed for this profession.
However, dental assistants who want to perform X-rays must either:
- Graduate from a Florida Board of Dentistry-approved dental assistant program or
- Be state-certified as a dental radiographer by the Florida Department of Health
You will also need to meet additional requirements if you want to perform expanded or restorative functions.
To help you choose the program and the format that works best for you, on this page, we have compiled information about the best dental assistant schools in Florida.
1Dental Assisting Institute
About the School
Dental Assisting Institute helps students become dental assistants in just 10 weeks.
The classes are taught in a blended format consisting of at-home study, online tests, and a clinical hands-on portion in the school’s state-of-the-art facility.
The following classes are available at the institute:
- 10-week Dental Assisting Program
- Combo Radiology & EFDA Certification
- Radiology Certification
- Expanded Function Certification
- Basic Life Support CPR Re-Certification
The 10-week Dental Assisting program includes 80 hours of lecture/lab and 40 hours of practicum.
The program requires verification of a high school diploma or GED.
A high school student may attend the program with parent or guardian permission and a copy of current high school transcripts.
After completing the program, students must also complete 200 hours of on-the-job training by a Florida-licensed dentist to receive their Florida Certifications.
Contact Information
- Address: 4326 Park Blvd, Suite C-West, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
- Phone:727-547-4899
- Website: https://dai-fl.com
2Dental Assisting Academy of Central Florida
About the School
Dental Assisting Academy of Central Florida helps students become certified in just eight weeks.
Students receive hands-on training and one-on-one instruction from passionate dental professionals.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in this program:
- Introduction to the Profession
- Ethical and Legal Issues
- HIV/AIDS
- Infection Control for Dental Assistants
- Dental Radiography Basics
- X-Ray Film Processing Techniques and Storage
- Human Dentition
- Bones of the Head
- Oral Pathology
- Dental Materials
- Medical emergencies in the Dental Office
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5979 Vineland Road, Suite 205, Orlando, FL 32819
- Phone: (407) 443-6367
- Website: https://www.dentalassistingacademyorlando.com
3Florida Dental Assistant Training Schools
About the School
Florida Dental Assistant Training Schools helps students start a new career in 12 weeks.
The training focuses solely on the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to work as a dental assistant.
The program is approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry, the Florida Department of Health, and licensed by the Florida Commission of Independent Education Licensure.
The following programs are available at the school:
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Certification
- EFDA & Radiology Certification Testing
- Professional Development For Current EFDA
Students attend classes Monday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The program costs $4,750 plus a $150 non-refundable administration fee.
Courses Offered
Students learn how to:
- Take Alginate Impressions
- Suture Removal
- Apply Liners/Bases
- Clinical Charting
- Topical Anesthetic
- Fluorides
- Pouring Study Models
- Fabricating Temporary Crowns
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5739 Canton Cove, Winter Springs, FL 32708
- Phone: 407.960.3686
- Website: https://fldats.com
4Dental Assisting Academy
About the School
Dental Assisting Academy helps students become dental assistants in just eight weeks.
The school is a training facility recognized by the Florida Dental Community for over 30 years.
The school offers a hybrid accelerated eight-week entry-level program with hands-on training in a dental lab setting one day weekly or weekend attendance, and an experience in a dental office with 65 clinical externship hours.
The following programs are available at the school:
- eight-week entry-level expanded functions dental assisting program
- experienced dental assistants’ one-day courses
- six-month online learning dental assisting program
The online program begins each month and is designed to help students jump-start on their path to becoming a Dental Assistant.
The online program has the following tier options:
- Tier 1- $790
- Tier 2- $890
- Tier 3- $1,555
Contact Information
- Address: 901 Northpoint Pkwy #102 West Palm Beach, FL 33407
- Phone:(561) 900-7141
- Website: https://daapb.com
5South Florida Dental Assisting School
About the School
South Florida Dental Assisting School offers 12-week licensed programs at two South Florida locations.
The dental assisting program is offered under the direction of an actual dentist.
Students learn by doing in a fully functional dental office.
Saturday and evening classes are available to allow students to keep a job while training for a new career.
Classes are kept small to allow for maximum student-teacher interaction.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Orientation to the Profession
- Initial Clinical Orientation
- Dental Anatomy and Physiology
- Dental Charting
- Sterilization & Infection Control
- Instrumentation
- Dental Materials
- Advanced Clinical Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3101 N Federal Hwy, Suite 501, Oakland Park, FL 33306
- Phone: 954-445-1085
- Website: https://sfdaschool.com
6Dental Careers School of Tampa Bay
About the School
Dental Careers School of Tampa Bay helps students start a career in dental assisting in only ten weeks.
Classes are held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This course costs $3,000.
Applicants need a GED or a High school diploma.
The program is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Dental Theory and Terminology
- Four-Handed Dental Assisting
- Radiology
- Impressions and Model Trimming
- Cement and Liners
- Sterilization Techniques
- Job Interview Assistance
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4206 W. Bay to Bay Blvd. Tampa, Florida 33629
- Phone: 813-377-6355
- Website: https://www.dentalassistingtampa.com
7Florida Institute of Dental Assisting
About the School
Florida Institute of Dental Assisting helps students become valuable members of a dental healthcare team.
This program can be completed in six months and prepares students for entry-level dental assistant positions.
The program includes 142 theory hours, 76 lab hours, and 160 externship hours.
Students must be 18 years of age or older and possess a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
This program costs $8,450 in total.
This includes tuition and a non-refundable $150 registration fee.
Courses Offered
Students also receive:
- Textbooks
- CPR/BLS/AED certification through AHA
- Personalized Notebook Binder
- Membership in the American Dental Assistants Association
- One Set of Personalized Scrubs
- Resume Workshop
- Student Clinical Kit
- All Materials and Lab Fees
Contact Information
- Address: 8761 Perimeter Park Blvd, Ste. 107 Jacksonville, FL 32216
- Phone: (904) 674-3131
- Website: https://www.fldentalassisting.com
8Dental Assistant Training School Florida
About the School
Dental Assistant Training School Florida offers a nine-week dental assisting program.
The program consists of a curriculum of 18 highly integrated learning sessions conducted over a nine-week span.
The 18 sessions are of a four hours duration and there are two sessions each week resulting in a focused 72-hour program.
The school offers the following programs:
- Entry-level dental assisting training
- Expanded duties dental assistant
The program provides an affordable path to start a great career in less than three months and helps overcome the shortage of quality dental assistants in Florida.
Contact Information
- Address: 7011 Cypress Terrace, Suite 101, Fort Myers, FL 33907
- Phone: (866) 404-6444
- Website: https://datsflorida.com
9Dental Assistant Pioneers Academy
Dental Assistant Pioneers Academy helps students start preparing for a new career in the dental industry.
The school’s curriculum provides students with the experience and knowledge they need to begin a career in a professional and highly technical field.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- 12-weekend entry-level EFDA with Radiology
- Weekend expanded function and radiology
- Weekend expanded function
- Dental Radiology
- CPR Certification
- ITERO 3D Scanner Training
Contact Information
- Address:5107 Andrus Ave. Orlando, FL 328044
- Phone: 407-900-9338
- Website: https://dapaedu.com
10Dr. David C. Ashley DMD
About the School
Dr. David C. Ashley, DMD prepares students for a career in dental assisting.
The in-office education part takes place in a dental office and prepares students to be ready for a variety of dental assisting opportunities.
This includes:
- The technical and practical hands-on learning required to begin a career in patient care
- Instruction and training in chairside procedures and front office duties
- Step-by-step training in the use of commonly used dental software, digital X-rays, and more
The program can be completed in eight weeks.
Tuition includes supplies, textbooks, uniforms, certificates of completion, and CPR training.
Students prepare for patient care duties, office administration, and laboratory tasks.
Contact Information
- Address: 6220 Manatee Ave W, Suite 304, Bradenton, FL
- Phone: (941) 755-8480
- Website: https://drdavidashley.com
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 760 | $48,130 | $23.14 | $57,520 | $38,580 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 280 | $45,920 | $22.08 | $58,400 | $36,920 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 510 | $43,750 | $21.04 | $49,690 | $36,740 |
| Gainesville, FL | 370 | $44,590 | $21.44 | $57,390 | $36,090 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 70 | $43,440 | $20.88 | $56,480 | $34,910 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,750 | $45,960 | $22.09 | $57,590 | $36,080 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 540 | $44,310 | $21.3 | $57,110 | $36,450 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 8,830 | $45,670 | $21.96 | $57,290 | $37,440 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 390 | $56,150 | $26.99 | $80,590 | $39,820 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 1,200 | $48,250 | $23.2 | $60,050 | $38,220 |
| Ocala, FL | 340 | $43,720 | $21.02 | $56,880 | $35,570 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 3,350 | $45,960 | $22.09 | $56,630 | $38,250 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 640 | $46,970 | $22.58 | $55,520 | $37,440 |
| Panama City, FL | 180 | $45,390 | $21.82 | $55,800 | $35,720 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 500 | $43,720 | $21.02 | $56,820 | $35,960 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 380 | $45,040 | $21.65 | $54,000 | $37,080 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 160 | $44,800 | $21.54 | $56,310 | $36,780 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 160 | $44,740 | $21.51 | $50,900 | $37,590 |
| Sebring, FL | 90 | $41,090 | $19.76 | $46,760 | $33,560 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 330 | $40,890 | $19.66 | $47,500 | $33,670 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 3,390 | $48,570 | $23.35 | $60,460 | $42,290 |
| The Villages, FL | 130 | $45,170 | $21.72 | $56,930 | $36,090 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assisting schools in the state of Florida, the next step is to decide if this profession is right for you and choose the school that will teach you the skills needed for employment in this profession.
This is an important step, so make sure you gather information about all the factors that are relevant to you before deciding where to enroll.
