Trade Schools
If you want to start a rewarding career in the dental field but can’t afford to spend up to eight years in post-secondary education, the dental assistant profession is worth exploring.
As a dental assistant, you will work under the supervision of a dentist and you will perform tasks such as:
- Assisting the dentist chairside
- Handing instruments during procedures
- Making sure the patients feel comfortable
- Scheduling appointments
- And more
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by Maryland dental assistants was $50,040 as of May 2023.
The same source reports that this profession will grow 8 percent by 2033, resulting in 54,900 new job openings across the United States.
If you want to prepare for a new career in this profession, our selection of the best dental assistant schools in the state of Maryland is designed to help you get an idea about your options.
1Maryland Dental Assistant School
Maryland Dental Assistant School helps students become dental assistants in just ten weeks.
The program is designed to give students basic “hands-on” training in a real dental office.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- Dental Assisting Program
- Dental Administration Program
The Dental Assisting program teaches students how to assist the dentist’s chairside, four-handed dentistry, sterilization procedures, all of the major dental procedures, dental terminology, education, and promotion of oral health through the delivery of dental treatment.
After graduation, students may work as chair-side assistants, sterilization assistants, or hygiene assistants.
Contact Information
- Address: 15638 Livingston Rd #9, Accokeek, MD 20607
- Phone: (888) 401-4555
- Website: https://getstarted.marylanddentalassistantschool.com
2Dental Assistant School of Maryland
Dental Assistant School of Maryland provides life-changing career options for students.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- Dental Assisting course- a program that prepares students for entry-level, X-ray-certified positions as chair-side assistants in a dental office
- Dental Radiology Course- a program that teaches various routines of radiographic techniques and processing.
Students need six months of experience and employment in a dental office for admission to the Dental Radiology course.
The school provides extensive hands-on training in preparing students to become accustomed to the actual dental office environment.
The Dental Assisting course can be completed in 13 weeks.
The program includes:
- online lectures, tests, quizzes
- in-person classes held Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and focused on hands-on training
- Internship hours- 50 hours during 13 weeks
Contact Information
- Address: 15638 Livingston Rd #9, Accokeek, MD 20607
- Phone: 301-674-8969
- Website: https://www.dentalassistantmaryland.com
3Hands-on Dental Assistant Training, LLC
Hands-on Dental Assistant Training, LLC offers in-class and online classes catered to meet students’ busy schedules.
Most of the school’s students are hired in the office where they complete their externship.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- Expanded Functions Orthodontic
- Expanded Functions Restorative
- Maryland General Chairside and Radiology
- Maryland General Chairside Assistant
- Online (MD General Chairside/Radiology)
- Radiology Health and Safety
Costs vary depending on the program.
The Expanded Functions Orthodontic costs $2,100.
The Maryland General Dentistry and Radiology program costs $2,497.
Contact Information
- Address: 12730 Twinbrook Pkwy, Rockville, MD 20852, United States
- Phone: 301-881-5700
- Website: https://www.handsondat.com
4Dental Assistant Training Schools of Maryland and Virginia
About the School
Dental Assistant Training Schools of Maryland and Virginia provide a hands-on, 11-week program.
The program is designed to equip students with all the clinical skills necessary to start a successful career as a dental assistant.
This program costs $3,500 in total.
This includes $2,800 for tuition and $700 for books and materials.
After graduation, students meet the requirements necessary to apply to take the approved Radiation Health and Safety exam administered by the Dental Assistant National Board.
Courses Offered
The program covers topics such as:
- The History of Dentistry
- OSHA; Sterilization
- Equipment and Office Familiarization
- Restorative Materials
- Study Models
- Four-Handed Dentistry
- Office Management
- Foundations of Radiology
- Intraoral Radiography
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2623 Housley Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401
- Phone: 877-777-8719
- Website: https://www.datsmdva.com
5Fortis Institute
About the School
Fortis Institute offers medical and dental training programs in Townson, Maryland.
The Dental Assistant program teaches students how to provide educational, preventive, and clinical therapeutic services to the public and promote health and dental hygiene.
After completing the program students are prepared for entry-level employment opportunities as dental assistants in a variety of work environments.
To qualify for admission at Fortis College, in most cases, students need to be a high school graduate of its equivalent.
All applicants are required to complete a personal information sheet.
A personal interview with the admissions staff also takes place.
Financial aid options are available for students who qualify.
Contact Information
- Address: 700 York Road Towson, MD 21204
- Phone: (410) 337-5155
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu
6Prince George's Community College
About the School
Prince George’s Community College offers a Dental Assisting program that prepares students to work closely with dentists to provide patient care, take X-rays, maintain records, and schedule appointments.
The college provides training and hands-on lab experiences using state-of-the-art dental equipment to prepare students for national certification.
This is a comprehensive four-month, three-part program that prepares students to pass Dental Assisting Parts One and Two and Dental Office Administration.
The Dental Assisting Part II and the Enhanced Functions programs are approved by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners.
The required courses include:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting- Part I
- Introduction to Dental Assisting- Part II- radiology
- Dental Office Administration
Contact Information
- Address: 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774
- Phone: 301-546-PGCC (7422)
- Website: https://www.pgcc.edu
7Howard Community College
About the School
Howard Community College offers a Dental Assisting & Radiology program.
The program can be completed in two months and prepares students with entry-level dental assisting job skills.
This hybrid course is a combination of face-to-face lab practice and online internet instruction.
The topics covered by this course include:
- Dental terminology and anatomy
- Concepts of four-handed Dentistry
- Instrumentation
- Causes and treatment of common dental diseases
- At least 24 hours of dental radiology instruction
Contact Information
- Address: 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
- Phone: 443-518-1000
- Website: https://www.howardcc.edu
8Harford Community College
About the School
Harford Community College prepares students who want to train for new careers in a variety of in-demand fields.
Students can be job-ready in less than six months.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program at Harford Community College equips students with the skills required in order to be valuable members of a dental care team.
Students receive a Dental Assistant certificate upon successful completion of the Dental Assisting National Board Radiation Health & Safety exam.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.
Students learn dental terminology, disease transmission, disinfection and sterilization, dental anatomy, dental records and charting, instrumentation, impressions and castings, radiation health and safety, insurance and billing, and front desk responsibilities.
Contact Information
- Address: 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015
- Phone: 443.412.2000
- Website: https://www.harford.edu
9All State Career
About the School
All State Career offers an Expanded Functions Dental Assisting program.
The program teaches the skills and knowledge students need in order to be ready to assist the dentist chairside.
Students also learn the skills to work in the operating room or treatment room while the dentist is performing patient procedures.
The program covers dental impressions and restorative materials, evacuating debris from oral cavities, and preparing the instrument tray and anesthesia setups.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Dental software applications
- Prosthodontics, medical/dental health histories, and dental charting
- Radiation health and safety during X-rays
- Restorative dentistry and specialties
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2200 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21224
- Phone: 855-834-4580
- Website: https://www.allstatecareer.edu
10Anne Arundel Community College
About the School
Anne Arundel Community College offers a Dental Assisting & Radiology program.
The program is designed to help students prepare for a fulfilling career as entry-level dental assistants.
The curriculum includes 118 hours of instruction in dental assisting and radiology.
Students have access to an open lab to practice hands-on skills critical to the success of any dental assistant.
They prepare for the Dental Assisting National Board Radiology and Health and Safety exam.
Students have to register for the following classes:
- Dental Assisting and Radiology: Lecture
- Dental Assisting and Radiology: Lab
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school or GED diploma.
Contact Information
- Address: 101 College Parkway | Arnold, MD 21012-1895
- Phone: 410-777-AACC (2222)
- Website: https://www.aacc.edu
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,450 | $49,980 | $24.03 | $59,220 | $38,300 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 130 | $48,280 | $23.21 | $66,560 | $35,740 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 60 | $42,730 | $20.54 | $50,130 | $32,490 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 250 | $46,090 | $22.16 | $60,170 | $37,960 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 260 | $46,240 | $22.23 | $57,850 | $35,570 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to become a dental assistant in the state of Maryland, our selection of the top schools and programs in the region was designed to guide you in the process of choosing the program that best works for you.
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to continue the research and start applying today.
