Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person with good communication skills and you want to start a career in dental assisting, this page is for you.
Here you will discover more about the best dental assistant schools in Massachusetts and the programs they offer.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts dental assistants earned, on average, $56,810 per year- making it the second-highest paying state for this profession.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in a dental office, you have to learn how to perform a variety of tasks, including:
- Dental Infection Control
- Four-Handed Dentistry
- Dental Laboratory Techniques
- Dental Specialties Assisting
- Radiographic Techniques
- Emergency Procedures
- And more
The programs included in our list are designed to get you ready for entry-level employment in dental assisting through a combination of theoretical and hands-on training.
1New England Dental Academy
About the School
New England Dental Academy prepares students for new, rewarding careers in dental assisting.
The Dental Assisting program costs $7,900 and can be completed in nine months.
The school offers:
- Materials and equipment
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Academic & Clinical instruction
- 150 hours of lecture/hands-on training
- Apply for an MA Dental Assistant License
The program also covers Radiology and CPR certification.
The curriculum includes an online portion that helps students learn the technical aspects of this profession, including teeth numbers, instrument names, and other terms specific to this profession.
New England Dental Academy is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Occupational License.
Day and evening classes are offered to allow students to maintain their current lives while preparing for a new career in their free time.
Contact Information
- Address: 116 Belmont St., Suite 14, Worcester, MA 01605
- Phone: (508) 425-6644
- Website: https://www.nedentalacademy.com
2Boston Career Institute
About the School
Boston Career Institute provides quality health career education and cost-effective training to develop well-rounded individuals to secure employment in their field of study.
The following programs are available at the school:
- Dental Assistant program
- Medical Assistant program
- Medical Office Administration
- Hospital Central Service Technician
- Phlebotomy
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program at Boston Career Institute can be completed in 16 weeks and includes 630 class hours.
Students also participate in a 320-hour internship.
The program has the following requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Be able to read and write English
- Sign a consent form to participate in clinical exercises
Contact Information
- Phone: (888) 363-6058
- Website: https://bostoncareer.org
3Bunker Hill Community College
About the School
Bunker Hill Community College prepares students for rewarding careers in a variety of in-demand professions, including Dental Assisting.
The program familiarizes students with all areas of pre-clinical dental assisting and provides training in the professional skills required to allow students to function as assistants in a dental practice.
The topics covered by the program include the history of dentistry and dental assisting, introduction to dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, policy, and guidelines.
Full-time students must attend 20 hours per week and can complete the program in as little as four weeks.
Part-time students need between 8-16 weeks to complete the program.
A hybrid option is also available to allow students to take the classroom portion of the program remotely via pre-recorded and live webinar sessions.
The synchronous instruction meets on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Contact Information
- Address: 250 New Rutherford Ave., Boston, MA 02129
- Phone: 617-228-2462
- Website: https://www.bhcc.edu
4Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
About the School
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine provides a Dental Assisting training program that is available in person and focuses on hands-on education to prepare students for real-world scenarios.
The program includes both in-person lectures and hands-on training to equip students with the skills needed to work as dental assistants after program completion.
The program is nine weeks long and costs $6,000.
The following admission requirements must be met:
- High school diploma or its equivalent
The program is available for individuals located or those who intend to work as Dental Assistants in Massachusetts.
Contact Information
- Address: 635 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
- Phone: 617-358-8300
- Website: https://www.bu.edu
5East Coast Dental Tech
About the School
East Coast Dental Tech offers a dental assisting program that can be completed in 26 weeks by students who attend classes for 26 weeks- two evenings per week.
The program costs $3,995.
The curriculum is available in hybrid and online formats.
The program prepares students with the skills needed for a career in the dental field, including the basics, four essential certifications in Infection Control, Bloodborne Pathogen Training, CPR, and Radiology.
Students also get hands-on experience, career development, and job placement assistance.
Graduates receive a “Formally Trained” Licensure from the Dental Board.
A Dental Business Assistant program is also available in an online format.
This program covers skills such as taking care of billing and insurance forms to providing a friendly, ethical, and professional environment for new and returning patients.
Contact Information
- Address: 80 Main St. #86, Taunton, MA 02780
- Phone: 508-967-9077
- Website: https://www.eastcoastdentaltech.com
6Northeast Collaborative School of Dental Assisting
About the School
The Northeast Collaborative School of Dental Assisting program has been licensed with the New Hampshire Board of Education since 2013.
The program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions.
Students learn the skills needed to become dental assistants in just 14 weeks.
Classes include lectures, labs, and hands-on training and are scheduled on nights or weekends to allow students to continue to work a full-time job.
Students gain hands-on training at Kingston Dental Arts and at the school’s extensive collaboration of over 100 dental offices in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont.
The offices include practices that specialize in general and cosmetic dentistry, pediatrics, oral surgery, and orthodontics.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Chase Street, Kingston, NH 03848
- Phone: (888) 510-3113
- Website: https://www.necsda.com
7Lincoln Tech
About the School
Lincoln Tech offers a variety of training programs at several locations across the United States, including New Jersey and New York.
The Dental Assistant program at Lincoln Tech is designed to prepare students for the ICE and RHS portions of the Certified Dental Assistant exam.
The program is delivered in a Blended Learning format.
Students train on a Typodont- a dental training manikin used to instruct students on how to position instruments and help them learn about x-ray components.
The program includes hands-on instruction in chairside assisting, prosthodontics, and dental anatomy.
Students get first-hand experience working with x-ray equipment.
They also learn how to practice proper infection control.
Contact Information
- Address: 675 U.S. 1 South, 2nd Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830
- Phone: (732) 548-8798
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu
8Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
About the School
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School prepares students for a rewarding career in which they will play an instrumental role in a dental office.
Students develop specialized skills by learning how to use the latest technology and training techniques using digital dental radiography and the latest in dental operatories and laboratory equipment.
The program prepares students for certification by the Dental Assisting National Board in both Infection Control and Radiation Health and Safety.
Students also complete CPR certification and an OSHA 10-hour general industry safety and health training course.
Graduates from Bristol-Plymoth’s Dental Assisting Program meet the requirements for Massachusetts state licensure.
The program includes the following instructed areas:
- Dental Infection Control
- Dental/Medical Terminology
- Four-Handed Dentistry
- Dental Laboratory Techniques
- Dental Specialties Assisting
- Radiographic Techniques
- Emergency Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 207 Hart Street, Taunton, MA 02780
- Phone: 508-823-5151
- Website: https://www.bptech.org
9Middlesex Community College
About the School
Middlesex Community College offers credit, noncredit, and training opportunities for high school students, adults, and businesses.
Hybrid, on-campus, and online classes are available.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting Certificate at Middlesex Community College provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to assist at chairside in the dental field.
The program prepares students to perform clinical supportive procedures, some clinical procedures on patients, laboratory procedures, and basic office procedures.
Students also gain knowledge of the legal provisions and regulations that apply to the Massachusetts Dental Practice Act and dental auxiliary utilization.
The program includes:
- Dental Science
- Dental Assisting
- Concepts in Risk Management
- Dental Radiology
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Practicum
- Preventive Dentistry
- And more
The program includes 36 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 33 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA 01852
- Phone:800-818-3434
- Website: https://middlesex.mass.edu
10New England Teaching Institute
About the School
New England Teaching Institute offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students for patient care, as well as office and laboratory duties.
The program is only eight weeks long and helps students start a new career quickly.
Students are exposed to a wide range of techniques, materials, and dental knowledge.
The curriculum is focused on the vital skills dental assistants use in everyday practice.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or G.E.D. High School Equivalency Certificate.
There is no entrance exam, but candidates are subject to a personal interview.
Students must obtain a passing score of 75% to graduate and receive their certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 323A Universal Drive, North Haven, CT 06473
- Phone: (203) 939-2045
- Website: newenglandteachinginstitute.com
Regional Salary in Massachusetts
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 200 | $54,400 | $26.16 | $61,770 | $44,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 7,120 | $57,680 | $27.73 | $72,470 | $46,590 |
| Leominster-Gardner, MA | 180 | $53,270 | $25.61 | $63,260 | $41,840 |
| New Bedford, MA | 160 | $53,150 | $25.55 | $61,660 | $43,340 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 90 | $52,210 | $25.1 | $60,710 | $39,680 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 760 | $53,440 | $25.69 | $61,830 | $40,470 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 690 | $54,450 | $26.18 | $73,690 | $40,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list and gathered information about the best dental assisting training programs in Massachusetts, the next step is to decide if this is the path you want to pursue and choose the school that will help you get there.
Make sure you continue the research and gather information about all the relevant factors before making this important decision.
