Trade Schools
If you want to start a rewarding career in the dental field without spending four years in dental school, Nevada is home to many trade schools and community colleges that can prepare you for employment in the dental assistant position in less than a year.
Here you will discover more about the best dental assistant schools in your state and the programs they offer.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nevada dental assistants earned, on average, $46,200 per year as of May 2023.
Although job requirements may vary, before being ready to apply for your first job as a dental assistant, you have to learn how to perform a variety of tasks, including:
- Sterilization techniques
- Dental chair side procedures
- Radiology
- Impressions
- Office management, OSHA, state guidelines, seating a patient, and charting
- Scheduling appointments
- And more
All these skills and more can be learned by attending one of the programs on our list.
1College of Southern Nevada
About the School
The College of Southern Nevada offers a Dental Assisting program that consists of classroom work, laboratory studies, and hands-on clinical experiences.
Students learn how to perform supportive dental procedures specified by the Nevada State Dental Practice Act.
They gain valuable work experience through clinical rotations and externship opportunities.
Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Dental Assistant exam, an exam recognized by the American Dental Association and facilitated through the Dental Assisting National Board.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant Certificate program includes 33 credits in total and covers courses on:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting
- Dental Health Education
- Dental Materials for Dental Assistants
- Dental Chairside Procedures
- Practice Management and Procedures
- Integrated Science for Dental Assistants
- Dental Radiology
- Dental Specialties
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89146
- Phone: 702-651-5000
- Website: https://www.csn.edu
2Las Vegas Dental Assistant School
About the School
Las Vegas Dental Assistant School provides a dental assistant course that is 12 weeks long.
The hybrid course has helped students start a new career in the dental field at a fraction of the cost of other schools.
The school provides affordable tuition and flexible payment plans to help students graduate debt-free.
The comprehensive hybrid learning program at Las Vegas Dental Assistant School includes in-person labs at a local office once a week, paired with at-home learning through self-paced online lectures during the week.
The curriculum is taught by passionate and knowledgeable school instructors.
Each week consists of a combination of pre-recorded lectures, online learning activities, and hands-on skills.
Lectures, online modules, and activities are completed by students during the week at their own pace.
These assignments are due weekly.
Tuition for this program is $2,750 if paid in full.
Contact Information
- Address: 2801 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102
- Phone: (702) 744-9702
- Website: https://lasvegasdentalassistant.com
3ATS Northern Nevada Dental Assisting School
About the School
ATS Northern Nevada Dental Assisting School offers students the chance to start a lifelong career as a Dental Assistant after ten weeks of training.
The school is operated by practicing dentists and their experienced dental assisting healthcare professional team.
The team uses the most advanced dental technology in the school’s state-of-the-art facility to prepare students for the real world.
Tuition for the Dental Assistant program is $4,950.
The program includes CPR Certification and OSHA/HIPAA training.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes the following courses:
- Intro to Dental Assisting
- Four-Handed Dentistry
- Radiology
- Office Management
- Oral Surgery and Periodontics, Lasers, Sedation
- Crown & Bridge
- Pediatric Dentistry
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5455 Kietzke Ln, Reno, NV 89511
- Phone: 775-548-6733
- Website: https://atsnorthernnevada.com
4Northwest Career College
About the School
Northwest Career College is a vocational and trade school in Las Vegas.
Among many other programs, the college provides a Dental Assistant pathway that leads to a Diploma.
Students may graduate in as few as nine months.
Financial aid is available.
Students learn from seasoned dental professionals, mastering everything from patient records and X-ray technology to essential dental procedures.
The curriculum is designed to help students develop both technical and soft skills needed for success in this career.
The dental school offers morning and night classes to accommodate students’ work and family schedules.
Courses Offered
Among many other skills, students learn:
- The procedures for dental radiography and safety
- Infection control and sterilization protocols
- Educate patients on oral hygiene and preventive care
- Identify and use various dental materials correctly
- Operate and maintain dental equipment and instruments
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 7398 Smoke Ranch Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89128
- Phone: 702-254-7577
- Website: https://www.northwestcareercollege.edu
5Pima Medical Institute
Pima Medical Institute has a campus in Las Vegas that was founded in 2003.
The campus is located off of Flamingo Road and Pecos Road.
Courses Offered
The institute provides a Dental Assistant program that can be completed in nine months.
Students learn how to work closely with a dental care team to ensure the best patient experience and assist in all phases of treatment, from oral care to administrative duties.
Courses focus on:
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Taking X-rays
- Sterilizing equipment
- Preparing materials for impressions
- And much more
The curriculum includes:
- Study Skills
- Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology
- Computer Basics
- Math Fundamentals
- Principles and Dentistry
- Principles of Dental Office Administration
- Dental Equipment and Materials
- Chairside Assisting and Clinical Procedures
- Charting Essentials
- Dental Radiography
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3333 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121
- Phone: 800-477-PIMA
- Website: https://pmi.edu
6The Accelerated Academy
About the School
The Accelerated Academy offers a Dental program available at several locations in the United States.
Classes are eight hours long and held one day per week (Friday or Saturday).
The classes are interactive and engaging with a curriculum that makes space for both lecture and hands-on learning opportunities.
Courses Offered
The program includes classes such as:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting, Sterilization, and CPR/BLS
- Radiology
- Impressions
- Four-handed dentistry, fillings, and X-ray exam
- Crown and Bridge
- Endodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontics, and Pedodontics
- Oral Surgery Implants, Parials, and Dentures
- Office Management, OSHA, State Guidelines, Seating a Patient, and Charting
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3555 NE Ralph Powell Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
- Phone: 866-805-3785
- Website: https://www.acceleratedacademy.us
7Unity Dental Assisting
About the School
Unity Dental Assisting offers a Dental Assisting Program that can be completed in 10 weeks.
The program is available in Arizona and Nevada.
New classes start every seven weeks.
The school offers online and hands-on training.
The structured curriculum is designed to combine watching, reading, and hands-on learning.
The program exposes students to a variety of modern dental technologies and trains them in a real dental practice setting.
Students may start earning a competitive salary as dental assistants in less than 80 days.
New classes start every seven weeks.
Tuition for this program is $2,850
Online e-Learning platform, scrubs, dental supplies, equipment, and materials cost $600.
Contact Information
- Address: 240 N Jones Blvd Suites B & C, Las Vegas, NV 89107
- Phone: (702) 487-7020
- Website: https://www.unityda.com
8Carrington College
Carrington College offers career training at Carrington’s Las Vegas College campus.
The college provides medical and dental programs.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting program at Carrington College trains students in all aspects of working with a dentist, including patient care, office, and laboratory duties.
This program is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Students learn:
- Preventive Dentistry & Dental Science
- Dental Office Protocols
- Dental Assisting Procedures
The Dental Assisting program may take up to two years to complete, depending on whether it’s a certificate, diploma, or degree.
Students may complete a certificate in Dental Assisting in as little as nine months.
They learn how to complete a variety of tasks, including:
- Caring for patients
- Handling dental records
- Scheduling appointments
- Cleaning dental equipment
Contact Information
- Address: 5740 S. Eastern Avenue, Suite 140, Las Vegas, NV 89119
- Phone: (702) 514-3236
- Website: https://carrington.edu
9United Education Institute
About the School
The United Education Institute is a technical school that provides hands-on training and industry-specific knowledge.
Diverse programs and flexible scheduling options are available.
The institute provides a range of vocational and trade programs to help students get started in a new career in as few as ten months.
The Las Vegas campus is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program at United Education Institute can be completed in ten months and includes eight-course modules and an externship.
The curriculum includes:
- Dental Science/Medical Emergencies
- Chairside Assisting
- Radiography
- Dental Material
- Preventive Dentistry
- Dental Specialties
- Prosthodontics/Administrative Assistant
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3450 S. Maryland Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: (725) 210-7098
- Website: https://www.uei.edu
10Milan Institute
Milan Institute offers healthcare, beauty, and massage career training programs in Sparks, Nevada.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program available at the institute can be completed in 36 weeks.
Students prepare to provide direct patient care, take x-rays, keep records, and schedule appointments.
The Dental Assistant program prepares students for an entry-level Dental Assistant position in dental offices.
Students learn how to:
- Schedule and confirm appointments
- Welcome patients to the office
- Process payments
- Inventory supplies
- Prepare instrument trays
- Assist the dentist during the examination and treatment of patients
- Handling required instruments to the dentist
- Using the suction and other instruments to keep the patient’s mouth clear
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 950 Industrial Way, Sparks, NV 89431
- Phone:775-393-2093
- Website: https://milaninstitute.edu
Regional Salary in Nevada
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | 110 | $45,690 | $21.97 | $58,120 | $35,480 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 2,820 | $45,800 | $22.02 | $58,660 | $34,860 |
| Reno, NV | 650 | $49,290 | $23.7 | $58,310 | $37,220 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Nevada is home to many trade schools and community colleges that offer programs designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as dental assistants in less than a year.
Now that you have read our selection of the best training programs in this field, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your budget, learning style, and career aspirations.
