Trade Schools
If you want to start a dental assisting profession in the state of Wisconsin, this page is for you.
Dental assisting, as a profession, is expected to continue to grow in the future.
According to BLS, 54,900 new job openings for dental assistants will occur over the next decade across the nation.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in this profession, you have to learn to perform the tasks that will be included in your job description, tasks such as:
- Greeting patients
- Preparing patients and work areas for procedures
- Sterilizing dental instruments
- Instructing patients on proper oral hygiene
- Processing x-rays
- Handing instruments to dentists during procedures
- Scheduling patient appointments
- And more
Wisconsin is home to many schools that can prepare you for a career in this profession through a combination of classroom and hands-on education.
The programs are typically flexible, to allow students to keep a full-time job while preparing for a new career.
Below we have compiled information about ten of the best options.
1St. Ambrose University
About the School
St. Ambrose University offers a variety of comprehensive workforce certificate programs tailored to meet the needs of both learners and organizations.
Students have the chance to boost their careers with industry-recognized certifications and fully online and self-paced learning.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program at St. Ambrose University helps students join the growing healthcare field and gain in-demand skills needed to provide excellent dental care.
The program can be completed in four to six months with a 15-20 hours per week time commitment.
Tuition for this program is $4,000 if paid in full.
The program covers the history of dentistry, introduction to dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, introduction to oral anatomy, dental operatory, introduction to tooth structure, the oral cavity, and other areas.
Contact Information
- Address: 518 W Locust St, Davenport, IA 52803, United States
- Phone: (563) 362-9040
- Website: https://workforce.sau.edu
2National Dental Academy of Wisconsin
About the School
National Dental Academy of Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s top-rate state-approved dental assistant program.
The program is designed to help students become dental assistants in just ten Saturdays.
Classes are kept small to help students get personalized, hands-on training.
Clinical class sizes never exceed seven students.
The program is available in Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Racine, and Wausau.
Courses Offered
The program covers topics such as Dental Terminology, Dental Anatomy, Anesthetics, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Dental Office Management, Dental Office Management, and more.
The first four weeks of class are live online lectures that require students to be present for each Saturday.
Weeks five to nine consist of clinical rotations, with a portion of week nine set aside as a review for the final exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 East Bridge Street Wausau, WI 54403
- Phone: (715) 298-4447
- Website: https://nationaldentalacademy.org
3Northeast WI Technical College
About the School
Northeast WI Technical College offers a Dental Assistant Technical Diploma that prepares students to work with dentists as they examine and treat patients.
Students learn how to carry out a variety of laboratory, clinical, and office duties, including patient scheduling and bookkeeping functions.
They have the opportunity to achieve certification as dental assistants by passing the Dental Assistant National Board.
The Dental Assistant program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers:
- Dental & General Anatomy
- Dental Health Safety
- Dental Office Management
- Dental Assistant Professional
- Dental Radiography
- Dental Chairside
- Dental Materials
- And more
In total, the program awards 34 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 2740 West Mason St Green Bay, WI 54303
- Phone: 920-498-5444
- Website: https://www.nwtc.edu
4University of Wisconsin Whitewater
About the School
The University of Wisconsin Whitewater offers an online Clinical Dental Assistant program that prepares students to handle a variety of tasks, from assisting with treatment procedures to administrative duties.
This fully online course helps students gain the technical skills needed for a career as a dental assistant.
After successfully completing this course, students receive vouchers to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, Physiology, Infection Control, and Radiation Health and Safety portions of the Dental Assisting National Board exams.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- The Dental Profession
- Ethics for the Dental Assistant
- Dental Anatomy
- Infection Control
- Hazardous Materials
- Caring for Exceptional Patients
- Dental Instruments
- Introduction to Chairside Assisting
- New Patients and Charting
- Preventive Care
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 800 W. Main St. Whitewater, WI 53190
- Phone: 262-472-1234
- Website: https://www.uww.edu
5Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College provides a Dental Assistant program that leads to a Technical Diploma.
The 16-credit program can be completed in one semester.
Financial Aid is available.
This program costs approximately $3,300.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Dental Health Safety
- Dental Chairside
- Dental Materials
- Dental & General Anatomy
- Applied Dental Radiography
- Dental Assistant Clinical Lab
- Dental Assistant Clinical Experience
- Dental Assistant Professional
After completing the program, students are ready to:
- Perform a variety of entry-level supportive dental procedures
- Manage infection and hazard control
- Produce diagnostic radiographs
- Perform basic dental laboratory procedures
- Demonstrate professional behaviors, ethics, and appearance
Contact Information
- Address: 1705 Hoffman Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
- Phone: 608.616.1250
- Website: https://madisoncollege.edu
6Gateway Technical College
About the School
Gateway Technical College prepares students for a stable career with an intensive program that can be completed in less than one year.
Students gain 300 hours of clinical chairside experience at the only technical college program in southeast Wisconsin with accreditation from the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
The college has state-of-the-art labs designed to simulate a professional dental practice and equipped with the tools used in the field.
Students gain real-world experience from clinical internships and Service Learning volunteer work.
The estimated tuition and fees sum up to approximately $6,300.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers:
- Dental Health Safety
- Dental Radiography
- Dental Materials
- Dental Assistant Clinical
- Dental Assistant Professionalism
- Dental Office Management
- Dental Laboratory Procedure
- And more
In total, the program includes 33 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 3520 – 30th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144
- Phone: 800-247-7122
- Website: https://www.gtc.edu
7Fox Valley Technical College
About the School
Fox Valley Technical College offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students for work as an integral member of the dental health team.
Students graduate with a diploma and are ready to give chairside assistance and conduct lab procedures under the direction of the dentist.
They learn how to disinfect and sterilize dental instruments, record dental histories, and vital signs, and manage dental and medical emergencies.
The program also covers dental procedures, equipment, and radiographs.
At the end of the program, graduates have the opportunity to achieve certification by taking and passing the Dental Assistant National Board.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Tuition and fees for this program cost approximately $6,500.
Courses Offered
The course list includes:
- Dental Health Safety
- Dental Radiography
- Dental Materials
- Dental Chairside
- Dental Assistant Clinical
- Dental Assistant Professional
- Dental Laboratory Procedures
- Dental Radiography- Advanced
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1825 N. Bluemound Drive, Appleton, WI 54914-1643
- Phone: 800-735-FVTC (3882)
- Website: https://www.fvtc.edu
8Mid-State Technical College
About the School
Mid-State Technical College offers a Dental Assistant Technical Diploma that prepares students for patient care and laboratory duties.
Students gain confidence in their skills while receiving practical training at one of the school’s dental office partners.
With full-time attendance, the program can be completed in six months.
The program awards 16 credits.
The total estimated cost is approximately $3,400.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers courses such as:
- Dental Health Safety
- Dental Chairside
- Dental Materials
- Dental & General Anatomy
- Applied Dental Radiography
- Dental Assistant Clinical
- Dental Assistant Professional
Contact Information
- Address: 401 N Main StreetAdams, Wisconsin 53910
- Phone: 608.339.3379
- Website: https://www.mstc.edu
9Waukesha County Technical College
Waukesha County Technical College offers a variety of programs designed to help students reach their educational and career goals.
Courses Offered
Waukesha County Technical College offers a 16-credit Technical Diploma program available on campus.
Students learn to use dental equipment, expose and process radiographs, assist with dental emergencies, record medical and dental information, maintain a supply inventory, and perform other dental office and laboratory procedures under the direction of a dentist.
The program can be completed in less than one year.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072
- Phone: 262.691.5566
- Website: https://www.wctc.edu
10Western Technical College
About the School
Western Technical College offers a Dental Assistant program that includes 34 credits.
The courses included in this program are designed to equip students with the skills necessary to excel in private sectors, dental groups, or governmental agencies focused on dental services.
The curriculum covers four-handed dentistry, dental anatomy, radiography techniques, oral hygiene principles, adherence to OSHA standards, and effective communication.
After completing the program, students have the chance to enhance their credentials by pursuing certification through the Dental Assisting National Board examination.
Courses Offered
Dental assisting students take courses such as:
- Dental Health Safety
- Dental & General Anatomy
- Dental Radiography
- Dental Chairside
- Dental Office Management
- Dental Assistant Professional
- Dental Laboratory Procedures
Contact Information
- Address: 400 7th Street North, La Crosse, WI 54601
- Phone: 608-785-9200
- Website: https://www.westerntc.edu
Regional Salary in Wisconsin
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 350 | $46,890 | $22.55 | $56,810 | $38,990 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 290 | $44,810 | $21.55 | $55,810 | $38,210 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 120 | $46,460 | $22.34 | $56,000 | $38,350 |
| Green Bay, WI | 420 | $45,480 | $21.87 | $54,340 | $38,130 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 170 | $44,480 | $21.39 | $48,540 | $38,000 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 240 | $46,400 | $22.31 | $52,390 | $38,670 |
| Madison, WI | 840 | $47,210 | $22.7 | $56,610 | $38,540 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 1,890 | $45,850 | $22.04 | $55,140 | $38,780 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 200 | $44,450 | $21.37 | $52,120 | $37,710 |
| Racine, WI | 190 | $44,640 | $21.46 | $47,800 | $39,110 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 140 | $48,970 | $23.54 | $71,260 | $38,420 |
| Wausau, WI | 280 | $44,000 | $21.16 | $50,210 | $37,650 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a career as a dental assistant, the schools included in our list can prepare you for your first job in this profession in less than a year.
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assistant schools in Wisconsin, it’s time to continue the research and choose the format and the school that best fits your lifestyle.
