Dental Assisting Pathway
Does your student want to literally make people smile? If you could see them taking x-rays, performing cleanings, and teaching proper oral hygiene, then a career in dentistry might be just what the doctor ordered.
First, we offer a project-based learning curriculum that will hone your student’s problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills and give them exposure to what being a dental assistant is really like. They’ll get practice creating and updating dental charts, setting up dental trays, taking vital signs, and identifying dental health issues.
Second, our curriculum is designed to give your student the credentials necessary to go right into a great job as a dental assistant making nearly $40,000 per year—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees.2 The tuition-free program includes exam prep for the NOCTI Dental Assisting and DANB National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA®) certification exams, both highly regarded industry credentials. We also jumpstart your job search by helping you create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo—the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, you connect virtually to working professionals in the dentistry field through Nepris.*
Our Dental Assisting Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes that Dental Assisting Pathway students take, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Great News
Stride Career Prep programs with the Dental Assisting Pathway are available in our tuition-free K12-powered, fully accredited, public online schools in the following states: California.
Don’t see your state? There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Medical Assisting pathway!
Occupational Spotlight
Sort by category
Dental Assistant
Dental assistants provide patient care, take X-rays, maintain and update dental records, and schedule appointments. Requirements vary by state; some states require dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$37,939
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
23,400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
7% (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED plus national certification like DANB
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists examine patients for signs of oral diseases, such as gingivitis, and provide preventive care, including oral hygiene. Dental hygienists must be licensed in their state and typically are required to complete an associate’s degree.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$70,157
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
13,300
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
6% (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to become a dental assistant or dental hygienist?
To become a dental assistant, you need to complete a dental assistant program, such as the one we offer, and pass an exam for certification such as the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA®) certificate. Exam prep for this certification is part of our tuition-free program.
Dental hygienists will also need an associate’s degree.
How can you prepare for a career as a dental assistant or dental hygienist while still in high school? What classes should you take?
You can prepare for a career as a dental assistant while still in high school by taking courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and—if the high school offers this option—special classes in dental assisting. One of the best things to do while in high school, of course, is to work or volunteer in a dentist’s office!
We offer a Dental Assisting Pathway in which students take classes in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, plus three semesters of dental assisting. We also provide test prep for the NOCTI Dental Assisting certification exam or the DANB National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA®) certification exam.
How much does a dental assistant make in 2020?
The starting salary for a dental assistant is nearly $38,000 per year—not bad for a profession that doesn’t require a college degree! And the outlook for this profession is great, with demand for dental assistants expected to grow by 7% in the next decade.1
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear How Stride Career Prep Can Work for Your Teen
Thinking this might be a good fit for your student and interested in learning more from current Stride Career Prep students, families, and teachers? Submit questions to people that experience our program firsthand and get direct answers!
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.