Orlando has several dental assistant school options, including public technical college training, private career schools, and short 8 to 13-week programs.
Costs range from about $2,795 to more than $18,000.
Dental Assistants annual average salary in Florida is $38,769 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Orange Technical College
Orange Technical College is one of the strongest public training options in Orlando.
It is a good fit for students who want a full dental assisting program at a public technical college.
Programs Offered
Orange Technical College offers a Dental Assisting Technology and Management program.
Training includes clinical assisting, expanded functions, dental anatomy, dental terminology, infection control, dental radiography, dental office emergencies, dental specialty procedures, ethics, asepsis, pharmacology, and anesthesia basics.
Tuition and Cost
Students should request the current cost sheet from Orange Technical College.
A practical budget may include:
- Tuition and fees: about $4,000 to $6,500
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,000
- Uniforms: about $100 to $250
- CPR and health requirements: about $100 to $300
- Exam or certification fees: about $200 to $700
A realistic total estimate is about $5,000 to $8,000.
Program Length
The program is typically about 1,230 hours and can often be completed in about 12 months.
Why It Stands Out
Orange Technical College is a strong option because it offers a full public technical college program with expanded functions and dental radiography training.
Address: https://www.orangetechcollege.net/home
#2 Concorde Career Institute, Orlando
Concorde Career Institute is a private healthcare career school in Orlando.
It is a good fit for students who want a structured private-school program with labs, career services, and externship experience.
Programs Offered
Concorde offers a Dental Assistant program.
Students study chairside assisting, dental radiography, dental sciences, infection control, dental materials, dental office procedures, and patient care.
The program includes real-world clinical training and off-site experience.
Tuition and Cost
Estimated program costs are commonly around $18,000 to $19,500.
Students should ask for a current cost sheet covering:
- Tuition and fees: about $18,000 to $19,500
- Books and supplies: about $700 to $1,200
- Uniforms and lab materials: ask if included
- Application fee: about $100
- Exam or certification costs: about $200 to $700
Program Length
The program can be completed in about 9 months.
Why It Stands Out
Concorde is a practical option for students who want a private healthcare school with a clear timeline and externship support.
It is more expensive than public technical college training, but the program structure may appeal to students who want a guided path.
Address: 3444 McCrory Place, Orlando, FL 32803
#3 Academy for Dental Assistants
Academy for Dental Assistants offers short dental assistant training in the Orlando area.
It is a good fit for students who want a 12-week program with included Florida dental certifications.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 12-week Entry-Level Dental Assistant Training Program.
The program includes Expanded Functions Dental Assistant certification, Dental Radiology certification, state board exams, and a 200-hour externship at a general dental office.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is about $2,795 when paid in full.
Payment plan pricing may include:
- Deposit: about $600
- Weekly payments: 12 payments of about $195
- Payment plan total: about $2,940
- Finance charge: about $145
- Supplies: not included
- Optional printed handouts binder: about $200
- Textbook: about $140
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weeks, followed by a 200-hour externship.
Why It Stands Out
Academy for Dental Assistants is one of the lower-cost Orlando options.
It stands out because EFDA and dental radiology certifications are included in the program cost.
Address: 4995 49th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33709
#4 LJ Dental Assisting School
LJ Dental Assisting School is an Orlando dental assistant school that trains students in a dental office setting.
It is a good fit for students who want a short program with hands-on clinical exposure.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 12-week dental assistant program.
Students complete 200 hours and must pass with a score of 70% or higher.
The program includes EFDA, radiology, CPR certification, hands-on clinical training, dental equipment use, X-ray training, and general dentistry procedures.
Tuition and Cost
Students should ask for the current tuition amount before enrolling.
A practical short-program budget may include:
- Tuition: about $3,000 to $6,000
- Books and supplies: ask if included
- Uniforms: about $50 to $150
- CPR: included in the program
- EFDA and radiology certifications: included
- Exam or application fees: about $100 to $500 if separate
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weeks and includes about 200 hours.
Why It Stands Out
LJ Dental Assisting School stands out because the program includes EFDA, radiology, and CPR certifications.
The 200-hour structure is also useful for beginners who want more hands-on practice.
Address: 701 E Oak St, Suite B, Kissimmee, FL 34744
#5 Dental Assisting Institute
Dental Assisting Institute is located in Orlando and offers dental assistant training in a real dental office environment.
It is a good fit for working adults who want a short program with small classes.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 13-week Dental Assisting program.
Training includes dental procedures, radiology, patient care, sterilization, infection control, practice management, dental X-rays, and hands-on dental office skills.
Class sizes are capped at about 12 students.
Tuition and Cost
The total program cost is about $5,429.
Payment options may include:
- Full program cost: about $5,429
- Four payments: about $1,357.25 each
- Books and supplies: ask if included
- Uniforms: about $50 to $150 if separate
- CPR or certification fees: ask if included
Program Length
The program takes about 13 weeks, with classes held 1 day per week.
Why It Stands Out
Dental Assisting Institute stands out for its small class size, real dental office training, and 13-week schedule.
It is a practical option for students who want hands-on learning without a year-long program.
Address: 7932 W Sand Lake Rd, Suite 302, Orlando, FL 32819
#6 Dental Assisting Academy of Central Florida
Dental Assisting Academy of Central Florida offers a short dental assistant program in the Orlando area.
It is a good fit for students who want one of the fastest routes into basic dental assisting training.
Programs Offered
The school offers an 8-week Dental Assisting program.
The curriculum includes hands-on training and beginner dental assistant preparation.
Classes are limited to about 15 students per group.
Tuition and Cost
Students should request the current tuition sheet before enrolling.
A practical short-program budget may include:
- Tuition: about $2,500 to $5,000
- Books and supplies: about $100 to $500
- Uniforms: about $50 to $150
- CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300
- Exam or application fees: about $100 to $500
Program Length
The program takes about 8 weeks.
Why It Stands Out
This is one of the fastest dental assisting programs in the Orlando area.
The 8-week format may work well for students who want a short, focused program with small class sizes.
Address: 5979 Vineland Rd, Suite 205, Orlando, FL 32819
#7 DAPA Dental Assistant Program
DAPA offers dental assistant training in Florida and may be useful for Orlando-area students who want a weekend-based entry-level EFDA and radiology course.
Programs Offered
DAPA offers a 12-weekend Entry-Level EFDA with Radiology program.
It is designed for students with no previous dental experience.
The course includes hands-on training and preparation for Florida dental assisting duties.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm the current tuition before enrolling.
A practical budget may include:
- Tuition: about $2,500 to $5,000
- Books and supplies: about $100 to $500
- Uniforms: about $50 to $150
- CPR: about $75 to $150 if separate
- EFDA and radiology fees: ask if included
- Exam or application fees: about $100 to $500
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weekends.
Why It Stands Out
DAPA may work well for students who want weekend training and Florida EFDA with radiology preparation.
It is best for students who need a schedule outside the traditional Monday through Friday format.
Address: 5107 Andrus Ave, Orlando, FL 32804
Schools Summary Table
Florida Salary by Metro Area
This table provides a breakdown of average salaries by metro area, showing how wages differ across regions within the state using recent BLS data.
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 800 | $47,490 | $22.83 | $59,450 | $39,090 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 250 | $45,860 | $22.05 | $56,440 | $35,480 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 610 | $42,840 | $20.60 | $53,030 | $30,200 |
| Gainesville, FL | 360 | $44,820 | $21.55 | $55,900 | $35,870 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 70 | $43,280 | $20.81 | $53,830 | $33,920 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 2,020 | $44,370 | $21.33 | $57,460 | $25,120 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 470 | $45,640 | $21.94 | $57,390 | $37,560 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 7,190 | $46,810 | $22.50 | $57,950 | $38,510 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 510 | $56,550 | $27.19 | $72,380 | $41,760 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 1,210 | $50,900 | $24.47 | $60,520 | $39,350 |
| Ocala, FL | 330 | $43,660 | $20.99 | $54,460 | $35,300 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 2,980 | $46,780 | $22.49 | $56,910 | $37,920 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 710 | $46,480 | $22.35 | $57,020 | $38,290 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | 150 | $45,710 | $21.98 | $54,760 | $37,330 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 460 | $44,240 | $21.27 | $55,820 | $34,790 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 390 | $44,530 | $21.41 | $56,620 | $31,200 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 170 | $45,570 | $21.91 | $57,390 | $36,710 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | 200 | $42,860 | $20.61 | $49,560 | $37,950 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 320 | $41,310 | $19.86 | $49,920 | $28,920 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 3,000 | $47,550 | $22.86 | $57,620 | $33,200 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | 90 | $46,240 | $22.23 | $57,050 | $36,390 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, FL7 Schools
- Jacksonville, FL6 Schools
- Miami, FL7 Schools
- Orlando, FL7 Schools
- Tampa, FL6 Schools
