Atlanta has several dental assistant training options, including public technical college programs, 8 to 13-week courses, and private career schools.
Costs range from about $3,090 to more than $15,000.
Dental Assistants annual average salary in Georgia is $39,588 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta Technical College is one of the strongest dental assisting options in the city.
It is a public technical college and a good fit for students who want a lower-cost program with a more traditional college structure.
Programs Offered
Atlanta Technical College offers a Dental Assisting Diploma and a Basic Dental Assisting Technical Certificate of Credit.
The diploma includes dental sciences, dental radiology, chairside assisting, infection control, dental materials, office procedures, and externship experience.
Tuition and Cost
The Dental Assisting Diploma program cost is estimated to be about $8,910.
The Basic Dental Assisting TCC estimated cost is about $3,090.
Students should also budget for:
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,000
- Uniforms: about $75 to $200
- CPR or health requirements: about $100 to $300
- Exam or certification costs: about $200 to $700
- Transportation to externship: varies
Program Length
The diploma is about 55 credit hours and may take around 6 terms.
The Basic Dental Assisting TCC is about 14 credit hours and may take around 2 terms.
Why It Stands Out
Atlanta Technical College stands out because it offers both a shorter certificate option and a fuller diploma pathway.
It is one of the best-value choices for students who want public technical college pricing.
Address: 1560 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
#2 Atlanta Dental Assistant School
Atlanta Dental Assistant School is a short-term program for students who want faster training and flexible payment options.
It is a good fit for beginners who want hands-on dental assisting skills without a long college schedule.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 12-week Dental Assistant program.
Training includes chairside assisting, dental instruments, sterilization, patient care, dental materials, dental office basics, and career preparation.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is about $3,850.
Payment options may include:
- Deposit: about $450
- Weekly payments: about $264.29 on one plan
- Pay-as-you-go weekly payments: about $192.86 on another plan
- Payment plan fee: about $300
- Books and supplies: ask if included
- Scrubs or uniform: about $50 to $150 if separate
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weeks.
Why It Stands Out
This is one of the faster and lower-cost dental assistant school options in Atlanta.
The payment plans are useful for students who want to avoid a large upfront tuition bill.
Address: 3098 Piedmont Road, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30305
#3 Dental Assisting School of Georgia
Dental Assisting School of Georgia offers short dental assistant training in the Atlanta area.
It is a good option for students who want a fast program with in-office training instead of a traditional classroom-only setup.
Programs Offered
The school offers a Basic Dental Assisting course.
Students train in a real dental office setting and learn entry-level clinical and office skills.
Training may include chairside assisting, dental instruments, sterilization, infection control, patient care, dental materials, and basic front office tasks.
Tuition and Cost
The listed cost is about $4,160.
That includes:
- Tuition: about $4,000
- Application fee: about $100
- Supplies and materials fee: about $60
Students should also ask about CPR, uniforms, books, and any exam-related costs before enrolling.
Program Length
The program takes about 8 weeks.
Why It Stands Out
This is one of the shortest Atlanta-area dental assistant programs.
The 8-week timeline may work well for students who want to start training quickly.
Address: 2221 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Suite 2-A, Atlanta, GA 30319
#4 Dental Assistant School of Atlanta
Dental Assistant School of Atlanta is located in the Atlanta metro area and offers a short dental assistant training program.
It is a good fit for students who want a focused program with lectures, labs, and financing options.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 13-week dental assistant program.
Students complete lectures and labs that cover chairside assisting, dental terminology, clinical procedures, sterilization, patient care, and dental office skills.
Tuition and Cost
Students should request the current tuition sheet before enrolling.
A practical short-program budget may include:
- Tuition: about $3,500 to $6,500
- Books and supplies: about $200 to $600
- Uniforms: about $50 to $150
- CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300
- Exam or application fees: about $100 to $500
Payment options may include CareCredit, GI Bill, MyCAA, WIOA, and other financing routes.
Program Length
The program takes about 13 weeks.
Why It Stands Out
Dental Assistant School of Atlanta stands out for its 13-week format and multiple payment options.
It may be useful for students who want short training but need help spreading out the cost.
Address: 1690 Stone Village Ln NW #421, Kennesaw, GA 3015
#5 Georgia Dental Assisting
Georgia Dental Assisting is an Atlanta-area dental assistant program that focuses on quick, practical training.
It is a good fit for students who want a short course with both lecture and internship time.
Programs Offered
The program includes dental assisting lectures, hands-on lab training, and internship experience with a practicing dentist.
Students learn chairside assisting, dental office procedures, sterilization, dental instruments, patient care, and basic clinical skills.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm current tuition before enrolling.
A practical estimate may include:
- Tuition: about $3,500 to $5,500
- Books and supplies: about $100 to $500
- Uniforms: about $50 to $150
- CPR or exam fees: about $75 to $300
- Registration or deposit: varies
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weeks.
It includes about 78 hours of lecture and lab, plus a 50-hour internship.
Why It Stands Out
Georgia Dental Assisting stands out because the program includes a 50-hour internship.
That can be helpful for beginners who want real dental office exposure before applying for jobs.
Address: 10956 GA-92 Woodstock, GA 30188
#6 Dental Staff School Georgia
Dental Staff School Georgia offers dental assistant training in the Atlanta metro area, with campus options near Atlanta, Marietta, Newnan, and Douglasville.
It is a good fit for students who want cross-training in both clinical and front office skills.
Programs Offered
The school offers a Cross Training Dental Assisting program.
It includes front office administration and EagleSoft training, along with clinical dental assistant skills.
Training may include chairside assisting, radiographic procedures, administrative duties, patient care, dental software, and dental office workflow.
Tuition and Cost
Students should request current pricing before enrolling.
A realistic short-program estimate may include:
- Tuition: about $3,500 to $6,500
- Books and materials: 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
Program length may vary by campus and schedule.
Many short dental assisting programs run about 10 to 13 weeks.
Why It Stands Out
Dental Staff School of Georgia stands out because it includes both dental assistant and front office training.
The EagleSoft software training may be useful for students who want to work in either clinical or administrative dental office roles.
Address: 3020 Roswell Road Suite 200 Matietta, GA 30062
#7 Fortis College, Smyrna
Fortis College is located in Smyrna, close to Atlanta.
It is a private career school and may be convenient for students in northwest Atlanta, Marietta, Vinings, and Smyrna.
Programs Offered
Fortis offers a Dental Assisting program.
The program covers chairside assisting, dental treatment room procedures, patient care, dental office tasks, clinical skills, and hands-on training.
Tuition and Cost
Estimated annual tuition and fees are around $14,929.
Students should also budget for:
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,200
- Uniforms: about $50 to $200
- Lab materials: ask if included
- Exam or certification costs: about $200 to $700
- Transportation: varies
A realistic total estimate may be about $15,500 to $17,500.
Program Length
The program can be completed in just under 1 year.
Why It Stands Out
Fortis is a good option for students who want a longer private-school dental assisting program near Atlanta.
It costs more than short programs, but it offers a more traditional career-college structure.
Address: 2140 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, GA 30080
#8 Gwinnett Technical College
Gwinnett Technical College is located in Lawrenceville, northeast of Atlanta.
It is a public technical college and may be a good fit for students in Gwinnett County or students willing to commute from Atlanta.
Programs Offered
Gwinnett Tech offers dental assisting training through its health sciences division.
Students learn patient care, dental radiographs, chairside assisting, scheduling, medical records, sterilization, impressions, and dental office procedures.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is about $107 per credit hour, plus fees.
A practical budget may include:
- Tuition and fees: about $3,500 to $6,100
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,000
- Uniforms: about $75 to $200
- CPR and health requirements: about $100 to $300
- Exam or certification costs: about $200 to $700
Program Length
Students should confirm the current course sequence with the school.
Many technical college dental assisting programs take about 9 to 12 months.
Why It Stands Out
Gwinnett Tech is a strong public college option near Atlanta.
It may be especially appealing for students who want lower tuition and access to Georgia financial aid programs.
Address: 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Schools Summary Table
Georgia 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 140 | $41,410 | $19.91 | $54,290 | $35,380 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 170 | $41,310 | $19.86 | $48,650 | $35,120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,980 | $47,840 | $23.00 | $59,150 | $37,300 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 670 | $41,610 | $20.01 | $51,460 | $33,720 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | 130 | $41,310 | $19.86 | $53,690 | $36,100 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 290 | $40,370 | $19.41 | $54,350 | $29,060 |
| Dalton, GA | 270 | $40,690 | $19.56 | $46,710 | $36,200 |
| Gainesville, GA | 200 | $43,430 | $20.88 | $54,310 | $36,060 |
| Hinesville, GA | 70 | $42,550 | $20.46 | $55,500 | $36,510 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | 190 | $39,870 | $19.17 | $48,030 | $35,100 |
| Rome, GA | 90 | $42,240 | $20.31 | $47,880 | $36,030 |
| Savannah, GA | 450 | $43,470 | $20.90 | $54,960 | $36,640 |
| Valdosta, GA | 120 | $41,130 | $19.78 | $47,690 | $35,170 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 160 | $41,630 | $20.01 | $49,400 | $34,740 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Georgia
