7 Best Dental Assistant Schools in Chicago, IL

Chicago Dental Assistant School is a short-term training option for students who want a faster path into dental assisting.

It is designed for beginners who want hands-on practice 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, office basics, and career preparation.

Tuition and Cost

Tuition is about $3,950.

Students should ask what is included, but a practical budget may include:

• Tuition: about $3,950
• Weekly payment plans: as low as about $100 per week
• Books and supplies: ask if included
• Scrubs or uniform: about $50 to $150 if separate
• CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300 if separate

Program Length

The program takes about 12 weeks.

Why It Stands Out

This is one of the quicker dental assistant school options in Chicago.

The 12-week format and weekly payment plans can work well for students who want a shorter, lower-debt route.

Novera Dental Assisting Center is a Chicago dental assistant school focused on fast, hands-on training.

It is a good fit for students who want a short program with a clear tuition price.

Programs Offered

Novera offers a Dental Assisting program that includes course materials, dental supplies, equipment use, instruments, and a graduation certificate.

Students train in chairside assisting, dental instruments, patient care, sterilization, dental materials, and basic dental office skills.

Tuition and Cost

Tuition is about $3,050 if paid up front.

A weekly payment option is about $320 per week for 10 weeks, or about $3,200 total.

The tuition includes:

• Course materials
• Dental supplies used in training
• Use of equipment and instruments
• Graduation certificate

Program Length

The program takes about 10 weeks.

Why It Stands Out

Novera stands out because it has one of the lowest listed tuition prices in Chicago and a short 10-week schedule.

It is a practical option for students who want a fast local program.

Arch Dental Assistant School has a Chicago location and offers a short hybrid dental assistant program.

It is a good fit for students who want online flexibility with limited in-person lab weekends.

Programs Offered

Arch offers a Dental Assistant program with online coursework and 2 weekends of in-person labs.

Training includes dental terminology, chairside assisting, sterilization, patient care, dental office basics, and exam preparation.

Tuition and Cost

Tuition is about $2,490.

Students should also ask about:

• Books and materials: ask if included
• Lab supplies: ask if included
• Scrubs or uniform: about $50 to $150 if separate
• CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300 if separate
• Payment plan fees: vary

Program Length

The program takes about 10 weeks.

The hands-on portion includes 2 in-person lab weekends.

Why It Stands Out

Arch is one of the lowest-cost Chicago dental assistant programs.

It may work well for students who need online flexibility and only want to attend in-person labs on a limited schedule.

Midwestern Career College is a private career college in Chicago.

It is a good fit for students who want a longer program with classroom training, lab work, and externship experience.

Programs Offered

MCC offers a Dental Assisting program.

Students train in dental anatomy, chairside assisting, radiography, infection control, dental materials, patient care, office procedures, and clinical skills.

The program includes about 300 hours of externship experience.

Tuition and Cost

Students should request the current tuition sheet before enrolling.

A practical private-school budget may include:

• Tuition and fees: about $12,000 to $17,000
• Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,200
• Uniforms: about $50 to $200
• Lab materials: ask if included
• Exam or certification fees: about $200 to $700
• Transportation to externship: varies

Program Length

Students should confirm the current schedule with the school.

Many private dental assisting programs take about 9 to 12 months.

Why It Stands Out

Midwestern Career College stands out because of its 300-hour externship.

That is useful for students who want more real clinical exposure before entering the job market.

Mile Square Health Center offers an affordable dental assistant certification program connected to the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System.

It is a strong option for students who qualify and want a low-cost route into dental assisting.

Programs Offered

The Dental Assistant Certification Program includes lecture, lab training, hands-on practice, and externship experience.

The program includes:

• 21 hours of lecture
• 21 hours of lab and hands-on training
• 40 hours of externship
• 82 total hours

Tuition and Cost

Students are typically responsible for about $300 for textbooks and uniforms when funding is available.

Students should also ask about:

• Application requirements
• Eligibility rules
• CPR requirements
• Transportation to externship
• Any additional supply or testing costs

Program Length

The program includes about 82 total hours.

Students should confirm the current class schedule and cohort dates.

Why It Stands Out

This is one of the lowest-cost dental assistant training options in Chicago for eligible students.

The combination of lecture, lab, and externship makes it especially useful for beginners.

Northwest Suburban College is located in Rolling Meadows, northwest of Chicago.

It is a private health sciences college and may be useful for students in the northwest suburbs or students willing to commute.

Programs Offered

The school offers a Dental Assistant Certificate program.

Training includes chairside assisting, lab procedures, radiographs, patient records, clinical skills, and administrative dental office work.

Tuition and Cost

The Dental Assistant Certificate program costs about $11,584.

That estimate includes:

• Tuition: about $11,034
• Additional fees: about $550
• Books and supplies: ask if included
• Uniforms: about $50 to $200 if separate
• Exam or certification fees: about $200 to $700 if separate

Program Length

Students should confirm the current schedule before enrolling.

Accelerated healthcare certificate programs often run for several months.

Why It Stands Out

Northwest Suburban College is a mid-priced private option compared with larger private programs.

It may work well for students who want a suburban campus and a career-focused health sciences school.

Dental Academy of Chicago is a Chicago-area dental training option for students who want chairside dental assistant training.

It is a good fit for students looking for a focused local program.

Programs Offered

The school offers a chairside dental assistant course.

Training may include dental instruments, chairside procedures, sterilization, infection control, patient care, and dental office basics.

Students should ask whether radiography, CPR, externship hours, and job placement support are included.

Tuition and Cost

The chairside dental assistant course has been listed at around $6,000.

Students should ask for the current tuition sheet and confirm:

• Tuition: about $6,000
• Books and supplies: about $100 to $500 if separate
• Uniforms: about $50 to $150
• CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300
• Exam or application costs: about $100 to $500

Program Length

Students should confirm the current program length before enrolling.

Many shorter dental assistant programs run about 10 to 13 weeks.

Why It Stands Out

Dental Academy of Chicago may work well for students who want a focused chairside dental assistant course without choosing a longer private college program.