Lafayette has several dental assistant training options, including 9-week, 10-week, 12-week, and 6-month programs.
Costs range from about $2,875 to more than $15,000, depending on the school and format.
Dental Assistants annual average salary in Louisiana is $39,200 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Lafayette Dental Assistant School
Lafayette Dental Assistant School is a short-term dental assistant program for students who want a fast, local route into the field.
It is designed for beginners who want online coursework during the week and in-person practice on Saturdays.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 12-week Dental Assistant program.
Students complete weekly online lessons and about 4.5 hours of hands-on training each week in a dental office setting.
Training includes chairside assisting, dental instruments, sterilization, patient care, dental materials, office basics, and career preparation.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is about $3,350.
Students should ask what is included, but a practical budget may include:
- Tuition: about $3,350
- 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
- Transportation: varies
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weeks.
Address: 3231 Kaliste Saloom Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508
#2 Unitech Training Academy, Lafayette
Unitech Training Academy has a Lafayette campus and offers career training in healthcare.
It is a good fit for students who want a longer program with lab training, lectures, and clinical experience.
Programs Offered
Unitech offers a Dental Assisting program.
The program includes dental office procedures, laboratory techniques, chairside assisting, four-handed dentistry, appointment scheduling, charting, patient records, sterilization, dental materials, and clinical practice.
Tuition and Cost
The estimated program cost is about $10,495.
That may include:
- Tuition: about $10,145
- Books and supplies: about $350
- Registration fee: about $150
- Lab fee: about $50
- Uniforms: ask if included
- Transportation and personal costs: vary
Program Length
The program is about 600 hours and takes around 6 months.
Address: 3253 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Lafayette, LA 70506
#3 Accelerated Academy at Barras Family Dentistry
Accelerated Academy offers dental assistant training at Barras Family Dentistry in Lafayette.
It is a good fit for students who want a short hybrid program with in-person clinical training in a real dental office.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 10-week Dental Assisting program.
Students complete self-paced online lectures and in-office clinical training.
Hands-on sessions are about 4 hours each and cover chairside assisting, dental instruments, sterilization, patient care, dental materials, and basic clinical skills.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition generally ranges from about $2,999 to $4,299.
Students should ask about:
- Deposit: about $200
- Pay-in-full discount: about $300 when available
- 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
- Payment plan total: varies
Program Length
The program takes about 10 weeks, usually with 1 in-person session per week.
Address: 1700 Kaliste Saloom Road, Building 4Lafayette, LA 70508
#4 Acadiana Area Career College
Acadiana Area Career College is located in the Lafayette area and offers short career training programs.
It is a practical option for students who want a faster dental assistant course with a smaller school feel.
Programs Offered
The school offers a Dental Assistant program.
The program includes about 200 hours of training and covers chairside assisting, front office work, dental terminology, sterilization, patient care, dental instruments, and basic clinical procedures.
Tuition and Cost
Estimated tuition is about $2,875.
Students should also ask about:
- Deposit: about $200
- Books and supplies: about $100 to $500 if separate
- Scrubs or uniform: about $50 to $150
- CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300
- Exam or application costs: about $100 to $500
Program Length
The program takes about 9 weeks and includes about 200 hours of study.
Address: 505 Loire Ave suite e, Lafayette, LA 70507, United States
#5 Louisiana Dental Association EDDA Program
The Louisiana Dental Association offers Expanded Duty Dental Assistant training, including Lafayette-area course options when scheduled.
This is best for students who already have dental assisting experience and want to expand their duties.
Programs Offered
The EDDA course is designed for dental assistants who have practiced for at least 6 months and want to perform expanded duty dental assisting functions allowed under Louisiana rules.
Training includes lecture material, hands-on lab exercises, expanded duty functions, and a post-course competency exam.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm the current EDDA course fee before registering.
A practical budget may include:
- EDDA course tuition: about $500 to $1,500
- BLS or CPR course: about $75 to $150 if separate
- Radiology course: about $200 to $700 if needed
- Application or certificate fees: about $50 to $200
- Travel or parking: varies
Program Length
EDDA courses are often scheduled over a few days, depending on the session.
Students should confirm the exact Lafayette course dates before registering.
Address: 5637 Bankers Ave.Baton Rouge, LA 70808
#6 South Louisiana Community College
South Louisiana Community College is based in Lafayette and offers healthcare and workforce training programs.
It is best for students looking for dental office or online clinical dental assistant training rather than a traditional in-person dental assistant diploma.
Programs Offered
The school may offer dental assistant-related continuing education or online clinical dental assistant training through workforce partners.
Students should ask whether the current course includes chairside assisting, dental terminology, infection control, patient care, dental office procedures, exam preparation, and any local externship support.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm current pricing before enrolling.
A practical online-course budget may include:
- Course tuition: about $2,000 to $3,500
- Books and materials: ask if included
- Exam voucher: ask if included
- CPR or BLS: about $75 to $150 if separate
- Scrubs or hands-on supplies: about $50 to $150 if needed
Program Length
Online clinical dental assistant courses are often self-paced.
Many students should expect several months, depending on weekly study time.
Address: 1101 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506
Schools Summary Table
Louisiana 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 130 | $41,670 | $20.03 | $75,780 | $28,090 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 800 | $40,250 | $19.35 | $55,800 | $28,120 |
| Hammond, LA | 110 | $45,320 | $21.79 | $74,980 | $29,000 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 210 | $41,590 | $19.99 | $62,280 | $28,540 |
| Lafayette, LA | 580 | $43,600 | $20.96 | $77,220 | $29,520 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 230 | $38,480 | $18.50 | $47,790 | $26,830 |
| Monroe, LA | 270 | $39,350 | $18.92 | $53,920 | $27,990 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 890 | $42,730 | $20.54 | $48,070 | $33,680 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 400 | $40,650 | $19.54 | $59,040 | $28,740 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 390 | $42,630 | $20.50 | $72,160 | $29,530 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Louisiana
