New Orleans has several dental assistant training options, including 10-week, 12-week, online, and longer private college programs.
Costs range from about $2,980 to more than $20,000.
Dental Assistants annual average salary in Louisiana is $39,200 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 New Orleans Dental Assistant School
New Orleans Dental Assistant School is a short-term dental assistant program for students who want a faster and lower-cost route into the field.
It is designed for beginners who want online lessons during the week and hands-on practice on Saturdays.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 12-week Dental Assistant program.
Students complete online coursework and spend about 4.5 hours each week practicing 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 $3,650.
Students should ask what is included, but a practical budget may include:
- Tuition: about $3,650
- 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: 2901 Independence St., Suite 101Metairie, LA 70006
#2 Blue Cliff College, Metairie
Blue Cliff College is located in Metairie, close to New Orleans.
It is a private career college and may be a good fit for students who want a longer dental assisting diploma program with a more traditional career-school structure.
Programs Offered
Blue Cliff College offers a Dental Assisting diploma program.
The program includes chairside assisting, dental radiography, infection control, dental materials, patient care, dental anatomy, dental office procedures, and clinical dental assisting skills.
Tuition and Cost
The total program cost is about $20,872.
That includes:
- Tuition: about $18,615
- Fees: about $2,207
- Graduation fee: about $50
- 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 with the campus.
Many private dental assisting diploma programs run about 9 to 12 months.
Address: 3908 Veterans Memorial Blvd Suite A, Metairie, LA 70002, United States
#3 Accelerated Academy, Metairie
Accelerated Academy offers a dental assisting program in Metairie, making it a nearby option for New Orleans students.
It is a good fit for students who want a short hybrid program in a real dental office environment.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 10-week Dental Assisting program.
Students complete online lessons and in-person clinical training.
The program covers chairside assisting, dental instruments, sterilization, patient care, dental materials, dental office basics, and hands-on clinical skills.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm current tuition before enrolling.
A practical short-program budget may include:
- Deposit: about $200
- Tuition: about $2,500 to $5,000
- 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
Program Length
The program takes about 10 weeks.
Address: 1304 Clearview PkwyMetairie, LA 70001
#4 Top Tier Dental Assisting School
Top Tier Dental Assisting School is a short dental assistant training option for students in the New Orleans area.
It is a good fit for students who want a lower-cost program with a clear payment structure.
Programs Offered
The school offers a Dental Assisting Training program.
Training includes chairside assisting, dental terminology, sterilization, dental instruments, patient care, dental office basics, and entry-level clinical dental skills.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is about $2,980.
Payment details may include:
- Initial tuition payment: about $1,000 before the program begins
- Additional payments: about $198 before each class
- Total tuition: about $2,980
- 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
Students should confirm the current schedule before enrolling.
Short dental assisting programs often run about 10 to 12 weeks.
Address: 4061 Behrman Hwy., New Orleans, LA 70114
#5 Delgado Community College
Delgado Community College is based in New Orleans and offers online dental assistant training through its continuing education and career training options.
It is best for students who need flexibility and are comfortable learning online.
Programs Offered
Delgado offers an online Clinical Dental Assistant course with exam vouchers included.
The course covers dental terminology, dental anatomy, infection control, patient care, dental office procedures, clinical assisting basics, and preparation for NELDA or CDA-related exams.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm current online course pricing before enrolling.
A practical budget may include:
- Course tuition: about $2,000 to $3,500
- Books and materials: ask if included
- Exam vouchers: may be included
- CPR or BLS: about $75 to $150 if separate
- Scrubs or hands-on supplies: about $50 to $150 if needed
- Local externship or clinical costs: ask before enrolling
Program Length
The course is online and self-paced.
Many students should expect several months, depending on weekly study time.
Address: 615 City Park Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119
#6 University of New Orleans Professional and Continuing Education
The University of New Orleans offers online career training options, including clinical dental assistant training.
It is a good fit for students who want a university-affiliated online course rather than a campus-based dental assisting program.
Programs Offered
UNO offers an online Clinical Dental Assistant course with vouchers included.
The course includes dental anatomy, dental terminology, infection control, chairside assisting basics, patient care, dental records, office procedures, and exam preparation.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm the current tuition before enrolling.
A practical online-course budget may include:
- Course tuition: about $2,000 to $3,500
- Exam voucher: ask if included
- Books and materials: ask if included
- CPR or BLS: about $75 to $150 if separate
- Scrubs or supplies: about $50 to $150 if needed
- Optional hands-on training costs: varies
Program Length
The program is online and self-paced.
Many students should expect several months to complete it, depending on their schedule.
Address: 2000 Lakeshore DriveNew Orleans, LA 70148
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
