Houston has many dental assistant training options, including short 10‑ to 12‑week programs, community college certificates, hybrid and online courses, and longer private career‑school programs.
Costs range from about $2,000 for online options to more than $20,000 for extended private programs.
Dental Assistants annual average salary in Texas is $40,073 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Houston Dental Assistant School
Houston Dental Assistant School is a short‑term program designed for students who want fast, entry‑level training.
It is a good fit for beginners who prefer a focused schedule with online coursework and hands‑on clinic sessions.
Programs Offered
The school offers a 12‑week Dental Assistant program.
Training typically includes chairside assisting, dental instruments, sterilization, infection control, patient care basics, dental materials, dental office procedures, and radiology preparation.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is about $3,650.
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
- CPR or certification fees: about $75 to $300 if separate
- Transportation: varies
Program Length
The program takes about 12 weeks.
Address: 23123 Cinco Ranch Blvd #230, Katy, TX 77494
#2 Houston Community College
Houston Community College (HCC) is one of the main public college options in the area.
It is a good choice for students who want a lower‑tuition college training route with options through continuing education or workforce programs.
Programs Offered
HCC offers dental assisting‑related training, including:
- Dental Assistant certificate courses
- Clinical fundamentals
- Infection control
- Dental office procedures
- Radiology basics
- Patient care preparation
Students should confirm whether hands‑on lab hours and externship options are currently included.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm current program fees, but a practical budget may include:
- Course tuition: about $2,000 to $4,000
- Books and supplies: about $100 to $500
- Scrubs or uniform: about $50 to $150
- CPR or BLS: about $75 to $150 if separate
- Exam or certification fees: about $100 to $500
Program Length
Program length can vary widely.
Workforce or continuing education dental assistant programs often take several months, depending on weekly study and clinical hours.
Address: 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA 92123
#3 Concorde Career College, Houston
Concorde Career College is a private healthcare career school with a Houston campus.
It is a good fit for students who want a structured dental assistant diploma with labs and externship experience.
Programs Offered
Concorde offers a Dental Assistant diploma program.
Coursework generally includes:
- Dental anatomy and terminology
- Chairside assisting
- Dental radiography
- Infection control
- Dental materials
- Patient care
- Dental office procedures
- Clinical skills
- Tuition and Cost
Estimated total program costs are about $17,000 to $20,000.
A practical budget may include:
- Tuition and fees: about $17,000 to $20,000
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,500
- Uniforms and lab materials: ask if included
- Application fee: about $100
- CPR or certification fees: about $200 to $700
- Transportation to externship: varies
Program Length
The program can usually be completed in about 9 months.
Address: 12606 Greenville Ave #130, Dallas, TX 75243
#4 Southern Careers Institute, Houston
Southern Careers Institute has a Houston campus and offers healthcare career programs.
It is a good option for students who want a private career‑school setting with hands‑on training and preparation for dental office work.
Programs Offered
SCI offers a Dental Assistant program.
Training includes chairside assisting, dental radiography, infection control, dental materials, patient care, dental office procedures, and clinic experience.
Tuition and Cost
Students should request current Houston campus pricing before enrolling.
A practical budget may include:
- Tuition and fees: about $15,000 to $20,000
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,500
- Uniforms and lab materials: about $100 to $500
- Exam or certification fees: about $200 to $700
- Transportation: varies
Program Length
The program is commonly completed in about 8 to 12 months.
Address: 6963 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238
#5 PCI Health Training Center, Houston
PCI Health Training Center offers career training programs in the healthcare field in Houston.
It may be a good fit for students who want a private training program with classroom and hands‑on instruction.
Programs Offered
PCI offers dental assistant‑related training.
Students may study chairside assisting, dental terminology, infection control, sterilization, radiography basics, dental materials, patient care, front office tasks, and clinical assistant skills.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm the current Houston program pricing.
A practical budget may include:
- Tuition and fees: about $12,000 to $18,000
- Books and supplies: about $500 to $1,200
- Uniforms: about $50 to $200
- Lab materials: varies
- Exam or registration fees: about $200 to $700
- Transportation: varies
Program Length
Many private dental assistant programs run about 8 to 12 months.
Address:
#6 U.S. Career Institute Online Dental Assistant Program
U.S. Career Institute offers an online Dental Assistant training program that may work for Houston students who need a flexible schedule.
It is best for students comfortable learning online and arranging hands‑on practice or externship opportunities locally.
Programs Offered
The online program includes:
- Dental anatomy
- Dental terminology
- Infection control
- Patient care preparation
- Dental office procedures
- Chairside assisting basics
- Radiology fundamentals
- Certification exam preparation
Students should ask how local hands‑on practice or externship support is handled before enrolling.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition options include:
- Pay‑in‑full price: about $1,239
- Monthly payment plan: about $79 per month
- Payment plan total: about $1,539
- Books and materials: ask if included
- CPR or BLS: about $75 to $150 if separate
- Optional hands‑on training costs: varies
Program Length
The program is online and self‑paced, and many students complete it in several months, depending on weekly study time.
Address: 2001 Lowe St.Fort Collins, CO 80525USA
#7 Collin College Workforce or Online Dental Assistant Courses
Collin College is located near Dallas, but it may offer online courses accessible to Houston students.
Workforce and continuing education dental assistant training may be available.
Programs Offered
Possible training offerings include:
- Clinical dental assistant basics
- Dental terminology
- Patient care overview
- Infection control
- Dental office procedures
- Radiology basics
Students should confirm whether hands‑on practice is included in the current schedules.
Tuition and Cost
Students should confirm current course pricing.
A practical 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 supplies: about $50 to $150 if needed
Program Length
Online or workforce dental assisting courses are often self‑paced and may take several months to complete, depending on weekly study time.
Address: Health Sciences Building, Suite H2012200 W. University Dr.McKinney, TX 75071
Schools Summary Table
Texas 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 180 | $38,140 | $18.34 | $48,390 | $27,280 |
| Amarillo, TX | 290 | $39,900 | $19.18 | $48,170 | $30,400 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,990 | $49,580 | $23.84 | $64,980 | $36,730 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 330 | $40,260 | $19.36 | $50,840 | $29,760 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 310 | $36,850 | $17.72 | $45,740 | $28,660 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 270 | $39,210 | $18.85 | $47,970 | $30,500 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 380 | $40,090 | $19.28 | $49,520 | $29,610 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,310 | $46,470 | $22.34 | $56,460 | $37,220 |
| El Paso, TX | 830 | $37,820 | $18.18 | $46,160 | $28,880 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,090 | $39,870 | $19.17 | $56,010 | $29,660 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 440 | $40,710 | $19.57 | $51,420 | $30,550 |
| Laredo, TX | 190 | $36,150 | $17.38 | $45,640 | $28,350 |
| Longview, TX | 270 | $37,040 | $17.81 | $46,700 | $28,680 |
| Lubbock, TX | 380 | $38,160 | $18.35 | $47,980 | $29,440 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 660 | $34,860 | $16.76 | $46,020 | $29,370 |
| Midland, TX | 160 | $42,950 | $20.65 | $57,020 | $34,230 |
| Odessa, TX | 120 | $42,850 | $20.60 | $58,040 | $30,080 |
| San Angelo, TX | 100 | $36,910 | $17.74 | $44,990 | $28,790 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 3,200 | $42,710 | $20.54 | $50,290 | $35,660 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 280 | $40,900 | $19.66 | $47,590 | $30,170 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 140 | $37,830 | $18.19 | $47,140 | $28,780 |
| Tyler, TX | 380 | $41,040 | $19.73 | $56,550 | $31,140 |
| Victoria, TX | 80 | $40,270 | $19.36 | $61,520 | $29,050 |
| Waco, TX | 270 | $39,750 | $19.11 | $48,450 | $29,660 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 110 | $37,340 | $17.95 | $46,800 | $28,820 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Texas
- Austin, TX6 Schools
- Brownsville, TX5 Schools
- Dallas, TX7 Schools
- El Paso, TX6 Schools
- Fort Worth, TX6 Schools
- Houston, TX7 Schools
- McAllen, TX4 Schools
- San Antonio, TX8 Schools
