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Dental assistant programs in Portland, Oregon

10 dental assistant programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

10 schools offer these dental assisting programs with classes in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area, and every one is approved for workforce funding: 6 by Washington and 4 by Oregon. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Dental assistants care for patients, take x-rays, keep records and schedule appointments. Many programs take about a year and lead to a certificate or diploma, and some states require you to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam.1

In Portland, 1 of the 10 programs takes students without a high school diploma, 7 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

All 10 are the same kind of program: dental assistant.

See the 10 programs

All 10 dental assistant programs in Oregon, including online programs

How much do dental assistant programs cost in Portland?

$5,400 to $9,169 is what most dental assistant programs in Portland cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 9 programs with a price. All of them: $4,929 to $24,618

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
13 to 36 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Portland may also offer dental assistant programs. How these figures are made

Are there free dental assistant programs in Portland?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 dental assistant programs in Portland approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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10 programs

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Elite Dental Assisting Academy LLC

    Vancouver

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Elite Dental Assisting Academy LLC, VancouverDental assistantIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$25,800
    Price if you pay yourself$5,400

    6 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Dental Assisting at Elite Dental Assisting Academy LLC
    More details about Dental Assisting at Elite Dental Assisting Academy LLC
    Finished
    82%
    Working at 6 months
    93%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,459
    Length
    13 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $75
    Students counted
    67
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,400
    students trained with WIOA funding
    6
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Elite Dental Assisting Academy LLC

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Charter College / Vancouver

    Vancouver

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Charter College / Vancouver, VancouverDental assistant · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$34,200
    Price if you pay yourself$24,618
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Charter College / Vancouver
    More details about Dental Assisting at Charter College / Vancouver
    Finished
    87%
    Working at 6 months
    79%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,542
    Length
    40 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    48
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $24,618
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Charter College / Vancouver

  • Dental assistantHybridPrerequisite courses

    Dental Assistant

    Clackamas Community College

    Milwaukie

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Clackamas Community College, MilwaukieDental assistant · Accredited schoolHybrid · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimated$30,900
    Price if you pay yourself$9,169
    Program website, Dental Assistant at Clackamas Community College
    More details about Dental Assistant at Clackamas Community College
    Finished
    69%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,714
    Length
    33 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $3,782
    Students counted
    15
    Earned a year, estimated
    $30,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $9,169
    Program website, Dental Assistant at Clackamas Community College

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting Academy

    Camas

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting Academy, CamasDental assistantHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$36,200
    Price if you pay yourself$4,995
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting Academy
    More details about Dental Assisting at Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting Academy
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,047
    Length
    40 weeks, 3 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    11
    Earned a year, estimated
    $36,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,995
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting Academy

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Oceanpointe Dental Academy of Portland

    Accelerated Assisting

    Portland

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Accelerated Assisting, PortlandDental assistantIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,929
    Program website, Oceanpointe Dental Academy of Portland at Accelerated Assisting
    More details about Oceanpointe Dental Academy of Portland at Accelerated Assisting
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    14 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $579
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,929
    Program website, Oceanpointe Dental Academy of Portland at Accelerated Assisting

  • Dental assistantIn personEducation and courses

    Dental Assisting

    Portland Community College

    Portland

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Portland Community College, PortlandDental assistant · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,635
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Portland Community College
    More details about Dental Assisting at Portland Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    34 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,300
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,635
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Portland Community College

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Vancouver Dental Assisting School

    Vancouver

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Vancouver Dental Assisting School, VancouverDental assistantHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,750
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Vancouver Dental Assisting School
    More details about Dental Assisting at Vancouver Dental Assisting School
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,750
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Vancouver Dental Assisting School

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting Program

    Dental Assisting Training Institute

    Vancouver

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting Training Institute, VancouverDental assistantHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$7,100
    Program website, Dental Assisting Program at Dental Assisting Training Institute
    More details about Dental Assisting Program at Dental Assisting Training Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 4 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,100
    Program website, Dental Assisting Program at Dental Assisting Training Institute

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Carrington College

    Portland

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Carrington College, PortlandDental assistant · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$20,130
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Carrington College
    More details about Dental Assisting at Carrington College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $20,130
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Carrington College

  • Dental assistantIn personNo diploma needed

    Dental Assistant

    Vancouver Dental Assistant Academy, LLC

    Vancouver

    No diploma needed

    Vancouver Dental Assistant Academy, LLC, VancouverDental assistantIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, Dental Assistant at Vancouver Dental Assistant Academy, LLC
    More details about Dental Assistant at Vancouver Dental Assistant Academy, LLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, Dental Assistant at Vancouver Dental Assistant Academy, LLC

How to pay for dental assistant programs in Portland

WIOA funding can pay for dental assistant programs in Portland

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for dental assistant programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for dental assistant programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Other training in Portland

How dental assistant programs compare with the rest of allied health across Oregon: Allied health programs in Oregon

Where the Portland dental assisting program numbers come from

Which Portland dental assisting programs are on this list?

These are the dental assisting programs with classes in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area that are approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Online programs are left out here; they are on the Oregon page. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what the area offers.

How the prices and results of Portland dental assisting programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about dental assistant programs in Portland

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Assistants
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List