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Dental assistant programs in Virginia

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

17 schools offer these dental assisting programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. 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 Virginia, 5 of the 18 programs take students without a high school diploma, 12 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 18 programs here are dental assistant (17 programs) and dental assistant (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 18 programs

How much do dental assistant programs cost in Virginia?

$2,580 to $7,186 is what most dental assistant programs in Virginia cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 18 programs with a price. All of them: $795 to $36,695

In the typical program

Finished the program
97%
Working 6 months later
71%
Earned a year, estimated
about $30,000
Length
11 to 18 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 Virginia may also offer dental assistant programs. How these figures are made

Are there free dental assistant programs in Virginia?

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

All 18 dental assistant programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

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18 programs

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    DA-3000 Dental Assistant

    MedCerts, LLC

    Livonia, MI

    High school diploma or equivalent

    MedCerts, LLC, Livonia, MIDental assistantHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Classes are outside Virginia; Virginia approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimated$33,700
    Price if you pay yourself$4,000

    6 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about DA-3000 Dental Assistant at MedCerts, LLC
    Finished
    93%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,426
    Length
    14 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    567
    Earned a year, estimated
    $33,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    6

  • Dental assistant (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting

    ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads)

    Virginia Beach

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads), Virginia BeachDental assistant (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$27,149
    More details about Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting at ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads)
    Finished
    50%
    Working at 6 months
    35%
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    60 weeks, 1 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    155
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $27,149

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting - With Radiology

    Dental Staff School

    Knoxville, TN

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Staff School, Knoxville, TNDental assistantIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Classes are outside Virginia; Virginia approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,133
    Program website, Dental Assisting - With Radiology at Dental Staff School
    More details about Dental Assisting - With Radiology at Dental Staff School
    Finished
    92%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    6 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $902
    Students counted
    120
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,133
    Program website, Dental Assisting - With Radiology at Dental Staff School

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Laurel Ridge Community College - Main Campus

    Middletown

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Laurel Ridge Community College - Main Campus, MiddletownDental assistant · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$30,800
    Price if you pay yourself$3,195

    5 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Dental Assisting at Laurel Ridge Community College - Main Campus
    Finished
    96%
    Working at 6 months
    82%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,696
    Length
    18 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    74
    Earned a year, estimated
    $30,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,195
    students trained with WIOA funding
    5

  • Dental assistantIn personNo diploma needed

    Dental Assistant

    Massanutten Technical Center

    Harrisonburg

    No diploma needed

    Massanutten Technical Center, HarrisonburgDental assistantIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,825
    More details about Dental Assistant at Massanutten Technical Center
    Finished
    89%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    25 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $579
    Students counted
    40
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,825

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Career Studies Certificate in Dental Assisting

    Wytheville Community College

    Wytheville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Wytheville Community College, WythevilleDental assistant · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$21,800
    Price if you pay yourself$1,653
    More details about Career Studies Certificate in Dental Assisting at Wytheville Community College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    38%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,441
    Length
    15 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $215
    Students counted
    39
    Earned a year, estimated
    $21,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,653

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Today's Dentist Assisting School

    Williamsburg

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Today's Dentist Assisting School, WilliamsburgDental assistantIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$22,800
    Price if you pay yourself$5,900

    25 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Dental Assisting at Today's Dentist Assisting School
    Finished
    97%
    Working at 6 months
    88%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,696
    Length
    10 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    32
    Earned a year, estimated
    $22,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,900
    students trained with WIOA funding
    25

  • Dental assistantIn personNo diploma needed

    Dental Assistant

    Valley Career & Technical Center

    Fishersville

    No diploma needed

    Valley Career & Technical Center, FishersvilleDental assistantIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$795
    More details about Dental Assistant at Valley Career & Technical Center
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $230
    Students counted
    25
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $795

  • Dental assistantIn personEducation and courses

    Dental Assistant Certificate

    Fairfax Public Schools Adult and Community Education

    Springfield

    Education and courses

    Fairfax Public Schools Adult and Community Education, SpringfieldDental assistantIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$35,800
    Price if you pay yourself$2,890
    More details about Dental Assistant Certificate at Fairfax Public Schools Adult and Community Education
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    60%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,943
    Length
    12 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $510
    Students counted
    24
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,890

  • Dental assistantIn personNo diploma needed

    Dental Assisting

    Mountain Empire Community College

    Big Stone Gap

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone GapDental assistant · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$29,200
    Price if you pay yourself$7,615
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Mountain Empire Community College
    More details about Dental Assisting at Mountain Empire Community College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    71%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,301
    Length
    18 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $822
    Students counted
    23
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,615
    Program website, Dental Assisting at Mountain Empire Community College

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting Career Studies Certificate

    Germanna Community College

    Fredericksburg

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Germanna Community College, FredericksburgDental assistant · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$10,930
    More details about Dental Assisting Career Studies Certificate at Germanna Community College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    1 week, 39 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    15
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $10,930

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assistant

    Centura College/Chesapeake, Norfolk, Peninsula

    Virginia Beach

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Centura College/Chesapeake, Norfolk, Peninsula, Virginia BeachDental assistant · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$36,695
    More details about Dental Assistant at Centura College/Chesapeake, Norfolk, Peninsula
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    33 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    13
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $36,695

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting - (Entry-Level Dental Assisting)

    180AllSmiles Dental Assisting Academy, LLC

    Gordonsville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    180AllSmiles Dental Assisting Academy, LLC, GordonsvilleDental assistantIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,500

    9 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Dental Assisting - (Entry-Level Dental Assisting) at 180AllSmiles Dental Assisting Academy, LLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    11 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $100
    Students counted
    10
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,500
    students trained with WIOA funding
    9

  • Dental assistantIn personNo diploma needed

    Dental Assisting Program

    Chesterfield Adult Education

    Chesterfield

    No diploma needed

    Chesterfield Adult Education, ChesterfieldDental assistantIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$895
    School website, Dental Assisting Program at Chesterfield Adult Education
    More details about Dental Assisting Program at Chesterfield Adult Education
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 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
    $895
    School website, Dental Assisting Program at Chesterfield Adult Education

  • Dental assistantIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting Program

    Richmond Adult Technical Center

    Richmond

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Richmond Adult Technical Center, RichmondDental assistantIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,349
    School website, Dental Assisting Program at Richmond Adult Technical Center
    More details about Dental Assisting Program at Richmond Adult Technical Center
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    5 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
    $1,349
    School website, Dental Assisting Program at Richmond Adult Technical Center

  • Dental assistantOnlineNo diploma needed

    Registered Dental Assistant

    AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare

    Based in Henrico, VA

    No diploma needed

    AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare, based in Henrico, VADental assistantOnline · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,499
    Program website, Registered Dental Assistant at AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare
    More details about Registered Dental Assistant at AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare
    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
    $130
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,499
    Program website, Registered Dental Assistant at AlliedRx Institute of Healthcare

  • Dental assistantOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    DA-3000: Dental Assistant

    MedCerts, LLC

    Based in Livonia, MI

    High school diploma or equivalent

    MedCerts, LLC, based in Livonia, MIDental assistantOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,000
    More details about DA-3000: Dental Assistant at MedCerts, LLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    18 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,000

  • Dental assistantHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Assisting

    Fortis College-Norfolk

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Fortis College-Norfolk, NorfolkDental assistant · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$19,444
    More details about Dental Assisting at Fortis College-Norfolk
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    48 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,152
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $19,444

How to pay for dental assistant programs in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for dental assistant programs in Virginia

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.

Quick facts: Dental assistant programs in Virginia

programs with a price cost under $2,000
4 of 18
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
9th of 32
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
14 of 22
dental assistant programs here, against the typical state's 12
18 vs 12

State comparisons use the same figures as the dental assistant programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Dental assistant programs in Virginia Beach, Washington, Richmond and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas, 3 in smaller cities and towns and 2 online.

Other training in Virginia

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

Where the Virginia dental assisting program numbers come from

Which Virginia dental assisting programs are on this list?

These are the dental assisting programs Virginia 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. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia 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 Virginia

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