Administrative Dental Assistant

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of dental assistants is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2033. With over 54,000 openings for dental assistants projected each year, on average during this time, now is a great time to explore online dental assistant training.

Launch your dental career with our comprehensive Administrative Dental Assistant course! As a professional dental staff member, you will learn to advocate for patients while…

The course lasts 6 months and includes 150 course hours.

Describe the administrative dental assistants role, and responsibilities

Identify dental anatomy and terminology needed to succeed in the business of dentistry

Recognize the importance of effective written and verbal communication skills in dental practice

Define the importance of both manual and computerized records management in dentistry, including HIPAA, informed consent, and risk management

Apply effective communication skills over the phone by understanding telephone screening and triage protocols and mastering the steps of scheduling new and existing patient appointments

Describe how to file dental insurance claims to receive maximum benefits in the shortest amount of time for patients and the dental practice

Apply accurate bookkeeping procedures for the dental practice and collection techniques to keep accounts current while maintaining good patient relationships

Analyze the steps it takes to find employment in a dental practice, including identifying the potential employer, preparing a cover letter and résumé, and perfecting face‑to‑face interview skills

How you will benefit

Gain marketable skills required for employment within a dental practice

Understand how to communicate professionally in a dental setting with both members of the dental team and patients

Acquire the know‑how to create professional emails and letters

Receive specialized training for productive patient scheduling using a variety of scenarios based on common scheduling challenges

Become ready to file insurance claims using treatment Current Dental Terminology

How the course is taught

6 months to complete

150 course hours

Outline
DETAILS

Your Administrative Dental Assistant Career

Dental Practice Communications

Records Management

Scheduling and Recall Systems

Dental Insurance and CDT Coding

Instructors & Support
Priscilla Garcia, RDA, CPP, is a dental professional with over 20 years of industry experience. She began her career in dentistry as a chair‑side dental assistant in 2002. Her work has included working chair‑side and in an administrative capacity in general and specialty practices.

Priscilla has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which she leveraged to begin teaching dental assisting part‑time at Collin College in 2016. She transitioned to program managing and teaching dental assisting full‑time with Collin College in 2017.

Requirements
Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to complete this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

As part of the course there is an optional download of Dentrix Learning Edition software, but this only runs on Windows 10 now. But this is totally optional and not required, especially since Windows 10 is not common anymore. Dentrix software is still covered in the course and downloading the learning edition of the software is not required.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later.

Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7‑10 business days after enrollment:

The Administrative Dental Assistant, 6th Edition

Elsevier: Evolve Resources for The Administrative Dental Assistant (digital access only; instructions provided along with the above textbook)

CDT 2025 Coding Companion: Training Guide for the Dental Team

Additionally, this course will provide you with DENTRIX® software that consists of sample practice opportunities. You can use this software to engage in activities and tasks that you would perform in an actual practice and use it to demonstrate your skills.

FAQ
What is the average dental administrative assistant salary?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for dental assistants is $46,540.

What is an Administrative Dental Assistant?

An administrative dental assistant traditionally works in a dental office supporting dental hygienists and dentists. They provide support in a fast‑paced environment for the day‑to‑day operations of a dental practices front office, including anything from scheduling appointments and working closely with patients and other office staff to billing patients and insurance and overseeing bookkeeping. Additional duties might involve performing procedural and diagnostic coding, organizing patient files, or monitoring inventory.

What is the difference between a Clinical Dental Assistant and an Administrative Dental Assistant?

As an administrative dental assistant, you will focus on providing quality care through numerous office, laboratory, and patient care duties, such as greeting patients, organizing office records, and other clerical tasks. On the other hand, a clinical dental assistant will help dentists and dental hygienists get patients ready for treatment by sterilizing and organizing dental equipment and supplies. They also document patient care, take x‑rays, complete intake paperwork and update patient records, and in some cases, assist with certain procedures depending on state regulations.

What is the average salary of an Administrative Dental Assistant?

The average salary of a dental assistant will vary based on experience and location, among other things. Nationwide, dental assistants earn a median salary of $41,180, while the highest 10% earn close to $60,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The position typically includes great benefits like healthcare and paid time off. In addition, according to the BLS, one in three dental assistants works only part‑time, making this an ideal career for those who need a flexible schedule.

Do you have to go to school to be an Administrative Dental Assistant?

Dental receptionists and administrative assistants will typically need a high school diploma or GED. Most employers dont require a college education. Instead, theyll look for demonstrable skills like word processing, verbal communication, and familiarity with industry software and best practices. While there are dental assistant certifications available, you can prove you have these skills with this online administrative dental assistant course. Youll receive a certificate at the end of the course, and youll be able to put all your new skills on your resume.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Dental Assistant?

Administrative dental assistants provide support for the day‑to‑day operations of a dental practice, from scheduling appointments and organizing patient files to billing and bookkeeping. Youll work in a fast‑paced environment as part of a team that includes dental hygienists and dentists. As the point of contact for patients and your team, youll find dental administration is a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Does this course prepare for a certification?

No.

When can I start the course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24‑48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

This course is self‑paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, youll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

What if I dont have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Am I guaranteed a job?

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry‑level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

Can I get financial assistance?

This course is non‑credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at View phone number on click.appcast.io during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non‑business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

Reviews
I enjoyed that it was a self‑paced course. That is great for someone like me, who has a job, children, and a home to manage-

“My facilitator was extremely helpful. I learned a lot and it was a whole lot more fun than I expected it to be.”

The facilitator was excellent! She was very helpful and always responded to my questions and graded my work in a very timely manner. Overall Administrative Dental Assisting was well put together and very well constructed.

Its course was easy to access. I really enjoyed it, especially having it as my first online class. I thought it was going to be hard, but it wasnt. I would take another online class, because everything was good.

The positive and constructive feedback was amazing.

The best thing about the class was learning more about the dental assistant in addition to doing hands‑on activities at the dentist office.

I enjoyed being able to access my schoolwork online and do my work when I had the time. My facilitator helped me a lot throughout my course and always responded to my questions in a VERY timely manner. Without her patience and expertise, I would not have been able to complete my program on time. I have a new understanding of the Dental Administrative Assistant skills.

My facilitator responded very quickly to my questions (which I am sure seemed endless, at times!). She was patient and thorough with her answers and gave very clear answers and explanations. Her advice and encouragement were invaluable! I loved learning with this course! The essays were challenging and there was much more information than I was expecting. (I really didnt know what to expect!) The ed2go counselor was also supportive—asking how things were going and how she could help—great!!

I really enjoyed it all! It made going back to school much easier with 2 toddlers. The whole experience was wonderful. The instructor was available for help and was very helpful; she didn’t just throw you a comment and go, but she took time to explain what I needed to fix.

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