Dental Assistant
a local College near you
Your Career Starts at Delta College
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to take the next step, our programs give you the hands-on skills and real-world experience to launch a career you’ll be proud of. Learn from experienced instructors, train in modern facilities, and prepare for opportunities—all right here in your community. Fill out the form to get started today.
What Graphic Designers Do
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and reports.
Features and Benefits
- Associates Degree in Graphic Design
- Career Ready in About 16.5 Months
- Financial Aid Available to Those who Qualify
- Career Planning and Development
- Job Placement Assistance
- Externship Included
- Day Classes
- Small Class Sizes
Career Paths
- Graphic Designer
- Publication Layout Artist
- Illustrator
- Information Visualization
- Advertising and Branding
- Digital Design-Web and Social Media Content Creation
- Video Special Effects Artist and Motion Graphics
- Art Director
- Creative Director
Dental Assistant Training Program in Louisiana
Become a Dental Assistant at Delta College
If you're looking for a healthcare career where you can work directly with patients, learn hands-on skills, and enter the workforce in less than a year, dental assisting could be the perfect fit.
Delta College's Dental Assistant program prepares students for entry-level careers in dental offices and clinics through hands-on training, experienced instructors, and real-world practice. You'll learn both clinical and administrative skills so you can become a valuable member of a modern dental team.
Our Dental Assistant program is offered at our campuses in:
Delta College is institutionally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), a nationally recognized accrediting agency listed by the U.S. Department of Education, giving students confidence in the quality of their education.
Why Become a Dental Assistant?
Dental assistants play an important role in helping patients receive quality dental care. Every day is different. One patient may need a routine cleaning while another needs crowns, fillings, or other procedures. Dental assistants help keep appointments running smoothly while making patients feel comfortable.
Many students choose dental assisting because it offers:
- Hands-on healthcare experience
- Regular daytime work schedules at many dental offices
- Opportunities to work closely with patients
- A career that combines technical and people skills
- Training that can be completed in months instead of years
If you enjoy working with people, paying attention to detail, and making a difference in someone's day, dental assisting may be a great career choice.
What Does a Dental Assistant Do?
Dental assistants support dentists before, during, and after patient appointments.
Depending on the practice, responsibilities may include:
- Preparing treatment rooms
- Greeting and preparing patients
- Assisting during dental procedures
- Taking dental X-rays
- Sterilizing instruments
- Maintaining infection control standards
- Scheduling appointments
- Updating patient records
- Ordering supplies
- Educating patients on oral hygiene
Because dental assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks, every day offers variety.
What Will You Learn in Delta College's Dental Assistant Program?
Delta College provides practical, career-focused training designed to prepare students for today's dental offices.
Chairside Dental Assisting
Learn how to assist dentists during examinations and procedures while maintaining patient comfort and safety.
Dental Radiography
Gain hands-on experience with dental X-ray equipment and digital imaging technology.
Infection Control and Sterilization
Understand proper sterilization techniques and infection prevention procedures used in modern dental practices.
Dental Office Administration
Learn scheduling, patient communication, insurance basics, and office workflow.
Dental Instruments and Procedures
Become familiar with common dental instruments, materials, and procedures used every day in general dentistry.
Professional Skills
Develop communication, teamwork, professionalism, and customer service skills that employers value.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Dental Assistant?
At Delta College, students can complete the Dental Assistant program in approximately 7.5 months of day classes.
That means you can prepare for a new healthcare career in less than a year.
Do You Need Experience to Become a Dental Assistant?
No.
Many students enter the program with no previous healthcare experience.
Delta College teaches the technical skills, clinical procedures, and professional expectations needed for entry-level employment.
Certification Opportunities
Graduates of Delta College's accredited Dental Assistant program are eligible to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)examination if they choose to pursue that credential. Students also have the opportunity to earn Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) certification during the program.
Dental Assistant Training Across South Louisiana
Delta College makes career training convenient by offering the program at four Louisiana campuses.
Baton Rouge South
Conveniently located for students throughout southern Baton Rouge, this campus offers hands-on training for those looking to begin a healthcare career without relocating.
Covington
Students throughout St. Tammany Parish and the Northshore can prepare for careers serving one of Louisiana's growing communities. Local dental practices continue to seek trained professionals who provide excellent patient care.
Slidell
The Slidell campus gives students an opportunity to train locally while preparing for careers in general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and specialty dental practices throughout the Northshore.
Lafayette
Students throughout Acadiana can gain practical skills that prepare them for careers in private dental offices, group practices, and specialty clinics serving the Lafayette area.
Where Can Dental Assistants Work?
Graduates may pursue opportunities in:
- General dental offices
- Pediatric dental practices
- Orthodontic offices
- Oral surgery practices
- Periodontal offices
- Endodontic practices
- Public health clinics
- Specialty dental clinics
Dental assistants are valuable members of nearly every type of dental practice.
Why Choose Delta College?
Delta College focuses on career training that prepares students for real-world success.
Students benefit from:
- Hands-on instruction
- Experienced faculty
- Modern dental equipment
- Small learning environments
- Career-focused curriculum
- Preparation for certification opportunities
- Convenient campus locations throughout South Louisiana
As an institution accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), Delta College meets recognized standards for career-focused education.
Is Dental Assisting Right for You?
You may enjoy dental assisting if you:
- Like working with people
- Enjoy science and healthcare
- Want an active workday
- Have good communication skills
- Pay attention to detail
- Want to enter the workforce quickly
Dental assisting offers the opportunity to help people improve their health while building a rewarding career.
Start Your Dental Assistant Career in Louisiana
Every smile starts with a team.
Dental assistants help patients feel comfortable, support dentists during procedures, and keep dental offices running efficiently. Their work makes a difference every single day.
If you're ready to begin your healthcare career, Delta College's Dental Assistant program can help you develop the skills and confidence needed for entry-level employment.
Contact Delta College today to learn more about Dental Assistant training at our Baton Rouge South, Covington, Lafayette, or Slidell campuses.
Occupation Information
Gain a better understanding of your career path with information on what to expect in the industry. Explore these details to help guide your journey after Delta College.
Dental Assistants have many tasks, ranging from patient care to record keeping, in a dental office. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.
Duties: Dental Assistants typically do the following:
- Work with patients to make them comfortable in the dental chair and to prepare them for treatments and procedures.
- Sterilize dental instruments
- Prepare the work area for patient treatment by setting out instruments and materials.
- Help dentists by handing them instruments during procedures.
- Keep patients’ mouths dry by using suction hoses or other equipment
- Instruct patients in proper dental hygiene
- Process X-Rays and do lab tasks under direction of a dentist
- Keep records of dental treatments
- Schedule patient appointments
- Work with patients on billing and payment
Employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than average for all occupations.
About 55,100 openings for dental assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Information taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the internet 8/19/2024
The median annual wage for dental assistants was $46,540 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,060.
*Information taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the internet 9/15/2021
Consumer Information
Access essential consumer information to help you make informed decisions about your education, financial aid, and career path at Delta College.
- Registration Fee: $100
- Tuition through Graduation: $14,950
- Books and Supplies: included*
- Total Cost: $15,050
Find a Campus That's Right for You
Study to become a Dental Assistant at one of these Delta College campuses!
Real Student Success
See how Delta College has helped students take the next step in their careers. This video highlights real experiences and achievements, showing the difference our hands-on training and supportive community can make.