According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the dental assistant profession will grow 8 percent by 2033, resulting in 54,900 new job openings across the United States.
The same agency reports that the mean annual wage reported by Illinois dental assistants was $42,420 as of May 2023.
Dental assistants perform a variety of duties in a dental office, under the supervision of a dentist, and many schools offer programs designed to teach you the skills needed for entry-level employment.
If you want to prepare for a rewarding career in healthcare, our selection of the best dental assistant schools in Illinois is worth exploring.
Program duration varies from a few weeks to one year or more, depending on the credentials it leads to.
Costs also vary depending on the school, the credential, and the program duration.
#1Chicago Dental Assistant School
About the School
Chicago Dental Assistant School offers a 12-week dental assistant course that helps students start a new career in the dental field at a fraction of the cost of other schools.
The school provides affordable tuition and flexible payment plans to help students graduate debt-free.
The comprehensive hybrid learning program at Chicago Dental Assistant School includes in-person labs at a local office once a week, paired with at-home learning through self-paced online lectures during the week.
The curriculum is taught by passionate and knowledgeable school instructors.
Each week consists of a combination of pre-recorded lectures, online learning activities, and hands-on skills.
Lectures, online modules, and activities are completed by students during the week at their own pace.
These assignments are due weekly.
Tuition for this program is $2,750 if paid in full.
Contact Information
- Address: 630 Milwaukee Ave, Suite 130, Glenview, IL 60025
- Phone: 630.862.4216
- Website: https://chicagodentalassistantschool.com
#2Novera Dental Assisting Center
About the School
Novera Dental Assisting Center provides a curriculum designed to equip students with everything they need to start and excel in their new careers.
Students participate in clinicals that cover equipment operation, instruments and materials, dental anatomy, procedure tray setup, proper instrument sterilization, radiology and digital X-rays, lab duties, and job search preparation.
The center teaches and trains students in an actual operating dental office using the latest technology and up-to-date techniques.
The program is designed to give students maximum “hands-on” training and experience.
Tuition is $3,050 upfront or $320 per week for 10 weeks.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers:
- Introduction to Dentistry and the Dental Assistant
- Dental Terminology and Anatomy
- Preventive Dentistry and Nutrition
- Cavity Classification and Charting
- X-rays
- Dental Operations: Patients, Instrumentation, Moisture Control
Contact Information
- Address: 110 N. Larkin Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
- Phone: 630.862.4216
- Website: https://www.chicagodentalassistant.com
#3Illinois Health Careers
Illinois Health Careers is a leading Illinois health career school.
The following health career courses are available: Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant, Orthodontic & Dental Assistant, Medical Office Administrative, Billing & Coding Specialist, Coronal Polishing, Phlebotomy Program, and more.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program available at Illinois Health Careers leads to a Certificate of Dental Assistant and can be completed in just 10 weeks.
The program is expanded over 20 modules, each 2.5 hours long.
The training modules cover topics such as Dental Anatomy, Dental Radiography, Dental Pharmacology, Dental Administrative work knowledge, Dental Clinical components, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 4709 N. Harlem Ave, Harwood Heights, IL 60706
- Phone: (224) 246-2694
- Website: https://www.illinoishealthcareers.com
#4Accelerated Academy
About the School
The Accelerated Academy offers a Dental program in Naperville, Illinois.
Weekly classes start on Saturdays at 8 a.m.
After completing this program, students meet all the requirements needed to work within their state:
- Certificate in Dental Assisting
- Dental Radiography Certificate
- CPR/BLS Certificate
Students are job-ready in as few as 10 weeks.
Tuition is $2,799 for early registration and $3,179 for final registration.
Courses Offered
The program includes classes such as:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting, Sterilization, and CPR/BLS
- Radiology
- Impressions
- Crown and Bridge
- Endodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontics, and Pedodontics
- Oral Surgery Implants, Parials, and Dentures
- Office Management, OSHA, State Guidelines, Seating a Patient, and Charting
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 133 Aspen Sq Ste H, Denham Springs, LA 70726, Mailing Address, P.O. Box 1120
- Phone: (844) 727-3755
- Website: https://www.acceleratedacademy.us
#5North Shore Dental Assisting Academy
About the School
North Shore Dental Assisting Academy offers a curriculum that focuses on learning that prepares students to assist the dentist in the delivery of dental treatment and to function as an integral member of a dental team while performing chairside functions and laboratory procedures.
Students train to become dental assistants in just ten weeks with an accelerated hands-on curriculum.
During the course, students receive in-depth instructional training and hands-on education in many aspects of dentistry, including:
- Clinical procedures
- Dental materials
- Radiology
- And more
Students must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Contact Information
- Address: 740 Florsheim Dr. #12, Libertyville, IL 60048
- Phone: (224) 477-4820
- Website: https://www.nsdentalassisting.com
#6Midwestern Career College
About the School
Midwestern Career College offers a dental assisting program that prepares individuals to work as Dental Assistants in Chicago, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, and the surrounding communities under the supervision of dentists and dental hygienists.
The program includes instruction in medical record-keeping, general office duties, reception and patient care, scheduling, equipment maintenance and sterilization, basic radiography, and more.
About the School
Graduates are able to:
- Take dental radiographs
- Prepare patients and equipment for dental procedures
- Discharge office administrative function and medical record-keeping
- Maintain equipment and sterilization
- Provide chairside assisting
- Take tooth and mouth impressions
Contact Information
- Address: 203 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60601
- Phone: 312-236-9000
- Website: https://mccollege.edu
#7Springboard Dental Institute
About the School
Springboard Dental Institute offers quality education, flexible schedules, and job placement assistance.
Springboard graduates are approved by the American Medical Technologists to take the national Registered Dental Assistant Exam.
Fall tuition is $2,499 and includes:
- A $150 non-refundable registration fee
- A $350 deposit
- $1,999 for tuition
The tuition includes everything students need, including materials, fees, book rental, technology fee, etc.
Students are responsible for purchasing a set of scrubs.
Applicants need:
- A high school diploma, or equivalent, or letter of recommendation from their school
- Valid state-issued ID
- Be 18 years old or 16 years old with written parental permission
Contact Information
- Address:15028 Cicero Ave. Suite H, Oak Forest, IL 60452
- Phone:877-777-5509
- Website: https://www.springboarddentaltraining.com
#8Advanced Dental Careers
Advanced Dental Careers is a premiere school for dental assistant education that has been training first-rate dental assistants for over 14 years.
The school serves the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.
Dental assisting students are equipped with hands-on training through knowledge of cutting-edge technology.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers:
- Oral Anatomy
- Dental Terminology
- Patient Education
- CPR
- Impressions
- Radiology
- Sterilization Procedures
- Instrument & Equipment
- Reception & Front Desk
- Internship
Students participate in 40 hours of on-site training in a dental office.
The training teaches four-handed chairside assisting in all areas of general dentistry, including Crown & Bridge, Orthodontics, and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Contact Information
- Address: 2648 Osage, St. Louis, MO 63118
- Phone: 618-541-6949
- Website: https://www.advanceddentalcareers.com
#9Illinois Valley Community College
About the School
Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) is a public community college located in Oglesby, Illinois.
The college serves a region broadly across portions of several counties and offers a variety of degree and certificate programs.
IVCC emphasizes affordability and access, noting that tuition is “just one-third to one-fourth the cost of state universities and far below most private institutions.”
About the Program and Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting program at IVCC offers both a Certificate in Dental Assisting and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Assisting.
Program structure & options:
- The certificate program can be completed in three semesters (one full year) of full-time study.
- Upon completion of required courses, graduates are eligible to be designated as Expanded Functions Dental Assistants (EFDA), a designation that IVCC notes is currently awarded only to graduates of its program.
- Additional certifications available include:
- Coronal Polish, Enamel Sealants, Nitrous Oxide Monitoring, Vitality Testing, Composite & Amalgam Placement, Final Impressions (material and digital)
- Coronal Scaling (with additional prerequisites: BLS certification, prior coronal polish certificate, minimum clinical hours)
- Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) eligibility: after successful completion, students may sit for the Dental Assisting National Board exam.
- The AAS track allows for the certificate plus an additional ~19 credit hours of general education courses, enabling the full AAS in Dental Assisting.
- There is also a “1 + 1.5” bridge option leading from dental assisting into the dental hygiene program, approved by the accrediting body (Commission on Dental Accreditation) for students planning to advance.
Contact Information
- Address: 815 North Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby, IL 61348
- Phone: (815) 224-2720
- Website: www.ivcc.edu
- IVCC’s Dental Assisting program web page: https://www.ivcc.edu/programsbyareaofstudy/dental_assisting.php
#10B&DA Inc. Billing and Doctor's Assisting School
About the School
B&DA Inc. Billing and Doctor’s Assisting School is a technology and educational private business training organization that offers certificate programs designed to meet the standards and needs of individuals and businesses in the Chicagoland area.
The following programs are available at the school:
- Medical Assisting
- Clinical Dental Assisting
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Administrative Dental Assistant
- Clinical and Administrative Dental Assistant
- Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant
Courses Offered
The Clinical and Administrative Dental Assistant program provides students with the opportunity to gain work skills with all dental procedures, including:
- Taking radiographs and impressions
- Helping dentists by handing them instruments during procedures
- Working with documents, forms, and different dental software to schedule appointments
- Handling insurance claims
- Managing office accounting
Contact Information
- Address: 5309 N Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL 60077
- Phone: 847-324-4019
- Website: https://banddainc.com
Schools Summary Table
Dental Assistant Average Salary in Illinois
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$33K
|
|
|
$47K
|
|
|
$58K
|
Dental Assistant Salary by Metro Area in Illinois
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 160 | $45,450 | $21.85 | $57,500 | $34,680 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 190 | $45,890 | $22.06 | $58,750 | $35,260 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 12,310 | $48,300 | $23.22 | $59,490 | $30,430 |
| Decatur, IL | 70 | $44,240 | $21.27 | $57,880 | $36,010 |
| Kankakee, IL | 70 | $45,130 | $21.70 | $61,270 | $34,290 |
| Peoria, IL | 300 | $42,910 | $20.63 | $56,020 | $35,650 |
| Rockford, IL | 340 | $43,820 | $21.07 | $55,750 | $35,050 |
| Springfield, IL | 180 | $45,710 | $21.98 | $58,290 | $36,320 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a rewarding career in the healthcare field, the dental assistant profession is worth exploring.
Now that you have read our list of the best dental assistant schools in Illinois, we encourage you to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your schedule, budget, and learning style.
