Dental assistant training ยท Virginia Beach, VA
Dental assistant school in Virginia Beach ranges from short certificate courses to an associate degree, with other options in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Newport News. Compare hands-on practice, total fees and Virginia's X-ray requirements before you pick dental assisting classes.
You can compare school certificates and an AAS below. A school award, national CDA certification and Virginia Dental Assistant II registration are different credentials; use the state requirements below to check your intended role.
8 local programs listed
| School | Program | Credential | Length | Schedule | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Careers FoundationVirginia Beach, VA At The Foleck Center; at least 40 internship hours required. Next class starts January 16, 2027. School page | Dental Assisting | Certificate | 13 weeks | Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM | $5,600 tuition + $100 non-refundable application fee |
| Practical Dental Assisting of VA BeachVirginia Beach, VA January 2027 schedule. Page gives different deposit terms; request the enrollment agreement. School page | Dental Assisting Certification | Certificate | 9 months, including 28 weeks (508 clock hours) of instruction and a 160-hour externship | Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 AM-1:45 PM | $9,650 published program cost |
| Practical Dental Assisting of VA BeachVirginia Beach, VA Page also repeats a 9-month statement; confirm the full calendar. January 2027 schedule. School page | Fast-Track Dental Assisting Certification | Certificate | 12 weeks (102 clock hours) of instruction + 160-hour externship | Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 AM-1:45 PM | $5,500 published program cost |
| ECPI UniversityVirginia Beach, VA 63 semester credits; includes a 10-week externship. School page | Dental Assisting | AAS | 15 months; 4 semesters | Ask school | $8,088 tuition per semester + $594 technology fee per semester; other fees apply |
| Fortis CollegeNorfolk, VA Two unpaid externships; catalog names DANB RHS and ICE exams. School page | Dental Assisting | Diploma | 48 instructional weeks | Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM | $21,132 tuition; $23,915 total program cost (2025-2026 catalog) |
| Norfolk Dental Assistant SchoolNorfolk, VA 40-hour externship; DANB RHS review course and exam registration included. School page | Dental Assistant Program | Certificate of completion | 12 weeks | Hybrid; Saturday skills classes | $3,950 tuition paid in full; payment plan adds a $300 fee |
| Accelerated AcademyChesapeake, VA At Battlefield Family Dentistry. School lists a general tuition range; confirm Chesapeake class dates and the full cohort price. School page | 10-Week Dental Assisting Program | Certificate | 10 weeks | Hybrid; weekly 4-hour in-office session on Friday or Saturday, depending on the schedule | $2,999-$4,299 published tuition range; request the Chesapeake cohort price |
| ECPI UniversityNewport News, VA Newport News is a listed location for this degree. School page | Dental Assisting | AAS | 15 months; 4 semesters | Ask school | $8,088 tuition per semester + $594 technology fee per semester; other fees apply |
Virginia Beach campuses first, then nearby cities. Details come from each school's website; costs and start dates change, so confirm with the school.
Dental Careers Foundation teaches at The Foleck Center and requires at least 40 hours of internship experience in a dental office.
The nine-month Virginia Beach program includes a 160-hour externship and requires students to pass the DANB Radiation Safety Exam.
The fast-track outline lists 102 clock hours of textbook, laboratory and clinical application training, followed by a 160-hour dental office externship.
ECPI dental assisting students in Virginia Beach complete a 10-week externship alongside training in chairside assistance and radiographic techniques.
The Norfolk dental assisting diploma includes two unpaid externships and prepares graduates for DANB Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control exams.
Norfolk Dental Assistant School combines online assignments with Saturday practice in a dental office and a 40-hour externship.
At Battlefield Family Dentistry, Accelerated Academy combines self-paced online lectures with weekly clinical training in the dental office.
The Newport News dental assisting degree includes coursework in dental anatomy and dental radiology, with 63 semester credit hours required.
Virginia defines Dental Assistant I as an unlicensed person who assists under professional direction. Dental Assistant II is a separate Board-registered role, as explained in the Board's definitions.
Compare lab work and supervised office experience. For example, Dental Careers Foundation requires at least 40 internship hours, and Fortis includes two unpaid externships.
Before you place or expose dental radiographs, satisfy one of Virginia's approved routes. The DANB route requires both the Radiation Health and Safety Review Course and passing the RHS exam; see 18VAC60-30-80.
The Virginia Board of Dentistry identifies DANB as the certifying body for the CDA credential. Ask your program which exams it prepares you for and how its training fits the certification route you plan to use.
If you want this registered role, review the credential requirement and competency-based education requirements first. Then follow the Board's Dental Assistant II application instructions; completing an entry-level course alone does not establish eligibility.
For May 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 1,860 dental assistants employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area. Its OEWS area estimates show a median wage of $22.44 an hour or $46,670 a year. The annual mean wage was $47,100.
Keep the regional pay figures beside your tuition quote as you compare courses. Ask each school how it teaches chairside skills and supports your radiation qualification. For a specific job, check the duties, weekly hours, benefits and credentials requested. Compare those details with your training plan before deciding whether the role fits your goals.
Dental Careers Foundation lists $5,600 tuition plus a $100 application fee. Norfolk Dental Assistant School publishes $3,950 tuition paid in full, with a $300 fee for its payment plan. Fortis Norfolk's 2025-2026 catalog lists $21,132 tuition and $23,915 total program cost. ECPI lists $8,088 tuition and a $594 technology fee per semester for dental assisting, with other fees separate.
Practical Dental Assisting says it accepts GI Bill benefits and participates in MyCAA for eligible military spouses. Have its staff confirm your benefit and chosen course before paying. Fortis lists financial aid for students who qualify. Request written payment and refund terms from each school. Ask whether your quote covers the radiation review course, exam, CPR, scrubs and clinical requirements.
Virginia's dental assistant definitions describe Dental Assistant I as an unlicensed role under the direction of a dentist or dental hygienist. Dental Assistant II must be registered with the Board and works under a dentist's direct supervision. Taking dental X-rays has its own qualification rule for both levels, so ask about the duties you plan to perform.
The application rule requires a current DANB CDA or a Board-accepted alternative credential, plus verification of the required education. The education rule requires a competency-based program with coursework, lab and clinical training, and written and clinical exams. Entry to that education requires current DANB CDA certification or active dental hygienist licensure. A basic dental assisting certificate alone does not meet these requirements.
Under Virginia's radiation rule, both Dental Assistant I and II need a qualifying route before placing or exposing radiographs. Options include a radiation safety course and exam from an institution with a Commission on Dental Accreditation program in assisting, hygiene or dentistry; American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification; or the DANB or affiliate RHS review course plus passing DANB's RHS exam. The certificate must be displayed for patients to see.
Dental Careers Foundation lists 13 weeks plus at least 40 internship hours. Practical Dental Assisting lists a nine-month program that includes an externship. ECPI publishes 15 months for its AAS. Short courses and degrees have different requirements, so compare supervised practice and exam preparation along with the number of weeks on the calendar.
Check the award and exams separately. The Virginia Board identifies DANB as the CDA certifying body. Fortis Norfolk says graduates are eligible for DANB's Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control exams. Those named exams do not by themselves establish that you have earned CDA certification. Ask how the school's curriculum fits the full credential route and Virginia's separate DA II registration requirements.
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Contact the dental assisting programs that match your commute and ask for their next class dates, clinical schedule and itemized charges.