Dental assistant programs in Chicago, Illinois
29 dental assistant programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free
23 schools offer these dental assisting programs with classes in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, and every one is approved for workforce funding: 24 by Illinois and 5 by Indiana. 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 Chicago, 7 of the 29 programs take students without a high school diploma, and 14 are taught partly or fully online.
See the 29 programsAll 33 dental assistant programs in Illinois, including online programs
How much do dental assistant programs cost in Chicago?
$1,300 to $7,730
is what the 5 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself
In the typical program
- Finished the program
- Too few programs to say
- Working 6 months later
- Too few programs to say
- Earned a year, estimated
- Too few programs to say
- Length
- 10 to 20 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 Chicago may also offer dental assistant programs. How these figures are made
All 29 dental assistant programs in Chicago approved for WIOA funding
Filters
29 programs
Clinical Dental Assisting VS
Elgin Comm. College District #509
Elgin
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$29,200Price if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Clinical Dental Assisting VS at Elgin Comm. College District #509More details about Clinical Dental Assisting VS at Elgin Comm. College District #509
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- 84%
- Earned in a quarter
- $7,306
- Length
- 40 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- 73
- a year, estimated
- $29,200
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting And Dental Radiology
Dental Assistant Training School Of Northwest Indiana
Dyer
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$24,100Price if you pay yourself$3,400Program website, Dental Assisting And Dental Radiology at Dental Assistant Training School Of Northwest IndianaMore details about Dental Assisting And Dental Radiology at Dental Assistant Training School Of Northwest Indiana
- Finished
- 97%
- Working at 6 months
- 65%
- Earned in a quarter
- $6,028
- Length
- 12 weeks, 6 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $400
- Students counted
- 39
- a year, estimated
- $24,100
- price
- $3,400
Dental Assistant Program
Victory Training Llc
Hobart
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourself$1,300Program website, Dental Assistant Program at Victory Training LlcMore details about Dental Assistant Program at Victory Training Llc
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 8 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $350
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- $1,300
Dental Assistant Apprenticeship
Allied Healthcare Institute North
Hammond
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourself$3,100Program website, Dental Assistant Apprenticeship at Allied Healthcare Institute NorthMore details about Dental Assistant Apprenticeship at Allied Healthcare Institute North
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 8 weeks, 8 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $400
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- $3,100
Dental Assistant Apprenticeship
Allied Health Care Institute (Gary)
Gary
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourself$3,100Program website, Dental Assistant Apprenticeship at Allied Health Care Institute (Gary)More details about Dental Assistant Apprenticeship at Allied Health Care Institute (Gary)
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 8 weeks, 6 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $400
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- $3,100
Dental Assisting
Evolution Training Academy
Merrillville
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourself$7,730Program website, Dental Assisting at Evolution Training AcademyMore details about Dental Assisting at Evolution Training Academy
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 24 weeks, 8 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $464
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- $7,730
Admi. Dental Assistant
B&DA Inc.
Skokie
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Admi. Dental Assistant at B&DA Inc.More details about Admi. Dental Assistant at B&DA Inc.
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 30 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Administrative Dental Assistant
Dental Assistant Academy of Chicago
Chicago
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Administrative Dental Assistant at Dental Assistant Academy of ChicagoMore details about Administrative Dental Assistant at Dental Assistant Academy of Chicago
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 10 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Chairside Dental Assistant Program
Dental Assistant Academy of Chicago
Chicago
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Chairside Dental Assistant Program at Dental Assistant Academy of ChicagoMore details about Chairside Dental Assistant Program at Dental Assistant Academy of Chicago
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Clinical Dental Assistant
Triton College
River Grove
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Clinical Dental Assistant at Triton CollegeMore details about Clinical Dental Assistant at Triton College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 6 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Clinical Dental Assistant
B&DA Inc.
Skokie
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Clinical Dental Assistant at B&DA Inc.More details about Clinical Dental Assistant at B&DA Inc.
- 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
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Clinical Dental Assitant
Chicago State University
Chicago
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Clinical Dental Assitant at Chicago State UniversityMore details about Clinical Dental Assitant at Chicago State University
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 52 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
Joliet Junior College
Joliet
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedSchool website, Dental Assistant at Joliet Junior CollegeMore details about Dental Assistant at Joliet Junior College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 16 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
Kishwaukee College
Malta
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistant at Kishwaukee CollegeMore details about Dental Assistant at Kishwaukee College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
College Of DuPage
Glen Ellyn
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistant at College Of DuPageMore details about Dental Assistant at College Of DuPage
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 16 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
Illinois Health Careers
Harwood Heights
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistant at Illinois Health CareersMore details about Dental Assistant at Illinois Health Careers
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 2 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
Northwest Suburban College
Rolling Meadows
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistant at Northwest Suburban CollegeMore details about Dental Assistant at Northwest Suburban College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 32 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
Chicago State University
Chicago
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistant at Chicago State UniversityMore details about Dental Assistant at Chicago State University
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistant
National College of Health
Chicago
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistant at National College of HealthMore details about Dental Assistant at National College of Health
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 20 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assistants
North Shore Dental Assisting Academy
Libertyville
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assistants at North Shore Dental Assisting AcademyMore details about Dental Assistants at North Shore Dental Assisting Academy
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 10 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting
First Institute Training & Management
Crystal Lake
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assisting at First Institute Training & ManagementMore details about Dental Assisting at First Institute Training & Management
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 50 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting
Triton College
River Grove
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assisting at Triton CollegeMore details about Dental Assisting at Triton College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 8 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting (MTG 818)
Joliet Junior College
Joliet
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assisting (MTG 818) at Joliet Junior CollegeMore details about Dental Assisting (MTG 818) at Joliet Junior College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 8 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting Assistant
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedSchool website, Dental Assisting Assistant at Northeastern Illinois UniversityMore details about Dental Assisting Assistant at Northeastern Illinois University
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 52 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting Program
Midwestern Career College
Chicago
Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assisting Program at Midwestern Career CollegeMore details about Dental Assisting Program at Midwestern Career College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 60 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting Program
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assisting Program at Moraine Valley Community CollegeMore details about Dental Assisting Program at Moraine Valley Community College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 9 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Assisting Training Program
Springboard Dental
Oak Forest
Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Assisting Training Program at Springboard DentalMore details about Dental Assisting Training Program at Springboard Dental
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 16 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Dental Office Aide BVS
Elgin Comm. College District #509
Elgin
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Dental Office Aide BVS at Elgin Comm. College District #509More details about Dental Office Aide BVS at Elgin Comm. College District #509
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 16 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
Online Dental Assisting
Harper College
Palatine
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourselfNot reportedProgram website, Online Dental Assisting at Harper CollegeMore details about Online Dental Assisting at Harper College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 12 weeks, 40 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- Not reported
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- Not reported
No programs match these filters.
How to pay for dental assistant programs in Chicago
WIOA funding can pay for dental assistant programs in Chicago
Every program on this page is approved for WIOA funding: public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It can pay for training for eligible adults, people who lost their job and young people.2People on public assistance, with a low income or lacking basic skills come first, and veterans have priority.3
Ask at an American Job Center
Eligibility rules apply, and services vary from state to state. Your local American Job Center can tell you whether you qualify. The Department of Labor's page links to the center finder, or call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).4
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.56
GI Bill for dental assistant programs
Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.7
The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.
Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply
Where the Chicago dental assisting program numbers come from
Which Chicago dental assisting programs are on this list?
These are the dental assisting programs with classes in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area that are 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).8 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Online programs are left out here; they are on the Illinois page. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what the area offers.
How Chicago dental assisting program prices are reported
The price is tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported it. Prices under $100 are treated as not reported, because the file holds many blanks entered as $0. Check the current price with the school.
What the graduate results of these programs measure
The figures at the top of this page are the middle program among those that report results: half did better, half did worse. Results describe students who left each program in recent years: the share who finished, the share working in the second quarter after leaving, and the middle earnings of those working in that quarter. States report earnings for that one quarter because they take them from the wage reports employers file every three months. The yearly figure here is that quarter times four, rounded to the nearest $100: an estimate, and an early one, since it is measured about half a year after training. The quarter as reported is under "More details" on each program. Results are withheld for small programs, and they describe past students, so they are no guarantee.
Why do some dental assisting programs say "Not reported"?
Where a school or the state left a field empty, or the Department of Labor withheld it, the page says "Not reported". Nothing here is estimated to fill a gap.
Why the kind of school is left off each program
The file also records whether a school is public, private or nonprofit, but those entries are wrong too often to print next to a school's name, so this page leaves them out.
How reliable are the Illinois figures?
The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Illinois among the states with "known data quality concerns".9 We leave out the share who finished for Illinois: only a few programs report it, and those at a typical 11%. We leave out prices for Illinois: the state files a code in place of each price, so no price can be shown.
Other training in Chicago
- CDL training62 programs
- CNA classes70 programs
- Medical assistant training47 programs
- Phlebotomy training45 programs
- Welding classes50 programs
- HVAC training47 programs
- Medical billing and coding training28 programs
- LPN programs17 programs
- EMT classes30 programs
- Electrician training11 programs
- Auto mechanic classes44 programs
Sources for the facts about dental assistant programs in Chicago
Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Assistants
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
- 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
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: search page, note on states with known data quality concerns