Dental assistant training ยท Providence, RI

Dental Assistant Schools in Providence, RI

Dental assistant schools near Providence include CCRI in Lincoln and two public programs in nearby Massachusetts. Compare these CODA-accredited options, then check dental radiography training, clinical hours and the rules for the state where you plan to work.

Compare programs How to pay for training
CCRI certificate39 credits across two semesters at Flanagan.
National credentialCCRI prepares you for DANB's CDA examination.
Rhode Island X-raysA qualifying dental radiography course is required.
Massachusetts practiceDental assistant licensure is required, with a limited trainee exception.

Dental assisting programs within reach of Providence

The table covers local adult programs listed as CODA-accredited in DANB's October 6, 2026 program list. The check line under each school links that accreditation source, which concerns the education program and does not grant you a personal license.

3 local programs listed

SchoolProgramCredentialLengthScheduleCost
Community College of Rhode IslandLincoln, RICommission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), DANB list updated October 6, 2026
Flanagan Campus. February-March application window for fall entry; published admission guidance covers fall 2026 through fall 2028. Prepares for the DANB Certified Dental Assistant exam.
School page 		Dental Assisting - CertificateCertificateTwo semesters; 39 creditsDay program; fall entry.Fall 2026-Spring 2027 catalog: full-time semester tuition $2,792 in-state, $4,186 regional or $7,900 out-of-state; fees and extra-credit charges may apply.
Southeastern Technical InstituteSouth Easton, MACommission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), DANB list updated October 6, 2026
Fall intake each year. Diploma graduates may sit for the DANB exam; clinical externships include general dentistry and dental specialties.
School page 		Dental AssistingDiplomaNine months; 36 weeksSeptember-June; Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-2:10 p.m.; clinical hours may extend to 4:00 p.m.$6,000 in-district or $10,000 out-of-district tuition; books $880, uniforms/equipment $150, program/student fees $1,300 (school expenses and 2026-2027 catalog).
Massasoit Community CollegeCanton, MACommission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), DANB list updated October 6, 2026
Canton campus; selective admission with an April 30 priority deadline and required information session. Current curriculum includes two radiography courses and a clinical externship.
School page 		Dental Assistant CertificateCertificateTwo semesters; 40 creditsAsk school2026-2027: $24 tuition plus $209 college fee per credit for MA residents; $230 tuition plus $209 fee for nonresidents. Allied Health courses add $20 per credit; other fees apply (college tuition page).

Providence campuses first, then nearby cities. Details come from each school's website; costs and start dates change, so confirm with the school.

Dental assistant schools near Providence: campus details

Community College of Rhode Island Lincoln, RI

CCRI's Lincoln certificate combines chairside assisting, oral radiography and dental materials courses with clinical assignments in dental healthcare facilities.

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), DANB list updated October 6, 2026
Program
Dental Assisting - Certificate
Credential
Certificate
Length
Two semesters; 39 credits
Schedule
Day program; fall entry.
Published cost
Fall 2026-Spring 2027 catalog: full-time semester tuition $2,792 in-state, $4,186 regional or $7,900 out-of-state; fees and extra-credit charges may apply.
Address
1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865-4585
Phone
(401) 333-7471
Program page

Southeastern Technical Institute South Easton, MA

Southeastern teaches dental assisting through classroom work, dental laboratory practice, radiography training and clinical externships in general and specialty offices.

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), DANB list updated October 6, 2026
Program
Dental Assisting
Credential
Diploma
Length
Nine months; 36 weeks
Schedule
September-June; Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-2:10 p.m.; clinical hours may extend to 4:00 p.m.
Published cost
$6,000 in-district or $10,000 out-of-district tuition; books $880, uniforms/equipment $150, program/student fees $1,300 (school expenses and 2026-2027 catalog).
Address
250 Foundry Street, South Easton, MA 02375
Phone
(508) 230-1297
Program page

Massasoit Community College Canton, MA

Massasoit's Canton program develops chairside, dental laboratory and office skills alongside patient education, radiography and supervised clinical experience.

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), DANB list updated October 6, 2026
Program
Dental Assistant Certificate
Credential
Certificate
Length
Two semesters; 40 credits
Published cost
2026-2027: $24 tuition plus $209 college fee per credit for MA residents; $230 tuition plus $209 fee for nonresidents. Allied Health courses add $20 per credit; other fees apply (college tuition page).
Address
900 Randolph St, Canton, MA 02021
Phone
(508) 588-9100
Program page

Prepare to work as a dental assistant

  1. 1

    Pick your intended work state

    Rhode Island's dental rule distinguishes dental assistants from DANB-certified assistants and sets delegated duties. Massachusetts requires a dental assistant license before practice unless you qualify for its limited trainee exception.

  2. 2

    Check the program requirements

    CCRI's admission guidance lists a February-March application window for fall entry, academic requirements and a background check. Massasoit requires an information session and gives April 30 as its priority application deadline.

  3. 3

    Complete dental radiography training

    Rhode Island prohibits exposing radiographs without a qualifying course offered by an institution with a CODA-accredited program. Read section 2.10.3(A)(11) of the state dental rule and ask the school how its radiography courses satisfy it.

  4. 4

    Earn your school credential

    Finish the required classroom, laboratory and clinical work. CCRI awards a certificate and prepares students for DANB's Certified Dental Assistant examination; graduation and national certification are separate steps.

  5. 5

    Meet the practice requirements

    For Massachusetts, review the Board's license application for CPR/BLS documentation, the ethics and jurisprudence exam, and requirements for your assistant category. In Rhode Island, maintain the BLS and annual infection-control training described in section 2.7.8.

Dental assistant jobs and median pay around Providence

The BLS May 2025 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro table reports 1,650 dental assistant jobs (SOC 31-9091). Median pay was $23.78 per hour and $49,460 per year. May 2025 is the latest annual release shown on the OEWS tables index.

This regional estimate includes workers with different experience levels and credentials. It does not describe pay for a specific school's graduates. BLS's definitions explain that the median divides the wage distribution in half and that employment measures jobs held. Compare actual offers for weekly hours, benefits and the duties your training and state rules allow you to perform.

Dental assisting tuition and help paying

Southeastern's expense page lists $6,000 in-district or $10,000 out-of-district tuition, plus $880 for books, $150 for uniforms/equipment and $1,300 in program/student fees. CCRI's 2026-2027 catalog lists $2,792 in-state tuition per full-time semester, before fees and any extra-credit charges. Massasoit's 2026-2027 rates are $233 per credit for Massachusetts residents or $439 for nonresidents, plus applicable course fees. Request an itemized program bill.

CCRI's financial aid guidance describes Pell Grants for eligible students; ask about FAFSA and certificate eligibility. A DLT Career Center or MassHire Bristol can assess WIOA assistance before training. Veterans can check their program in the VA comparison tool. For employer tuition help, get payment terms and work obligations in writing.

Read the full guide to paying for training

What to ask before dental assisting classes

  • Does this campus's dental assisting program hold current CODA accreditation?
  • Which intake is accepting students, and when are prerequisites due?
  • Does the radiography sequence meet the rules where I want to work?
  • How are clinical offices assigned, and what are their hours?
  • What is the full cost of instruments, uniforms, testing and health checks?
  • Which DANB exam requirements will I meet when I graduate?
  • What license documents will I need if I work in Massachusetts?

How to check a school

Common questions

Do I need a dental assistant license in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island dental rule defines both dental assistants and DANB-certified assistants and sets the work a dentist may delegate to each. It requires current hands-on BLS and at least one hour of CDC infection-control training each year. Its separate DAANCE maxillofacial surgery assistant license should not be confused with entry-level dental assisting. Ask about your intended duties before choosing training.

Can I take dental X-rays after any short course?

Rhode Island's rule requires a dental radiography course offered by an institution with a CODA-accredited program before you expose radiographs. CCRI's separate radiography course says successful completion satisfies the Rhode Island Department of Health requirement. If you plan to work across the border, check the Massachusetts license requirements for your category rather than assuming the same documents cover both states.

Does a certificate make me a DANB Certified Dental Assistant?

A college certificate and the national CDA credential are separate. CCRI says its course prepares you for the Certified Dental Assistant examination administered by DANB. Southeastern's catalog says diploma graduates may sit for the exam. Before you register, ask the program which exam application documents and current CPR credentials you will need and whether testing costs are included.

Can I train in Rhode Island and work in Massachusetts?

You must meet Massachusetts requirements for the assistant category you seek, even if you trained in Rhode Island. The Board's application page calls for recognized training documentation, CPR/BLS, an ethics and jurisprudence exam answer sheet and other records. Its on-the-job-trained category has separate infection-control and radiology documentation rules. Have the Board confirm your category and documents before starting work.

Are there short dental radiography classes near Providence?

Yes. CCRI offers a separate course for practicing dental assistants covering digital intraoral and panoramic radiography, with laboratory practice. It is a focused course for an existing dental assistant, so it is not an extra full dental assisting program in this table. Ask about the next session, entry requirements and whether you need the complete certificate instead.

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Compare dental assisting programs

Review each campus's admission window, clinical schedule, radiography courses and complete expense list before deciding where to train.

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