ADA Accredited Versus Certified and Licensed Dental Assisting Schools

Both types of Dental Assisting School certifications/accreditations have their pros and cons depending upon your particular circumstances. Short intense courses that are less than a year are generally about one quarter of the tuition cost (usually $3K to $5K), and are only eligible for state certification and licensing. Courses that are longer than one year,  and held on larger campuses are eligible for ADA accreditation,  and tuitions are quite high (usually $15K to $20K). The licensing process for both short and long term courses are extremely thorough and labor intensive requiring complete documentation and approval by state governing boards.

Short courses work well for highly motivated individuals looking to get into the work force as soon as possible. Regardless of which program you complete, you are still entering the work force at entry level pay until you prove yourself. We see the best and the worst from both short and long term programs, so it boils down to individual motivation, personality, attitude and work ethic. You find what you’re looking for, so choose what works best for you and go for it!

Because our school pulls in students from both Oregon and Washington, we are certified and licensed in Washington and our course is also approved by the OHARPS for the state of Oregon.

We are a Post Secondary Educational Institution certified and licensed by the State of Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.  Our License certifies that our school complies with the requirements of the Private Vocational School Act, chapter 28C.10 RCW and WAC 490-105.

The Oregon Health Authority, Radiation Protection Services Approval: The Elite Dental Assisting Academy’s course has been approved and meets the requirements in the Agency’s OAR 333-106-0055 regarding radiation use and safety training. Upon completion of our course, Oregon state students or students wishing to work in the state of Oregon as a Dental Assistant, will be ready to take the Oregon State Radiologic Proficiency Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board. This exam is a requirement by the state of Oregon in order for a Dental Assistant to take radiographs or to perform expanded functions.

For more information on class schedules and enrollment, please give us a call at 360-433-0788.