Dental Assisting

The objective of this program is to prepare graduates for entry-level positions as a Dental Assistant and related clinical and administration careers. Graduates are trained to assist the dentist with patient procedures, expose and develop radiographs, prepare instruments, and perform lab procedures.

Graduates will be able to keep and manage the records required for a dental office. The curriculum in this short-term program is limited to basic skills; so graduates may need additional training and/or experience to qualify for some positions. All courses in the Diploma programs are fully acceptable for credit in one or more of the Institution’s Associate Degree programs.

Pregnancy while enrolled. The Dental Assisting program includes laboratory and/or clinical courses that may expose students to ionizing radiation; the program maintains a pregnancy policy consistent with federal and state radiation protection requirements and ABHES standards.

In addition to the General Admissions Requirements, applicants to the Dental Assisting program must pass a urine drug screen. Random urine drug screens may be conducted at any time during the program. Submission and completion of the minimum admission requirements does NOT guarantee admittance to the program.

East Ohio College measures its non-Nursing coursework in standard quarters of 10 to 12 weeks; a new quarter begins approximately every six weeks. While individual courses are normally scheduled during the day Monday through Thursday for students in day programs, some courses may be scheduled in the evenings Monday through Thursday or any time on Friday or Saturday. Externships may be scheduled on any day and any shift as required by the learning site.

Clinical and lab days are held at the East Liverpool campus; externships and certain lab portions of courses cannot be completed online.

Start dates. Upcoming quarter start dates on the official school calendar are November 9, 2026; January 4, February 15, April 5, May 17, June 28, August 16, September 27 and November 8, 2027.

Tuition (2026-2027 catalog). Tuition is charged per quarter term: full-time (12 or more credits) $3,995.00; ¾ time (9–11) $3,395.00; ½ time (6–8) $2,795.00; less than ½ time (1–5) $1,895.00. An Education Resource Fee of $495.00 applies each term. Students are charged tuition and fees for each term in which they attend class and/or participate in externships.

Fees. All students are assessed a one-time $25 application fee for admittance into the institution; it is waived for Active Duty, Guard, Reserve and Veterans (honorably discharged) and their spouse/domestic partner or dependents.

Cost of Attendance, 2026/2027 award year (one academic year, full-time). Tuition and fees $13,470; supplies & equipment $429; living expenses $9,586 (off-campus not living with parent) or $3,903 (living with parent); miscellaneous/personal $3,634 or $3,004; transportation $1,924 or $1,590; loan fees $64. Total cost of attendance $29,107 (not living with parent) or $22,460 (living with parent).

Financial aid. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Types of aid the catalog lists include the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, the West Virginia Higher Education Grant, institutional scholarships and grants, tuition assistance, benefits, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS (Parent) Loans, private loans and institutional loans. Veterans may use the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program. Enter the Federal School Code on the FAFSA: East Ohio College 016261.

Payment plans. To reduce student loan debt, the institution allows students to make monthly payments which are applied as a credit against tuition and other fee charges; each student's payment will vary according to his or her situation.

Books and supplies. The institution includes the cost of e-book/textbook use and program-specific supplies in tuition and fees; students may opt out in writing at least 4 business days before the term. Students also have indirect costs (living expenses, supplies, transportation, personal and miscellaneous costs) that are not included in tuition and fees.

Net price calculator. East Ohio College publishes a net price calculator at eastohio.edu.

The program prepares graduates for entry-level positions as a Dental Assistant and related clinical and administration careers. The curriculum in this short-term program is limited to basic skills, so graduates may need additional training and/or experience to qualify for some positions.

Student outcomes. As reported to ABHES for July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, the placement rate for Dental Assisting (Diploma) was 67% and the retention rate was 78%.