Dental assistant schools in California are a great way to enter one of the fastest growing healthcare careers across California and it could not be a better time for aspiring dental assistants to enroll in to accredited training. We will cover the different certifications available in California for dental assistants, what the job outlook is, what you can expect to get paid and much more!
Search for Dental Assistant Schools in California Today
The Steps to Becoming a Dental Assistant in California
The Dental Board of California regulates the entire dental field with a lot of regulations. So be aware of every necessary regulatory issue before starting your education process. We will try to get you up to speed below and get you on the right track to becoming a California dental assistant at which ever level you strive to get to. There are currently three main levels of dental assistants in California and we cover them all for you below. It should be noted that additional certification are necessary to be able to become an Orthodontic Assistant and a Dental Sedation Assistant.
Unlicensed Dental Assistant – To be able to work as an Unlicensed Dental Assistant in California you are going to have to complete a training in the California Dental Practice Act, attain a bls certificate at a course that is approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association and in infection control within one year from employment start date. All training has to be approved by the Dental Board of California.
(RDA) Registered Dental Assistant – To be get fully licensed as an RDA in California, you will be required to complete all training necessary to be a Unlicensed Dental Assisted, and you must also show that you either have at least 15 months of work experience or that you have successfully graduated from a CA Dental Board approved RDA training program (we list them below). On top of all that, you will also be required to finish CA Dental Board approved training in coronal polishing and in radiation safety, then you must successfully take and pass the state of California’s practical and written tests and the California test in law and ethics.
(RDAEF) Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions – To become an RDAEF in California, you will have to successfully become an RDA first. After accomplishing that honor you will have to take and complete a California Dental Board approved training in pit and fissure sealants applications. Next you will have to take and finish a CA Board approved expanded functions training and then you will have to take and successfully pass a written exam and a clinical/practical test that is administered by the CA Dental Board. After you have completed all of that, then and only then, can you apply for licensure in the state of California.
CODA Approved Dental Assisting Training Programs in California
College of Alameda
555 Atlantic Avenue Dental Assisting Department Box 45 Alameda 94501
510-748-5275
Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Road Costa Mesa 92628-5005
714-432-5565
Cypress College
9200 Valley View Street Cypress 90630
714-484-7293
College of the Redwoods
7351 Tompkins Hill Road Eureka 95501 (707) 476-4253
Citrus College
1000 West Foothill Glendora 91740 626-914-8728
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
14101 East Nelson Street La Puente 91746
626-934-2890
Foothill College
12345 El Monte Road Los Altos Hills 94022
650-949-7351
Moreno Valley College
16130 Lasselle Street Moreno Valley 92551-2045
951-571-6430
Cerritos College
11110 East Alondra Blvd Norwalk 90650
562-860-2451×2587
College of Marin
1800 Ignacio Boulevard Novato 94949
415-457-8811 x8410
Pasadena City College
1570 East Colorado Blvd Pasadena 91106
626-585-7883
Diablo Valley College
321 Golf Club Road Pleasant Hill 94523
925-969-2640
Chaffey College
5885 Haven Avenue Rancho Cucamonga 91737-3002
909-652-6668
Sacramento City College
835 Freeport Boulevard Sacramento 95822
916-558-2038
San Diego Mesa College
7250 Mesa College Drive San Diego 92111-4999
(619) 388-2697
City College of San Francisco
50 Phelan Avenue San Francisco 94112
415-239-3479
San Jose City College
2100 Moorpark Avenue San Jose 95128
(408) 298-2181 x3255
Palomar Community College
1140 West Mission Road San Marcos 92069
(760) 744-1150 x2571
College of San Mateo
1700 West Hillsdale Blvd San Mateo 94402
650-574-6211
Santa Rosa Junior College
1501 Mendocino Avenue Santa Rosa 95401-4395
707-527-4583
Dental Assisting Jobs and Salary Outlook for California
Dental assistant salary in California is shown in the table below for you and you should know that the expected increase in dental assisting jobs across the Golden State is over 15%!
| Location | Pay Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Hourly | $12.24 | $17.76 | $25.00 |
| Yearly | $25,460 | $36,940 | $52,000 | |
| California | Hourly | $11.89 | $17.89 | $27.62 |
| Yearly | $24,730 | $37,220 | $57,450 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $13.46 | $22.53 | $32.95 |
| Yearly | $28,000 | $46,850 | $68,530 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $15.86 | $22.07 | $31.04 |
| Yearly | $32,980 | $45,900 | $64,560 | |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA | Hourly | $13.75 | $21.60 | $30.85 |
| Yearly | $28,590 | $44,940 | $64,180 | |
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $11.58 | $21.42 | $28.34 |
| Yearly | $24,080 | $44,560 | $58,950 | |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | Hourly | $15.95 | $21.03 | $27.81 |
| Yearly | $33,170 | $43,750 | $57,840 | |
| Chico, CA | Hourly | $13.66 | $20.62 | $25.57 |
| Yearly | $28,410 | $42,900 | $53,180 | |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | Hourly | $13.39 | $19.60 | $27.96 |
| Yearly | $27,850 | $40,770 | $58,160 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | Hourly | $13.23 | $19.21 | $24.94 |
| Yearly | $27,520 | $39,960 | $51,870 | |
| North Coast Region | Hourly | $13.39 | $19.19 | $27.03 |
| Yearly | $27,860 | $39,910 | $56,230 | |
| Yuba City, CA | Hourly | $13.49 | $19.08 | $23.91 |
| Yearly | $28,060 | $39,690 | $49,740 | |
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $14.98 | $19.00 | $27.84 |
| Yearly | $31,170 | $39,520 | $57,920 | |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | Hourly | $13.73 | $18.97 | $24.70 |
| Yearly | $28,560 | $39,450 | $51,380 | |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA | Hourly | $15.32 | $18.86 | $28.50 |
| Yearly | $31,870 | $39,230 | $59,270 | |
| Madera-Chowchilla, CA | Hourly | $13.16 | $18.66 | $26.10 |
| Yearly | $27,380 | $38,820 | $54,280 | |
| Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA | Hourly | $13.37 | $18.59 | $25.74 |
| Yearly | $27,810 | $38,660 | $53,550 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | Hourly | $13.22 | $18.57 | $26.68 |
| Yearly | $27,510 | $38,620 | $55,490 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $14.57 | $18.44 | $23.99 |
| Yearly | $30,300 | $38,350 | $49,890 | |
| Mother Lode Region | Hourly | $12.69 | $17.94 | $26.10 |
| Yearly | $26,400 | $37,320 | $54,290 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $12.83 | $17.83 | $26.96 |
| Yearly | $26,700 | $37,080 | $56,070 | |
| North Valley Region | Hourly | $11.20 | $17.07 | $23.70 |
| Yearly | $23,290 | $35,510 | $49,310 | |
| Northern Mountains Region | Hourly | $10.94 | $16.95 | $28.56 |
| Yearly | $22,760 | $35,260 | $59,410 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA | Hourly | $11.15 | $16.70 | $26.35 |
| Yearly | $23,190 | $34,740 | $54,820 | |
| Stockton, CA | Hourly | $13.09 | $16.56 | $23.34 |
| Yearly | $27,230 | $34,450 | $48,550 | |
| Modesto, CA | Hourly | $11.73 | $16.51 | $24.58 |
| Yearly | $24,400 | $34,330 | $51,140 | |
| Redding, CA | Hourly | $12.59 | $16.43 | $24.08 |
| Yearly | $26,180 | $34,180 | $50,090 | |
| El Centro, CA | Hourly | $10.75 | $16.31 | $26.09 |
| Yearly | $22,360 | $33,930 | $54,270 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | Hourly | $11.13 | $16.02 | $24.54 |
| Yearly | $23,140 | $33,330 | $51,050 | |
| Merced, CA | Hourly | $11.02 | $15.55 | $22.46 |
| Yearly | $22,920 | $32,350 | $46,710 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $10.72 | $15.23 | $23.02 |
| Yearly | $22,290 | $31,680 | $47,880 | |
| Fresno, CA | Hourly | $10.37 | $13.94 | $21.78 |
| Yearly | $21,570 | $28,990 | $45,300 |