By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
If you’re thinking about starting a career in dental assisting, you’re choosing a path that combines hands-on patient care, teamwork, and fast entry into the healthcare field. Dental assistants are vital members of dental teams, helping deliver preventive care, support dentists during procedures, handle infection control, and help patients feel comfortable. To get into the field, you’ll want to understand the application process, how to prepare in high school, where you can study locally, and how special options like the 916 Career & Tech Center program can give you an early start.
Preparing Early: High School Classes and Skills That Help
Long before you submit an application to a dental assistant program, you can start preparing in high school. Taking courses like biology, anatomy and physiology, health sciences, chemistry, and math give you a strong foundation for the sciences you’ll see in dental training. Classes such as English/communication, business or computer applications, and even psychology will help you communicate with patients and manage dental office tasks. Skills like attention to detail, excellent communication, good manual dexterity, and a genuine interest in helping others will make the training and your future work easier and more satisfying. Employers and educators look for students who are organized, empathetic, and ready to interact professionally with patients every day.
A Special Path: Dental Assisting Through the 916 Career & Tech Center
One exciting option if you’re still in high school is to take advantage of the Northeast Metro ISD 916 Career & Tech Center’s programs. The 916 Center partners with Century College (located on Century College’s campus in White Bear Lake) to offer real-world dental assisting exposure and clinical observation opportunities for juniors and seniors in high school. This means you can start building dental knowledge—and potentially college credits—before you graduate high school. To learn more or enroll, contact 916 Career & Tech directly at 651-415-5537 or talk to your high school counselor about registration and course options. careertech.916schools.org+1
What to Expect When You Apply
Once you’re ready to apply to a dental assistant program after high school (or as a high school senior via programs like 916), research the schools you’re interested in and note their application steps. Most programs require:
- A completed application with your high school transcript (or GED),
- Sometimes a special program application or interview,
- Basic prerequisites such as a high school diploma or equivalent,
- And occasionally math/English placement or GPA minimums depending on the school.
For community colleges like Century College, you’ll submit a general admissions application and the specific dental assisting program application (with deadlines announced each year). In contrast, private institutions like Herzing University may have rolling admissions, meaning you can apply when you’re ready.
Local Programs in the Twin Cities to Consider
Here are some great programs right here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area where you can earn a diploma or degree in dental assisting:
- Century College (White Bear Lake/St. Paul area) – Offers both Diploma and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Dental Assisting with competitive admission and hands-on clinic experience. Century College
- Herzing University (Minneapolis) – Provides Dental Assisting Diploma and Associate degree options with hybrid and on-campus formats. Herzing University
- Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park/Eden Prairie) – Offers both diploma and A.A.S. dental assistant programs with clinical externships and preparation for certification. Hennepin Technical College
- Minneapolis College – Has dental assistant certificate and diploma pathways, building foundational skills and preparing you for national and state board exams. MCTC
Each of these programs has its own admissions process, so check their admissions offices or websites for current contact information and steps to apply.
Why Dental Assisting Is a Great Career
Choosing dental assisting means stepping into a rewarding medical support role with a relatively fast educational path—many diploma programs take about a year or less to complete. You’ll gain both technical skills (like chairside assisting, radiology basics, infection control, and dental materials) and interpersonal experience with patients. While in school, you’ll often complete externships or clinical experiences that give you real practice in dental offices.
Dental assistants tend to be detailed, empathetic, good communicators, and comfortable working on a team. The career offers solid job prospects and can be a stepping stone to other dental and healthcare careers (like dental hygiene or dental office management). For many students, it’s also a great way to start earning while continuing education or exploring future roles in dentistry.