Loading
Dental assisting is one of the fastest ways into an Arizona dental career — a short program or on-the-job training can have you working chairside. Here's the roadmap, with the Arizona training, credentials, and offices that matter.
Where to train in Arizona
Arizona lets many dental assistants train on the job, while others complete a certificate program. The Maricopa Community Colleges across metro Phoenix and Pima Community College in Tucson, plus accredited career schools, offer dental assisting programs that cover chairside skills, sterilization, and dental terminology.
Credentials in Arizona
You do not need a license to assist chairside in Arizona, but the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners requires specific credentials to take dental x-rays or perform expanded functions like coronal polishing. Many assistants earn DANB certifications — the Radiation Health and Safety exam and the CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) — to do more and earn more.
Where the Arizona jobs are
Dental assistants work in general and specialty dental offices across Phoenix, Tucson, and growing communities statewide, often with flexible schedules. It is a fast, affordable entry — and a common first step toward becoming an Arizona dental hygienist.
Ready to start? Browse live Arizona opportunities — internships, training programs, and scholarships across the state.
A short program plus DANB CDA certification gets you chairside
Dental assisting is a quick, affordable entry into dentistry: get trained, earn your DANB CDA certification, and start working chairside. Many assistants use it as a stepping stone toward becoming a dental hygienist down the road.
Keep going: see whether the trades are worth it, compare becoming a dental hygienist, and check if it will pay off.