12 Best Dental Assistant Programs In San Diego, CA (2022 Updated)

Two years ago I had the good insight of enrolling in Concorde's PTA program. The program is run by knowledgeable Physical Therapists invested in quality education (Mary, Sam, Laura, Kelly, Dennis). They provided me with the necessary tools to start a new career and enter the work force feeling competent with my skills. The school has a department dedicated to assist graduates find a job, Alvy has personally helped me with this, he even rendered a mock interview so that I would show up to a possible employer as a strong and coherent candidate. Because the program is so well organized (from prerequisites to clinical rotations and even when/how to signing up for your board test!) it is easier to have a balance school/personal life. And when you approach the school, Karl, the security officer at the entrance, is the most welcoming and kind person that will ever open a door for you.Yawi Griffini

My experience at Concorde has truly been astounding. I joined the Medical Assistant program and my teacher Ms Tameka was nothing short of a great instructor. She was very patient, compassionate and dedicated to ensuring that every student learned even if it meant staying late or adapting the way she presented materials.The Financial staff Eva and Peetee were very efficient in handling my paperwork so that I could dedicate my focus to studying and be successful. Upon completion my graduate employment specialist Rocky was a true rockstar. I had no faith in using their services but this guy was very helpful in making sure my resume was top notch and that I was interview ready and confident enough to land jobs and ask for the money I deserved. I am very thankful for all of the staff at Concorde for helping me to be a success in the healthcare field today!Neshia B

I attended Concorde Career College for the Medical Assistant Program and after completing, I am now a graduate!. After completing my externship, Rocky Ramirez who is our graduate employment specialist assisted me with my resume and employment opportunities. Not only was Rocky very helpful but he goes above and beyond on ensuring that his students are fully prepared for the next step. He was always available when I needed his help, always checking in to see how things are going. You can definitely count on him for anything. Thanks to rocky, I am now employed! He surely does the best job with helping each one of his students at Concorde! :)) Thank you again Rocky!!Gabriella De Soto

I am a passionate Nursing Instructor that plays an active role in my students training, comprehension of the true meaning of compassionate care, and solidify professionalism and team work in the work place. My students are going to change the future of nursing, by providing care above and beyond the state expected standards while knowing their scope of practice. I go above an beyond and even assist them in their Career Preparation and Interview Readiness; as a recruiter myself I know what industry Administrators are looking for and I ensure that my students not only know how to care but graduate knowing how to nail the job of their dreams. I also bills great teams and assist students from 16-99. Give me a visit some time and check out the campus. We have one of the highest pass rates for the California State Exam. Come join my class I would love to help you. Check out International Health Group on Yelp and see my students comments.C F

I am so glad I chose to begin my education in health care by participating in the CNA course at International Health Group. My experience here has prepared me for my future in health care, taught me skills and knowledge to excel. Additionally, the instructors here are so amazing, our instructor made the class so fun by letting us be hands on and told us real world stories that we will never forget. Along the way, I’ve met so many amazing individuals who all have a passion for helping others. These are people I will stay in touch with and network in the future with. I am excited to begin my career as CNA and climb the latter in Nursing. Our clinical experience gave us so much insight, experience and smiles. I sincerely am so grateful that I was able to attend this program! I could not have chosen a better place! Along with the staff being so kind and helpful! I highly recommend this place!Madison Brainard

I just completed the CNA course with Ms. Carla during this quarantine. Let me tell you, I had the most impeccable experience! Ms. Carla is the most kind, generous, honest, and caring instructor I’ve ever had — even surpassing my college professors. She always came to class with a bright spirit, and a warm smile (although we all wore masks, it was easy to recognize in her demeanor 🙂 ). She made the classroom a safe environment to talk about our studying & practicing concerns, practical life experience, and even how to handle our personal lives in general. I am so great full that I got stuck with such a fire-cracker of a teacher, and I will always remember her and my experiences with her as my embarkation to my nursing career. I would 100% recommend Ms. Carla as an instructor for this program to others!Sarah C

I want to say good morning to the UEI Families. Today I am here to enroll to further my education. I think its amazing that we have young adults willing to further there education to better there selfs as Productive citizens in our community. This something that we need to appreciate and give thanks for. Taking investments in our youth could be a little scary, but with the proper program's and the ones that help and willing to take pride in there jobs to help our children become young respectful, trustworthy, fathers, Daughters, Husband's, Wife's, thats what we need in this world today. So I appreciate those that take pride in there jobs. Don't >o O⁰think for a minute that your hard work is not noticed. We will have times to where days are harder than others but great work keep it upJoseph sapien

This Facility is horrible! They rush all the Modules. They Do not take good care of their Teachers/Instructors & the DOE lacks respect & professionalism. I taught at this college for 2 years, DA Program & it was so disappointing to see the structure & well being for everyone. Not a lot of support for all the Teachers either. Disappointing. They can do much better. Supplies & Models are old. They need to upgrade. Some of the Administrators & Teachers here are horrible too. Bad attitude & snotty.. Sad!Bebe Cimmarrusti

I love the vibe here. Chill instructors and staff, and it is very clean. Marc, who contacted me when I needed more information, helped me out with a lot of information I needed and let me know what I would be expecting before I started school. Currently, I am taking the MOS a.m. class with Mrs. K, but I was nervous coming back to school after a very long time, but I'm glad I chose UEI.Kim Aguigui

Within the first 30 minutes of lecture I realized Janet Press possessed an impressive wealth of knowledge and experience comparable to few, if any. She teaches fresh findings in a practical and non-threatening manner. They are a wonderful team and highly recommend taking this diode laser certification class. We downloaded tons of new data and new paradigms into our heads and still worked on the mechanics of this tiny magic wand. Thank you for bringing her to us!!!Alma Meza-Moeckel

These events brings Speakers from all over the world to San Diego. These educators provide over 25 high quality lectures and Hands-on training courses each day. With over 35 CE Lectures, we offer courses for every Attendees educational curiosity. Attendees have the opportunity to earn their continuing education credits and engage in classroom-style lectures taught by esteemed figures from across the dental community.San Diego Dental Convention, CEA Dental

I took the Laser Certification course today and I have to say I was surprised. Janet Press, RDH was the presenter and she is amazing. She is charismatic and relates her experiences in a way that really makes you understand how Lasers in dental hygiene are the wave of the future. She kept the class engaged, awake, and had full participation. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her courses.Amanda Wolfgram

My review is long over due! I have been a dental assistant for over 10 years now but just last year made the leap to get my RDA. I heard about California Dental Certifications through a friend and I’m so happy I did! Adele and her staff have been AMAZING! They are always helpful, genuinely have your best interest at heart and are always responding in a timely manner. Not to mention their prices are SUPER reasonable! I’ve taken numerous classes here and have had many interactions with Adele and have never been disappointed. I also forgot to mention that I am a military spouse and we moved RIGHT after getting my RDA license (with the much help of CDC’s RDA review manual) and now it’s time to renew but I didn’t know what to do. I reached out to Adele and once again, she was there to help! She told me where to go for information and the best thing to do to be able to keep y RDA license in case I ever need it again! I love having this resource (Adele and her staff) in my “back pocket.” Thank you Adele and your entire staff for everything you’ve done for me!Jenna Bert

Easiest way to get certified but besides that I don't think it is super convinient to get your DA training. They don't teach you all you need to know to get into the work field, some of the things described in the website and even in the syllabus are not mention in class. Most important it says it is a 4 week course which was in reality 2 weekend training, they just basically show you some of the things but very quick. Adele the owner is not helpful at all, and only cares about charging you the extension fee if you don't finish on time. Front desk ladies are not friendly and are rude. There's no parking in this location 😤 so if you drive you need to walk more than two blocks to get a cheap parking and if you arrive late they get upset. I think this place works more for people that is experienced and want to get their certificates.Mine Jaz

It feels a little rushed because it’s just a 3 week program but it’s honestly worth the money and they teach you what you need to know for cheap! It’s probably the most affordable dental assistant program in san diego. Just wanna point out that Gil is a wonderful and patient instructor! Wendy (I think that’s her name?) is also just the sweetest and most helpful person ever! She never made me feel dumb for asking her questions when I took my x-rays (she wasn’t even my instructor) and just genuinely seems kind hearted. Shoutout to Gloria too, she keeps the paperwork for the whole program all organized and makes sure you turn everything in. I recommend this place if you’re a fast learner. I’m not as fast of a learner so it was a little hard for me, but I adapted.Marielle Jingco

This school does not seem like a community college at all. It feels like a university and you feel like you're in a college City / town. It's very fun, you can tell that people are in good spirits in this area. Everybody is busy and active I absolutely love it here and I recommend this school highly!Heather Tenison

Go somewhere that cares and wants to help you succeed. This district makes it hard to get in contact with them and provides no real help. In the three years I’ve attended classes at sdccd campuses, I’ve never been able to meet with a counselor. They DO NOT care about your academic success.laura09mm

Service during the COVID 19 pandemic has been abysmal. Have received no help for clearing a prereq. I’ve called and sent emails to different people for a month with no luck. Due to my horrible experience during these times I will take my business elsewhere next semester.anonyperson

The Dental School of SD allows students to flourish educationally and professionally in a unique manner. Brynn was an outstanding instructor and showed each of her students how to be patient, adept, and excel at their own level. Dr. John was an extraordinary mentor that encouraged his students to find passion in all sorts of dental specialties. Students are trained with both book and hands-on lessons. The techniques learned through readings are challenged in a laboratory setting in which you able able to apply your skills and learn how to become a top notch dental assistant. Students build teamwork experience by adapting to challenging and rewarding situations. Individuals from all types of backgrounds and career goals come together and learn what it is to be an exceptional assistant. The session I was part of (Spring 2017) in particular enabled our particular team to grow into a family in which we encourage each other to continue growing and learning. This school prepares students for becoming excelled assists that can adapt to many different specialities in the dental field. The Dental School of San Diego is truly unparalleled and my time in the program has allowed me to gain a newfound respect for dentistry and the amount of teamwork that is required in a dental environment. I can't thank this program enough for teaching me invaluable lessons that I am now able to apply to a work place as a dental assistant.Arianna Khaira

Taking my dental class through this school was great, I had a wonderful experience and got more out of it than I expected. The training was really good and there was a lot of hands on, rather than just reading from a book. The staff is wonderful Dr. Coleman, Dr. John and Brynn are awesome! They helped me a lot with everything I needed to know and were very patient. Taking this program was definitely worth every penny. I would recommend and encourage anyone who wants to be a dental assistant to take the program it is a great experience. The thing I loved and enjoy the most was the labs and internship it gave me the opportunity to find a job close to home!Sandra Tello

I love this place! The Coleman's are an amazing team. Their patients and now, students, come first. They take the extra step to ensure their patients are receiving the best care. Continuing education has always been a top priority for the Coleman's. Dr. John has now expressed that dedication to his students. It's truly been my pleasure to learn from them. I have been in the dental field for over 16 years. In the beginning of my career, I would've loved to attend this school. It's such a fun way to learn and sets you up for an everlasting career. I look forward to seeing you at the Dental Assistant School of San Diego!Brynn Pikula

I had attended the orientation and I was really not impressed with this. In order to even qualify for the class you need to take tests which require 6th/7th grade math and english. However, even if you pass with a score of 70% you're still not guaranteed to get in. If the test has a higher average, then those people who scored higher will get in before you will and you end up going on a wait list. The phlebotomy orientation had probably close to 50+ people at the orientation but they will only take 30 students. Also, the fee's seem a bit miss leading as well. The registration fee does not include the license fees or any additional fee's that are required such as lab immunizations and drug screen, in addition you also need to purchase "new" books and they cannot be used. Nevertheless, I was not impressed nor very satisfied when I left that orientation.Lady Snow

I understand sometimes people may not be having the greatest day but keep in mind what the other person at the end of the phone is going through to try to further their careers. I called for my aunt who is 55+ I have no idea how CNA credits work so I called for her to get information and whoever answered sounded very annoyed whenever I asked any questions about registration and how the classes work. Do you know how hard it is for our senior community to keep up with technology and try to get all the credentials needed at this time n age when they might not even know how to text ? The call ended at a better note but we still felt pretty discouraged to even attempt the online registration process. I hope whoever answered has a better day tomorrow and doesn’t give others this experience.Michelle Corona

Unless you want to purchase a textbook, and then spend every day having the textbook monotonously spoken back to you almost word for word, not the place for you. Not consistent, spent the first two weeks with slides, then randomly switch to no slides. Instructor had a hard time sticking to the content, continuously going on tangents. If you have any learning style other than just listening to a person ramble on and on, with maybe one skills day a week (if that), go to EMSTA. Remember, these aren't teachers. They're EMS in teaching positions.Rawgabbit

The faculty and staff is amazing. Love love Ms Meza and Mrs Karrisa both are always genuine. They take care of all the students, no matter the situation. The learning environment they put us in very relatable and modern, which made grasping the lectures easy. I did get my RDA license and I could not have done it without you guys! Thank you! Don’t hesitate to call and ask questions, Ms Yvette is very welcoming first interaction, you won’t be disappointed!! Definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to be in the Dentistry field!Quaddira Anderson

Presently taking the RDAEF program w/Ms. Janice as our instructor and it has been a wonderful experience so far. It has been surprisingly fun despite it being an accelerated course—I would have expected it to be stressful and demanding but the only demands made are self imposed. The instructor goes to great lengths to ensure that we are morally supported and given all the information and knowledge needed to be successful in the field. I actually look forward to taking my boards later on this year.Reyna Catbagan

I took the Orthodontist Assistant Permit Holder course, their staff are nice, also the teacher was nice. But, she is not knowledgeable about ortho.We only had the first day lecture by Dr. Hoss, that’s it. The reason that I took this course was, to improve my knowledge and ortho skills and get the answer of my questions. Then, when I proof my OAP certification, that means I am more knowledgeable and I know what I’m doing…Mehrnaz R

An amazing organization that is unlike most others. It’s devotion to improving the profession which inturn helps the public, serves as a pivitol part of our communities oral health. It’s foundation & coordination with educational institutions & philanthropic missions, set it apart as a model for other societies.Dr. Lindsay Pfeffer

Becky the Instructor, shares her expert knowledge about everything there is to know about the software programs that her school offers. She is class, professional, and extremely patient with any answers you might have for her; I was very pleased and felt very welcomed in her Academy. Look no further, what she offers on her website is what you need in your advancement , and to gain, further/continue your education by learning from the best. Thank you so much Becky! Impressed with your history and background…amazing!!!Teresa Roy