Relaunch of the Dental Office Assistant Program
April 2025: Blackstone Career Institute is excited to announce the relaunch of our online Dental Office Assistant Program. After a thorough review and curriculum update to align with the Dental Assisting National Board’s NELDA certification, the program is now available. Prospective students can enroll anytime to learn the skills needed to become an administrative dental assistant.
Dental office assistant students can prepare to enter a fast-growing field with good earning potential. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median pay as of 2023 for a dental assistant in the U.S. was $46,540 per year. The top 10% of earners made over $61,060. This career can provide a stable income and offers an opportunity to work with a dental team in a professional setting without extensive schooling.
Blackstone Career Institute continually updates its curriculum to ensure students receive accurate and up-to-date information relevant to current dental practices. Blackstone’s updated program includes access to the 6th edition of The Administrative Dental Assistant and the 4th edition of Mosby’s Dental Dictionary.
The Dental Office Assistant Program prepares students for the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification exam given by the Dental Office Assisting Board (DANB). This is an entry-level certification, designed to be a stepping stone on the path to becoming a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
To be eligible for the NELDA certification exam, students are required to earn a CPR, BLS or ACLS certificate from a DANB-accepted provider– the course must include CPR and a hands-on skills exam.
State requirements for dental assistants vary, so prospective students are encouraged to research the specific qualifications (if any) needed to work in the field.
The affordable tuition cost for the Dental Office Assistant Program offers three payment options. Prospective students can enroll for as little as $59 down and $59 a month with a total tuition cost of $1,442. They can opt for a $79 a month plan for $59 down with a total tuition cost of $1,298. Or prospective students can save $228 on tuition by choosing to pay in full for $1,214.
Blackstone Career Institute now offers an exclusive add-on for Dental Office Assistant students—the NELDA Certification Bundle (DANB). Available for purchase through the Blackstone Bookstore for $982.00, this comprehensive bundle is designed to help students confidently prepare for the NELDA certification exam. Plus, the exam fee is included, making it a convenient and valuable investment in your future:
1. NELDA Exam Preparation Bundle
- Review Courses – Includes in-depth online review courses, creatively designed to help you recall the materials on exam day and beyond.
- Practice Tests – Over 600 multiple choice questions that follow the DANB’s exam outlines to help you get comfortable with the exam’s timed and computerized format.
2. NELDA Certification Exam Voucher
Blackstone Career Institute now offers the NELDA Certification Bundle to help streamline the certification process for students of the Dental Office Assistant Program.
Blackstone remains committed to student success – offering career-focused programs to prepare students with the theory and skills needed for their chosen entry-level career.
About Blackstone
Blackstone Career Institute is an accredited distance education school with affordable career training options for adult learners looking to start or advance their position in the legal, allied health, or service career fields. With payment plan options, students can pay as they go and graduate debt-free.
Blackstone is privately licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and accredited by Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), Washington, D.C and Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, Philadelphia, PA.
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