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Dental Assisting Schools in Michigan
30 schools in Michigan offer dental assisting-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 7 registered apprenticeship programs in Michigan train dental assisting apprentices — see apprenticeships.
Occupation pay is what working dental assisting professionals in Michigan earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
Dental Assisting licensing in Michigan: State license required
Michigan is one of the few states that fully licenses dental assistants: the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license from the Michigan Board of Dentistry requires graduating from a board-approved, CODA-accredited RDA program and passing the Michigan RDA exam (a 2-hour written test with a 75% pass mark plus a 2-hour clinical exam, both within 18 months), along with hands-on BLS certification. Unlicensed assistants may perform only basic supportive duties and can expose x-rays only after completing a board-approved radiography course. There is no work-experience substitute for the required schooling.
Official source: Michigan Board of Dentistry (LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing) · Exam: Michigan RDA Examination: 2-hour written exam (75% to pass) plus 2-hour clinical exam, both passed within an 18-month window; 3 failures of either part requires retaking both · Typical requirement: Graduation from a board-approved (CODA-accredited) RDA program is mandatory — no work-experience substitute; current hands-on BLS/ACLS certification; apply via LARA's MiPLUS system. Unregistered assistants may perform only basic supportive procedures (after BLS plus at least 1 hour of infection-control training) and may expose x-rays only after completing a board-approved radiography course.
Official license records related to dental assisting in Michigan
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Dental Hygienist, Educational Limited (R.D.H.) — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Dental Assistant, Educational Limited (R.D.A.) — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Dental Assistant, Clinical/Nonclinical Limited (R.D.A.) — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Dental Hygienist, Clinical/Nonclinical (R.D.H.) — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Dental Assistant, Registered (R.D.A.) — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Dental Hygienist, Registered (R.D.H.) — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb Community College | Warren | public | $1,618 | 16.6% | $41,596 |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo | public | $2,979 | 21.5% | $38,618 |
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | public | $3,249 | 31.1% | $39,449 |
| Delta College | University Center | public | $4,547 | 23.8% | $37,781 |
| Kellogg Community College | Battle Creek | public | $4,858 | 15.2% | $38,329 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | public | $5,437 | 19.2% | $39,206 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | public | $5,777 | 31.6% | $37,395 |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Traverse City | public | $6,231 | 32% | $38,167 |
| Mott Community College | Flint | public | $5,687 | 21.3% | $32,538 |
| Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor | public | $6,680 | 22.5% | $34,466 |
| Jackson College | Jackson | public | $7,761 | 19.5% | $36,898 |
| Grand Rapids Community College | Grand Rapids | public | $8,621 | 23.8% | $38,377 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | public | $7,656 | 19.7% | $29,079 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Kentwood | Kentwood | private for-profit | $18,071 | 60.8% | $30,072 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Canton | Canton | private for-profit | $18,556 | 54.6% | $30,060 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Davison | Davison | private for-profit | $18,616 | 67.9% | $29,898 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Saginaw | Saginaw | private for-profit | $18,831 | 57% | $30,060 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Flint | Flint | private for-profit | $18,996 | 59.6% | $30,060 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Warren | Warren | private for-profit | $19,427 | 56.2% | $30,481 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-New Baltimore | New Baltimore | private for-profit | $19,604 | 84.2% | $30,481 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Lansing | Lansing | private for-profit | $19,501 | 63.6% | $30,072 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Roosevelt Park | Roosevelt Park | private for-profit | $19,544 | 70.3% | $30,060 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Portage | Portage | private for-profit | $19,920 | 61.1% | $30,060 |
| Ross College-Grand Rapids North | Grand Rapids | private for-profit | $20,033 | 64.8% | $30,072 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | private for-profit | $20,250 | 61.1% | $29,898 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton | Brighton | private for-profit | $20,607 | 65.5% | $29,898 |
| Dorsey College-Dearborn | Detroit | private for-profit | $25,615 | 39.4% | $29,392 |
| Dorsey College | Madison Heights | private for-profit | $28,525 | 59.7% | $29,392 |
| Dorsey College-Roseville | Roseville | private for-profit | $29,232 | 39.4% | $29,392 |
| Dorsey College-Woodhaven | Woodhaven | private for-profit | $30,698 | 49.3% | $29,392 |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not dental assisting graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: Dental Assisting school in Michigan
- How much do Dental Assisting schools cost in Michigan?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 30 dental assisting schools in Michigan is $18,586. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a dental assisting in Michigan?
- Michigan is one of the few states that fully licenses dental assistants: the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license from the Michigan Board of Dentistry requires graduating from a board-approved, CODA-accredited RDA program and passing the Michigan RDA exam (a 2-hour written test with a 75% pass mark plus a 2-hour clinical exam, both within 18 months), along with hands-on BLS certification. Unlicensed assistants may perform only basic supportive duties and can expose x-rays only after completing a board-approved radiography course. There is no work-experience substitute for the required schooling.
- Can you get paid to train as a dental assisting in Michigan?
- Yes — Michigan has 7 registered apprenticeship programs where you earn wages while you train instead of paying tuition. See the dental assisting apprenticeships page for the current list.
- What does a dental assisting earn in Michigan?
- Working dental assisting professionals in Michigan earn a median of $48,820 per year, ranging from about $37,110 to $58,900 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for dental assisting programs in Michigan
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Dental Assisting schools in nearby states
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- Dental Assisting schools in Connecticut
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See all states & the full dental assisting guide →