Dental Assisting

Dental Assistant School

The Dental Assistant program at St. Paul’s School of Nursing, prepares you for meaningful work in the field of dental assisting. Conveniently located in Staten Island—we serve the local community by providing the education and training you will need to land that first job at a local dental office or clinic.

With an Associate Degree in Occupational Studies in Dental Assisting, you can pursue a career that may include patient care, office and administrative duties, as well as laboratory tasks. Specific tasks might consist of providing chair-side assistance to the dentist, properly preparing and maintaining equipment, gathering or updating dental records, scheduling appointments, making dental impressions (models of patients’ teeth), and providing oral hygiene and/or post-procedure healthcare instructions to patients. Whether they end up working in an office or clinic, our dental assistant program graduates play an important role in helping dentists boost the efficiency of oral healthcare delivery.

Excellent interpersonal skills combined with up-to-date technical skills and education can create the ideal dental assistant and contribute to the delivery of quality dental care. Our comprehensive program balances traditional classroom instruction with real-world hands-on experience and provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to confidently and competently assist dentists and interact with patients.

Skilled dental assistants are in demand in a variety of settings, including private and group dental practices, mobile dental units, insurance companies, hospitals, nursing homes, dental school clinics, dental specialty practices, and public and private health facilities. At our Staten Island campus, you will learn the skills you need to launch your career as a compassionate, skilled dental healthcare professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is St. Paul's School of Nursing?

    St. Paul's School of Nursing provides postsecondary career education to both traditional and nontraditional students through a variety of degree programs that assist adult students in enhancing their career opportunities and improving problem-solving abilities.

    St. Paul's School of Nursing strives to develop within its students the desire for lifelong and continued education. 

  • What are the admission requirements?

    To qualify for admissions, in most cases you must be a high school graduate or its equivalent. All applicants are required to complete a personal information sheet. During a personal interview with our admissions staff, we will review your career goals to help you find the right program to fit your needs.

    Every individual will be given the opportunity to tour the facility, meet with Financial Aid, and enroll in the next available classes. Please contact your local campus Admission advisor for more information on admission requirements.

  • How much does the program cost?

    Tuition varies from program and campus. Speak with an admissions advisor for more details.

  • Is financial aid available?

    You've got obligations and responsibilities already, so financing your education is going to be a real concern. At St. Paul's School of Nursing, we understand that. That's why we help our students to learn about government and private loans and other financial aid options that are available to those who qualify to help finance the cost of building the foundation for your new career.

    • We work every day with working adults and career changers who have complex financial situations, and get them the information to help them to determine the financing for their education that will work the best for them.
    • We have financial aid offices on every campus so students can continue to find and act on important information they need to continue on their path to success
    • We are flexible and pragmatic in our approach. Our instructors, counselors, professors, and staff understand and will work with you if it becomes difficult to keep up your studies or if you need time off.
  • Does St. Paul's School of Nursing help me find a job after graduation?

    At St. Paul's School of Nursing our Career Services professionals are committed to successfully supporting our graduates to secure employment in entry-level positions. Through career development, including professionalism, motivation, resume development, dress for success, interview coaching and the maintenance of ethical standards, we empower our graduates with the skills necessary to approach a job interview ready for success.

    St. Paul's operates a Career Services Center at each campus to assist graduates with career placement. All State Career provides career placement assistance to our graduates. As graduation approaches, students get the opportunity to meet with the Director of Career Services during their last semester to discuss career services available for their individual job search. As a graduate, you will want employment that reflects your skills, training, and allows for professional growth and development. Career Services is committed to helping you find the right fit for you.

  • Is St. Paul's School of Nursing accredited?

    St. Paul’s School of Nursing is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

    See each school's campus page or click on the CONSUMER INFO button on the right to view individual campus or programmatic accreditations.