Virginia Program Schedule

  • School Location
  • Session
  • Attend our Open House
  • Class Start Date
  • End Date
Fairfax
(M, W 6-10pm)
  • Winter 
  • 01/09/25
  • 01/22/25
  • 04/02/25
  • Spring 
  • 04/24/25
  • 05/07/25
  • 07/21/25
  • Fall  
  • 07/23/25
  • 09/17/25
  • 12/01/25
Fredericksburg
(T, Th 5:30-9:30pm)
  • Winter
  • 01/09/25
  • 02/13/25
  • 04/24/25
  • Spring
  • 04/24/25
  • 05/20/25
  • 07/29/25
  • Fall 
  • 0/257/23
  • 09/18/25
  • 12/02/25
Manassas
(T, Th 6-10pm)
  • Winter
  • 01/09/25
  • 02/13/25
  • 04/24/25
  • Spring
  • 04/24/25
  • 05/27/25
  • 08/05/25
  • Fall 
  • 07/23/25
  • 09/11/25
  • 11/20/25
Saturday Woodbridge
(Sat 8am-4pm)

 

  • Winter (full)
  • 01/09/25
  • 02/01/25
  • 04/12/25
  • Spring (full)
  • 04/24/25
  • 05/17/25
  • 07/26/25
  • Fall
  • 07/23/25
  • 09/20/25
  • 11/29/25

Virginia Qualified Dental Assistant Training Program

Hands-On Classes & Training

Jumpstart your new career as a qualified dental assistant! Students enrolled in the Virginia Qualified Dental Assistant training program will attend training within a fully functional dental practice, when the office is closed.

Dental Assistant Training Schools is designed for you. Our Virginia locations offer convenient class times that fit your schedule, and our functional, hands-on course is built to supply you with all the practical knowledge you need to succeed in your new dental profession. 

The DATS program has a maximum student-to-instructor ratio of 10:1 for the classroom and 5:1 for the laboratory. This ensures each of our students enjoys hands-on experience in all areas of dental assisting. 

84 total course hours:

  • 84 hours of classroom instruction
  • 20 hours of optional externship
 

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Class Sessions

Each class session is divided into lecture and lab portions.

Lecture Portion

During the lecture portion, students view slides or PowerPoint presentations presented by an instructor. There will be time for questions, answers, and review.

Lab Portion

The laboratory portion focuses on getting you the hands-on experience you need to apply what you've learned in the lecture. During the lab portion, you will focus on learning and practicing skills with office treatment rooms, labs, and equipment.

Externship

DATS Virginia students are not required to complete an externship, but it is an excellent opportunity for you to apply the skills you've learned in the classroom in a real dental setting. 

What is the DATS externship?

The DATS Maryland optional externship is designed to provide you the opportunity to test the skills and abilities you acquire during the first half of the instructional classroom segment of the DATS curriculum.

How does the externship work?

Interested students will be provided with the contact information of any dental offices participating in the externship. It is your responsibility to schedule your extern hours at a time that is mutually convenient for you and the dental office.

Externship Requirements
  • To begin your externship, you must pass the first two quizzes and midterm exam.
  • You must complete your 20 externship hours by the last scheduled class.
  • Upon completion of the externship, you must submit a timesheet, signed by the dental office to DATS, to verify the required hours have been completed.

Learning Materials

DATS classes are held in a modern state-of-the-art dental office with the latest equipment. The school will provide you with:

  • A set of models of human dentition, and student models of his/her dentition.
  • All of the disposable supplies needed to perform tasks
  • The opportunity to use the available instruments and equipment in treatment rooms

Five students may work in a treatment or specialty room at any one time. There is one instructor for every ten students in the classroom and one instructor for every five students in the laboratory.

Instructional Materials

Modern Dental Assisting, by Doni L. Bird, Debbie S. Robinson, Elsevier Saunders Publisher; Hardcover 12th edition ISBN: 978-0323495882.

Modern Dental Assisting, by Doni L. Bird, Debbie S. Robinson, Elsevier Saunders Publisher; Hardcover 12th edition ISBN: 978-0323495882.

Modern Dental Assisting, by Doni L. Bird, Debbie S. Robinson, Elsevier Saunders Publisher; Hardcover 12th edition ISBN: 978-0323495882.

Teaching Devices

All classes will be taught in fully-equipped dental treatment rooms with teaching devices and equipment including:

  • Dental patient chair, overhead examining light, water & air syringe, suction tool & dental instrument tray.
  • Fully equipped darkroom (varies by location)
  • X-ray machines
  • Digital Imaging System (varies by location)
  • Automatic film processors (varies by location)
  • Autoclave
  • Fully equipped dental laboratory
  • Fully equipped office including computer, photocopy machine, fax, multiple phone lines
  • Audio-Visual Aids – DVD

Maryland Program Schedule

  • School Location
  • Session
  • Open House
  • Start Date
  • End Date
Annapolis
(T, Th 6-10pm)
  • Winter
  • 01/11/21
  • 01/26/21
  • 04/06/21
  • Spring
  • 04/29/21
  • 05/11/21
  • 11/23/21
  • Fall
  • 09/02/21
  • 09/14/21
  • 11/23/21
Columbia
(M, W 6-10pm)
  • Winter
  • 01/11/21
  • 01/25/21
  • 04/05/21
  • Spring
  • 04/26/21
  • 05/10/21
  • 07/26/21
  • Fall
  • 08/30/21
  • 09/13/21
  • 11/22/21
Germantown
(W, Th 6-10pm, Winter M,W)
  • Winter
  • 01/11/21
  • 01/25/21
  • 04/05/21
  • Spring
  • 04/22/21
  • 05/13/21
  • 07/15/21
  • Fall
  • 09/09/21
  • 09/22/21
  • 12/08/21
Westminster
(M, W 6-10pm)
  • Winter
  • 01/11/21
  • 01/25/21
  • 04/05/21
  • Spring
  • 04/21/21
  • 05/05/21
  • 07/21/21
  • Fall
  • 09/01/21
  • 09/13/21
  • 11/22/21

School Closings & Cancellations

School closings due to weather will follow local community college closing announcements. Classes canceled due to weather will be rescheduled. This could impact graduation date.

DATS is closed for the following holidays:
  • New Year's Day
  • Labor Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Independence Day
  • Christmas Day

Ready to Start Your New Career as a Dental Assistant?

Apply today for our 11-week, hands-on dental assistant training program!
Apply Today!
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