Located in Pittsburgh's Station Square shopping area in its Southside neighborhood, the Bradford School carries the accreditation of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and the American Dental Association. The school's dental assisting program lasts for 16 months and culminates in an associate degree. The program covers rubber dam placement, composite restoration techniques, chairside assisting, patient relations and office administration skills. All students gain experience working in the school's simulated dental office laboratory and in two mandatory internships. In addition to federal and state grants and loans, the Bradford School offers a small number of scholarships for need and merit-based students. The college's Career Placement Department boast over a 96 percent success rate in placing graduates in careers related to their degrees, according to the school's website.
Bradford School
125 Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
800-391-6810
bradfordpittsburgh.edu
Sanford-Brown Institute operates career college locations throughout the eastern United States, including its Monroeville branch, which is located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, approximately 16 minutes from downtown. The school offers a diploma program in dental assisting at the campus, which lasts for approximately one year. Although the college has the approval of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, the school does not have American Dental Association accreditation as of June 2010. Dental assisting students at Sanford-Brown receive training in radiography, anatomy, dental instruments, chairside assisting and office administration as a part of the required curriculum. The program culminates in a final clinical internship prior to graduation. Federal loan and grant, private loan and work-study financial aid programs are available for eligible students. The Career Services department at Sanford-Brown provides assistance with interview preparation, resume writing and job opportunity research.
Sanford-Brown Institute at Monroeville
Penn Center East
777 Penn Center Blvd.
Building 7
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
888-381-2433
sanfordbrown.edu/Monroeville
The Career Training Academy has three branches in the Pittsburgh area, offering its dental assistant training program at its main campus in New Kensington, approximately 26 minutes northeast of downtown Pittsburgh. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, but not by the American Dental Association. Students in the dental assisting program study full-time for 10 months, receiving training in chairside assisting and office administration. Classes are held only four days per week throughout the program. Before graduation, students complete a brief externship at a Pittsburgh-area dental office. Graduates receive a certificate of completion. Among the financial aid programs available from the school are federal and state loan and grant, veterans benefit, occupational rehabilitation and work study. Job placement assistance is available for all students.
Career Training Academy
950 5th Ave.
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-337-1000
careerta.com