20-Week Cohort
Learn alongside the same group of students from the first week to graduation.
Next cohort begins January 2027
SDCDS Academy of Learning
Start your career as a dental assistant.
Created by the San Diego County Dental Society, representing more than 2,200 local dentists, our Academy of Learning connects your education to the dental community where you want to work.
Learn with the organization connected to local employers.
SDCDS works directly with member dentists throughout San Diego County, including practice owners looking for trained dental assistants. Those relationships help us understand employer needs and connect you with opportunities through dental office experience, job placement assistance, and introductions within our member community.
Take the first step toward your dental assisting career.
Tell us about your goals and learn how the Academy can help you prepare for work in San Diego’s dental community.
Program at a Glance
Twenty weeks, one cohort, and a schedule built around people who are already working.
Zoom Reviews
Live sessions to review and reinforce the week's material with your instructor.
Hands-On Saturdays
Full days of in-person instruction and practice at our training clinic.
Industry Certifications
Complete state certification courses throughout the program, so you are on your way to RDA licensure.
40-Hour Externship
Two weeks inside a local member dental office, putting your training to work.
Job Placement Support
We help connect graduates with member practices across San Diego County that are hiring.
How It Works
Five steps from first week to graduation
1
Complete your online learning
Each week you work through assigned modules and coursework on the Academy's online platform, working through the material independently in preparation for your live review sessions and hands-on training.
2
Attend Tuesday and Thursday Zoom reviews
Meet virtually from 6:30 to 7:30 PM to reinforce the week's material, ask questions, review key concepts, and get ready for the coursework and training ahead.
3
Train hands-on every Saturday
From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the cohort comes together for in-person instruction at our clinic, applying what you learned online and practicing dental assisting skills in a real clinical setting.
4
Move through the program as a cohort
You progress through all twenty weeks with the same group, completing coursework, virtual reviews, hands-on training, and program requirements together.
5
Complete your externship
Finish with a 40-hour unpaid externship, typically across two weeks. The Academy pairs you with a participating SDCDS member dental office and guides you through the placement process.
Our Training Clinic
Where learning becomes hands-on
Every Saturday, students apply what they have learned through demonstrations, guided practice, and direct instruction at our dental clinic facility.
Clinic Location
1270 24th St., San Diego, CA 92102
Get directions
Get directions
Externships
Real experience, before you graduate
You will put your skills to work in an SDCDS member dental office during a 40-hour externship. It is where you gain real-world experience, learn from a working dental team, and build the professional connections that often lead to a job offer after graduation.
- 40 hours, typically completed across two weeks.
- Students are paired with an SDCDS member dentist and their practice.
- SDCDS coordinates placements based on the upcoming cohort and the offices available.
For member practices: host a dental assisting extern
Every Academy student completes a 40-hour externship with an SDCDS member practice before graduation. Hosting gives a future dental assistant their first real look at the day-to-day work of a dental office, and gives your team an early look at someone you may want to hire.
How it works
Externships run 40 hours, usually across a two-week period. SDCDS coordinates placements based on the upcoming cohort and the offices available. Practices that express interest are contacted as externship dates approach, so availability is confirmed before any student is placed.
Interested in hosting?
Complete the form below and we will add your practice to our list of potential externship sites. Submitting it does not commit your office to a specific student or date. You can also call 619-275-7188 or email director@sdcds.org.
Tuition & Cost
What the program costs
The Academy brings together two parts: dental assisting skills training, and the RDA pathway courses you need as you work toward becoming a Registered Dental Assistant in California.
Dental Assisting Skills Training
$2,500Twenty weeks of online coursework, live Zoom reviews, and hands-on Saturday training at our clinic.
RDA Pathway Courses
$3,050Radiation Safety, Pit and Fissure Sealants, Basic Life Support (BLS), 8-Hour Infection Control, Dental Practice Act, and Coronal Polishing.
Total program cost
$5,550
Pay in full or choose a monthly payment plan. Payment options are selected at registration. After completing the program and gaining the required work experience, graduates can pursue the remaining steps toward RDA licensure.
Grants Available To Significantly Decrease the Cost
Interested in financial support?
Cost shouldn't stand in the way of becoming a dental assistant. The SDCDS works to secure grant funding to reduce the cost of training. Funding and eligibility requirements vary by grant and enrollment period. Contact director@sdcds.org for current grant opportunities.
Enrollment
How to Enroll in the Academy of Learning
Four steps from your first form to your place in the January 2027 cohort.
1
Complete the Student Enrollment Form
Fill out our online enrollment form with your contact information and required details.
2
Pay the $50 Enrollment Fee
Submit your $50 enrollment fee to reserve your spot in the upcoming cohort.
3
Review & Sign Your Enrollment Contract
Once both steps are completed, our team will email you an enrollment contract through Adobe Sign. Review and sign the agreement to finalize your enrollment.
4
You’re Enrolled!
Once your signed contract is received, your enrollment is complete! Our team will provide additional information to help you prepare for the program.
Why the Academy
Built by the dental community, for the dental community
The Academy exists because our members told us what they needed: qualified, well-prepared dental assistants. That connection shapes everything about how the program runs.
A Direct Connection to San Diego Dentistry
SDCDS represents more than 2,000 dentists. Training with the Academy makes you part of a program connected to the practices where you may build your career.
Job Placement Support
We work with member dentists looking for well-trained dental assistants and help connect graduates with hiring opportunities throughout San Diego County.
Externships That Open Doors
Gain experience in a member dental office, build relationships with a working team, and make connections that may lead to a job offer.
Training Shaped by Local Practices
Learn hands-on skills from experienced dental professionals who understand what today's dental offices need.
A Schedule That Works for You
Saturday classes and evening virtual sessions let you prepare for your next career move while balancing work and other commitments.
Support Every Step of the Way
One-on-one guidance, leadership training, and résumé support to build your confidence and prepare you for interviews.
Student Support
You will not be doing this alone
From your first Saturday to your externship, you are surrounded by a team committed to your success. Alongside one-on-one guidance, we offer leadership training and résumé support to help you grow your confidence, prepare for interviews, and take the next step in your career.
About
More about the Academy
The details below are here if you want them, tucked away so they do not get in the way of the essentials above.
About the San Diego County Dental Society
The San Diego County Dental Society is a professional membership organization representing more than 2,000 dentists throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.
For generations, SDCDS has served as a resource for the dental community through education, professional development, advocacy, and connection. The Academy of Learning is an extension of that mission, helping support the dental workforce and the practices our members serve.
What makes our program different
The Academy was created in response to a need we hear directly from our members: dental practices need qualified, well-prepared dental assistants.
As a membership organization representing more than 2,000 dentists across San Diego and Imperial Counties, we built a program that prepares students for the workforce while supporting the needs of our local dental community. Our connection to local dentists gives us a firsthand understanding of what practices are looking for, and what new dental assistants need in order to feel prepared on the job.
Students receive hands-on training, essential certifications, and real-world experience throughout the program, including an externship in a working dental office. Our goal is to prepare students for success beyond the classroom, and to help dental practices find their next great team member.
Credentialing
The SDCDS Academy of Learning is an exempt postsecondary educational institution through the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
Contact Us
Have questions? We are here to help.
Reach our team by phone or email, or send us your details and we will get back to you.