Is Starting a Dental Assisting School Right for My Office?

Course Objectives

1. Determine Whether Your Practice Is a Good Fit for a DA School
   Learners will assess key readiness factors—including team support, available space, and local market demand—to decide whether launching a school aligns with their current resources and goals.
   
   
2. Understand the Primary Motivators for Opening a School
   Learners will explore the strategic benefits of owning a DA school, including solving hiring shortages, training culture-fit team members, maximizing facility use, and generating additional revenue.
   
   
3. Learn the Licensing and Application Requirements by State
   Learners will outline the typical 4–6 month approval process to become a licensed post-secondary school, including catalog creation, surety bonds, and coordination with their state’s education board.
   
   
4. Clarify the Role of Admin and Teaching Staff
   Learners will define the roles of assistants and administrative staff in teaching and managing the school, ensuring support for both curriculum delivery and state compliance.
   
   
5. Explore the Business Setup Requirements
   Learners will understand how to structure the school as a separate entity (LLC, EIN, insurance, rent agreements) and collaborate with accountants to optimize tax and ownership benefits.
   
   
6. Evaluate Competition and Pricing Models in the Market
   Learners will research other programs in their area and identify opportunities to offer a high-value, lower-barrier alternative for prospective students, particularly those needing flexible schedules.
   
   
7. Understand Curriculum Structure and Implementation
   Learners will review the 13-week, 50/50 hybrid program design (online lecture + in-office labs), and prepare to adapt hands-on portions based on office specialty and educator strengths.
   
   
8. Create a Student Recruitment and Marketing Plan
   Learners will develop a recruitment strategy using social media, internal referrals, and patient base marketing to fill classes while keeping marketing costs manageable.
   
   
9. Calculate Overhead and Profitability
   Learners will analyze the potential financial return of the program, including teacher compensation, marketing spend, and typical overhead percentages (20–50%), to gauge expected margins.
   
   
10. Prepare for Growth, Transitions, and Long-Term Use
    Learners will identify systems for scaling, transitioning ownership if needed, and integrating the DA school as a sustainable part of their practice’s long-term hiring and leadership development strategy.