From Mount Pleasant to the classroom
US-271 south through Pittsburg and Gilmer, then TX-300 into Longview — about 52 miles, roughly an hour. Students who choose in-person from this far out usually stack their reasons: they want live chairside reps, they carpool, or they pair class with errands in Longview. Everyone else starts online ($397) and keeps the gas money.
Our one and only campus: 2800 Gilmer Rd, Suite 106, Longview, TX 75604 — about 52 miles from Mount Pleasant via US-271 South. Distances and drive times are approximate; check your own route.
What you'll learn
In-person or online, the curriculum is the same set of skills offices hire for:
- ✓ Charting — reading the tooth chart and recording conditions and treatment accurately.
- ✓ Radiology basics — how dental x-rays work and how they fit into patient care.
- ✓ Chairside assisting — setting up, passing instruments, and supporting the dentist during procedures.
- ✓ Front-office software — the practice-management tools offices use to schedule, chart, and bill.
- ✓ Infection control — sterilization and safety the way real offices run it.
Want to test-drive it before you spend a dollar? The free Texas RDA practice exam and our charting trainer show you exactly what the work feels like.
Pay & funding
We keep tuition straightforward. In-person is $3,000 paid in full, or $500 down on a $3,500 payment plan with simple weekly or monthly payments. Online is a flat $397, self-paced. No surprises and nothing buried in fine print.
Depending on your situation, you may qualify for WIOA workforce funding through your local Workforce Solutions office — we can't promise anything, but we're glad to point you in the right direction. Apply or reach out and we'll talk through your options. Wondering what dental assistants earn in East Texas? See our salary page.
New to dental assisting?
Start with our plain-English guide: How to become a dental assistant in Texas — the requirements, training, registration, cost, and timeline, step by step.
Mount Pleasant-area FAQs
An hour is a long drive. What do Mount Pleasant students actually do?
Most start with the online program ($397, self-paced) — same curriculum, zero commute. Some switch to or add in-person later for live chairside practice; the online tuition transfers as credit toward in-person within 90 days.
Is online dental assistant training respected by employers?
What employers care about is whether you can chart, assist, and run their software from week one — which is exactly what the curriculum teaches, online or in-person. Texas RDA registration (radiology, jurisprudence, infection control) is a state process you complete either way.
How much does each option cost?
Online: $397 flat. In-person at the Longview campus: $3,000 paid in full, or $500 down on a $3,500 plan with weekly or monthly payments. WIOA workforce funding may be an option depending on your situation.
Are there dental jobs in Titus County?
Mount Pleasant is a regional hub with its own dental offices, plus Pittsburg, Daingerfield, and Mount Vernon nearby — trained assistants don't have to leave the county to find work. See our salary page for typical East Texas pay.
