From Ore City to the classroom
Head south on US-259 about 22 miles into Longview and cut over to Gilmer Rd — roughly 30 minutes door to door. Coming from Ore City you hit our side of town first, so the drive is simpler than it sounds. Plenty of students from up the 259 corridor pair the evening class with a full-time job.
Our one and only campus: 2800 Gilmer Rd, Suite 106, Longview, TX 75604 — about 22 miles from Ore City via US-259 North. 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.
Ore City-area FAQs
How long is the drive from Ore City?
About 22 miles down US-259 — roughly 30 minutes to our campus at 2800 Gilmer Rd, Suite 106, Longview. You come in on the northwest side of town, which is where the campus sits.
Is there a class schedule that works with a job?
Yes — evening options are designed for working adults. Train after work and still get home to Upshur County at a decent hour. The online program ($397, self-paced) is the fallback if evenings don't fit.
What do dental assistants around here earn?
Pay varies by office and experience — see our salary page for typical East Texas numbers rather than a promise. Offices in Longview, Gilmer, and Jefferson all hire within commuting range of Ore City.
Do I need anything before I enroll?
No degree and no dental experience. Bring the willingness to learn; we cover charting, radiology basics, chairside assisting, infection control, and front-office software from scratch.
