From Tatum to the classroom
TX-149 north runs you straight into Longview — about 17 miles, roughly 25 minutes to our campus on Gilmer Rd. It's an easy, familiar road, and evening class times mean you're driving it against traffic, not with it.
Our one and only campus: 2800 Gilmer Rd, Suite 106, Longview, TX 75604 — about 17 miles from Tatum via TX-149 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.
Tatum-area FAQs
How long is the drive from Tatum?
About 17 miles up TX-149 — roughly 25 minutes to our campus at 2800 Gilmer Rd, Suite 106, Longview. Evening options are available for students working days in Tatum or at the plants nearby.
I work shifts — what are my options?
Two: evening in-person classes at the Longview campus, or the 100% online program ($397, self-paced) that bends around any shift pattern. Same curriculum either way.
Do I need experience or a degree to start?
No. We start from zero: charting, radiology basics, chairside assisting, infection control, and front-office software. Most students have never set foot behind a dental chair before day one.
Where are the jobs once I finish?
Longview, Carthage, Henderson, and Marshall all have dental offices within commuting range of Tatum — you'd be able to job-hunt in four directions. Our salary page shows typical East Texas pay.
