Dental Assistant Program FAQs

Question 1

How do clinical hours (Externships) work?

Accepted Answer

After completing the 4-month online portion of the program and passing your national certification exam, you’ll move into your clinical externship, where you’ll complete 80 in-person hours at a local dental practice.

Stepful provides support to help you secure an externship site that fits your location and availability. Externships typically begin within 1–3 months of earning your certification and are scheduled during weekday business hours. You can complete your externship on a full-time or part-time schedule, depending on what works best for you, as long as you’re available during those hours. Placement is subject to site availability.

With a network of over 8,000 clinical partners nationwide and hundreds more added each month, Stepful helps connect you to real-world opportunities. This hands-on experience is a vital part of the program, giving you the chance to apply classroom learning, build confidence with patients, and form connections that can lead to full-time employment.

Question 2

Do you help graduates find a job?

Accepted Answer

At Stepful, our mission is to break down barriers to healthcare careers and help every student move into a meaningful role after graduation. To support that mission, we offer a structured Job Coaching Program that guides graduates into full-time healthcare roles after certification.

Students begin with an 8-week Job Readiness Cohort that combines weekly live coaching, job search strategy, resume building, interview practice, and workplace success skills. Graduates also receive weekly job leads, and their resumes are shared with Stepful’s healthcare employer partners. For those who need additional support, Stepful provides up to 2 more months of on-demand 1:1 coaching, including mock interviews, resume reviews, and targeted job leads.

With this approach, about 60% of graduates secure jobs within 2 months and over 80% within 4 months of starting the job coaching program.

Question 3

Are clinical hours (Externships) guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No — externships are not guaranteed. But Stepful is committed to helping every student gain real-world, hands-on experience and ultimately land a full-time job in healthcare. Our externship booking platform and support team are here to connect you with opportunities and guide you through the process.

Some things that can help speed up your externship placement:
• Staying responsive and in good communication with your coach
• Completing all eligibility requirements (like paperwork, background checks, or health forms) on time

Some things that can delay externship placement:
• Limited site availability, especially in rural areas
• Missing deadlines or being unresponsive to your coach
• Missing scheduled interviews or acting unprofessionally with a clinic partner

By staying engaged and professional, you’ll put yourself in the best position to secure an externship quickly and smoothly. What Stepful is doing is unheard of in healthcare education — we place hundreds of students in externships and jobs every single week. It’s proof of how deeply we believe in our students and how far we’ll go to make sure you graduate confident, supported, and job-ready.

Question 4

Which Dental Assistant certification exam am I eligible to take after completing this program?

Accepted Answer

Stepful’s Dental Assistant program prepares you for the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, issued by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Our curriculum is aligned with DANB standards, ensuring that graduates are eligible to sit for this nationally recognized credential — one that many dental practices require for entry-level dental assistant roles.

The RHS exam includes 75 multiple-choice questions and carries a fee of $270. The exam fee is not included in tuition, but students who register through Stepful may be eligible for a rebate on the exam fee, lowering the cost. You may take your DANB RHS exam online or in-person.

We’re proud to say Stepful students consistently score above the national average on the DANB RHS exam — a reflection of the quality instruction, curriculum, and support we provide every student.

Question 5

Does the DANB RHS certification count for college credit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The DANB RHS exam is approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) for 3 semester hours of college credit (lower-division level) when accepted by a college or university.

Once you pass, you’ll receive an ACE transcript via Credly. Keep in mind: each school decides whether to accept the credit and how it applies to your degree.

Question 6

Is Stepful's Dental Assistant program accredited?

Accepted Answer

Stepful’s Dental Assistant program is not institutionally accredited like a college or university. Instead, our program is designed to prepare students for the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, which is issued by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) — an accredited certification agency recognized by employers nationwide.

This means that when you complete the program, you are eligible to sit for the RHS exam — a credential that many dental practices require for entry-level dental assistant roles. We only accept students in regions where this credential is valid and widely recognized by employers.

To confirm your eligibility, complete our free online application — it only takes a few minutes and will let you know right away if we serve your area.

Question 7

Is Stepful legit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Stepful is a trusted education provider with a proven track record of preparing students for healthcare careers. More than 8,000 clinical partners nationwide host our students for externships, and over 30,000 students are actively enrolled today.

Stepful was also recently recognized by TIME Magazine as the #1 edtech company in the United States, a reflection of the quality and impact of our programs.

Question 8

What is included in Stepful’s Dental Assistant program tuition?

Accepted Answer

The Dental Assistant program includes access to your online classroom, weekly live classes with an instructor, and DANB RHS mock exams. You’ll also get support to secure an externship site where you will complete 80 in-person clinical hours after graduation.

In addition, the program includes an 8-week Job Coaching Program to help you land a full-time job. No textbooks are required — all learning materials are available in your online classroom.

Question 9

Is the program online or in-person? How long is the program?

Accepted Answer

Stepful’s Dental Assistant program is 100% online for 4 months (16 weeks) of live classes and coursework.

After completing the online portion and earning your national DANB RHS certification, you’ll move into a required 80-hour in-person clinical externship at a local dental practice. Externships typically begin 1–3 months after certification.

Question 10

How do online classes work at Stepful?

Accepted Answer

Classes meet live on Zoom four times a week for 90 minutes each. Between sessions, you’ll complete daily assignments, quizzes, and projects in the online classroom. Coursework is unlocked one week at a time so you can stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.

Group projects and interactive activities keep learning engaging and help you apply skills in real-world scenarios. As you progress, you’ll take mock exams and focused prep sessions to prepare for the DANB RHS exam.

All materials are included online — no textbooks required. The program is built to give you the structure, practice, and support you need to feel confident, earn your certification, and graduate job-ready for a full-time healthcare role.

Question 11

What is the refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Stepful offers a 3-day money-back guarantee on all tuition and fees for students who withdraw within 3 days of signing up. After classes begin, students may withdraw within the first two weeks and receive a full refund of tuition.

Enrollment fees are non-refundable after the 3-day guarantee period. Please note that there may be additional flexibility depending on your state’s refund regulations.

Question 12

What are the requirements to enroll?

Accepted Answer

To enroll in any Stepful program, you must meet the following requirements:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• 18 years or older
• Valid government-issued ID
• Authorization to work in the United States

Our Dental Assistant program does not currently operate in all states and zip codes. We only accept students in locations where we can confidently support their externship placement and job search after graduation. These restrictions are in place to make sure every student has a strong opportunity to transition into a full-time healthcare role.

The best way to confirm your eligibility for the Dental Assistant program is to complete our free online application. It only takes a few minutes and will let you know right away if we serve your area.

Question 13

What tuition payment options are available?

Accepted Answer

Tuition can be paid upfront or through biweekly installments using Stepful’s flexible payment plans.

We’re committed to keeping our programs as affordable as possible, which is why we offer generous grants for new applicants that significantly reduce tuition costs.

Visit our Affordability page to explore the different ways to lower tuition — including grants, payment plans, and other funding options.

Question 14

How much does Stepful’s Dental Assistant program cost?

Accepted Answer

The full tuition is $3,999, but most students qualify for grants that lower the cost to as little as $1,599.

Your exact tuition depends on your individual eligibility. The best way to find out your cost is to complete our free online application — it only takes a few minutes and will show you your personalized tuition right away.

All required learning materials are included at no extra cost, and flexible payment plans are available. You can also visit our Affordability page to learn about grants, discounts, and other ways to lower tuition.

Online Dental Assistant Program

4-Month Dental Assistant program

Earn your DANB-RHS certification

100% online with optional clinical hours

3-Day money back guarantee available

How to become a Dental Assistant

4-Month online class

In-person clinicals

Land a full-time job

Complete your Dental Assistant training online

Dental Assistant classes at your own schedule

What you’ll learn

Weeks 1-5

Weeks 6-10

Weeks 11-16

Weeks 17+

Job ready with Stepful

$47,300 Average starting salary*

DANB-RHS certification

80% Job placement rate

Part-time evening and morning classes

Dental Assistant Course FAQs

Join thousands of students getting certified with Stepful!