Dental assistants keep practices running — supporting procedures chairside, taking X-rays, and managing patient flow. Imagine America Foundation offers scholarships to help students pay for dental assisting training at participating career colleges, where programs typically take under a year.
Why Become a Dental Assistant?
Dental assisting combines hands-on clinical work, patient interaction, and stable weekday hours — a rarity in healthcare. Training is fast, demand is broad (every dental practice needs assistants), and the role offers growth into expanded functions, office management, and dental hygiene with further education.
- Train in about 9 months or less at partner career colleges
- Radiography/X-ray certification included in many partner programs
- Steady weekday schedules uncommon in other healthcare roles
- Every community has dental practices hiring assistants
- Pathways toward expanded functions and dental hygiene careers
Dental Assisting Scholarship Opportunities
Imagine America Foundation provides scholarship funding to students pursuing dental assisting training at participating career colleges. Awards are available through the Imagine America High School Scholarship, the Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP), and the Military Award Program (MAP).
Scholarship Amount: $1,000 per award
Eligibility Requirements
- High school seniors nominated by their high school for the Imagine America Scholarship
- Adult learners qualifying for the Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP)
- Active-duty, reservist, or honorably discharged military members through the Military Award Program (MAP)
- Enrollment at a participating career college offering dental assisting programs
How to Apply for Dental Assistant Scholarships
- Create your free profile on the Imagine America portal
- Browse participating schools offering dental assisting programs
- Complete the scholarship application for your chosen school
- Work with the school's admissions team to finalize enrollment and apply your award
Dental Assisting Career Outlook
Preventive dental care keeps expanding, and practices lean on assistants to serve more patients per day. Graduates with radiography certification and externship experience are especially competitive, and the profession's distributed nature means opportunities in every metro and small town alike.
Partner Schools Offering Dental Assisting Training
Imagine America Foundation partners with accredited career colleges offering dental assisting training. Explore our partner schools:
Ready to Start Your Dental Assisting Career?
Take the first step toward a rewarding career. Apply for scholarship funding and explore training programs at our partner schools.
Apply for Your Dental Assistant ScholarshipFrequently Asked Questions
How long does dental assistant training take?
Partner programs typically run 9 months or less — for example, High Desert Medical College's 34-week program (which includes X-ray certification) and Northwest Career College's 9-month diploma with an externship.
Which partner schools offer dental assisting?
Participating schools include High Desert Medical College (Bakersfield, Lancaster, and Temecula, CA), Northwest Career College (Las Vegas, NV), Carrington College campuses, and Lincoln Tech locations, among others.
What certifications can dental assistants earn?
Depending on the state and program: X-ray/radiography certification, certifications through organizations like AMCA, and state-specific credentials such as Nevada's RDA designation.
Can adults changing careers get dental assisting scholarships?
Yes. The Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP) provides $1,000 grants to qualifying adult learners at participating career colleges.
