Find DA externship opportunities across California. Connect with 18,500+ dental practices, oral surgery centers, and specialty clinics to gain hands-on chairside experience.
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California Dental Assistant
18,500+
Dental Facilities
5,200+
Job Openings
$0
To Enroll
$850
To Complete
Self-Managed Externship: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact dental facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
A dental assistant externship provides hands-on clinical experience in real dental settings. You'll work alongside licensed dentists and dental hygienists, applying classroom knowledge to actual patient care situations.
Our externship is optional and flexible—you decide when and where to complete it. Many students find that externship experience significantly improves their job prospects, though it's not required to complete our program.
EHired's training prepares you for entry-level dental assistant positions. Professional certifications such as DANB CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) are offered by independent credentialing organizations and are optional but can enhance your credentials when you're ready.
Explore dental facilities across California that may accept externship students. Contact facilities directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Nation's 2nd largest metro with USC, UCLA, and extensive dental networks.
Western Dental LA (100+ locations), Pacific Dental Services, Gentle Dental SoCal, Aspen Dental Orange County, Beverly Hills Dental, Santa Monica Family Dentistry, Pasadena Dental Group
USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry Clinics, UCLA School of Dentistry Clinics, LA Oral Surgery Associates, SoCal Orthodontics, Orange County Periodontics, Children's Dental FunZone
UCLA Mobile Dental Clinic, USC Community Dental Clinics, St. John's Well Child Dental, Venice Family Dental Clinic, AltaMed Dental, Eisner Health Dental
💡 Tip: Los Angeles has USC and UCLA dental schools—excellent externship opportunities. Western Dental has 100+ SoCal locations. Bilingual Spanish essential. Very competitive but abundant.
Tech capital with UCSF and diverse dental practices.
Pacific Dental Services Bay Area, Gentle Dental SF, Aspen Dental San Jose, San Francisco Dental, Oakland Family Dentistry, Palo Alto Dental Care, Fremont Dental Group
UCSF School of Dentistry Clinics, Bay Area Oral Surgery, SF Orthodontics, Peninsula Periodontics, Bay Area Pediatric Dentistry, Silicon Valley Endodontics
UCSF Dental Center, Asian Health Services Dental, La Clinica Dental (multiple), Ravenswood Family Health Dental, Alameda Health System Dental
💡 Tip: Bay Area has UCSF School of Dentistry. Tech industry creates excellent benefits packages. Extremely high cost of living but premium wages. Asian language skills valuable.
Border city with diverse dental services and military presence.
Western Dental San Diego, Pacific Dental San Diego, Gentle Dental SD, La Jolla Dental, Chula Vista Family Dentistry, Oceanside Dental Care, Escondido Dental Group
San Diego Oral Surgery, SoCal Orthodontics San Diego, SD Periodontics, Pediatric Dentistry of San Diego, Rady Children's Dental
Family Health Centers of San Diego Dental, La Maestra Community Health Dental, San Ysidro Health Dental, Vista Community Clinic Dental, Naval Medical Center San Diego Dental
💡 Tip: San Diego has military presence (Navy, Marines) creating dental demand. Border location means bilingual Spanish essential. Year-round outdoor lifestyle attracts workers.
Agricultural heartland with growing dental infrastructure.
Western Dental Central Valley, Pacific Dental Sacramento, Aspen Dental Fresno, Sacramento Family Dentistry, Bakersfield Dental Group, Modesto Dental Care, Stockton Family Dentistry
UOP Dugoni School of Dentistry (SF accessible), Central Valley Oral Surgery, Sacramento Orthodontics, Valley Periodontics, Fresno Pediatric Dentistry
Clinica Sierra Vista Dental (multiple), Health Plan of San Joaquin Dental, Golden Valley Health Centers Dental, Ampla Health Dental, Community Medical Centers Dental
💡 Tip: Central Valley has lower cost of living than coastal areas. Agricultural community needs bilingual Spanish. Less competitive than LA or SF with growing opportunities.
Identify dental practices, specialty offices, and clinics in your area that interest you.
Call or email office managers to inquire about externship opportunities and requirements.
Arrange hours that work for both parties. Our externship is flexible—no minimum hours required.
Many externships lead directly to job offers. Treat every day as an extended interview.
California has multiple levels of dental assisting: unlicensed DA (limited duties), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), and Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF). RDA requires examination. Radiography permit required separately.
California Dental BoardProfessional certifications such as DANB CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) are offered by independent credentialing organizations. These certifications are optional but can enhance your credentials and earning potential.
EHired training prepares you for entry-level positions and helps build the knowledge foundation for pursuing optional certifications when you're ready.
Official salary data, job outlook, and career information for dental assistants.
Visit BLS →State regulations, registration requirements, and scope of practice information.
Visit Board →Dental Assisting National Board—optional professional certifications when you're ready.
Visit DANB →Free training. Flexible externship. Real career opportunities in California.
$0 to enroll • $850 to complete • Self-paced online training
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