Dental Assistant Externship in North Carolina

Find DA externship opportunities across North Carolina. Connect with 5,400+ dental practices, oral surgery centers, and specialty clinics to gain hands-on chairside experience.

5,400+

Dental Facilities

1,515+

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.

What is a Dental Assistant Externship?

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.

Skills You'll Practice

  • Chairside assisting during procedures
  • Instrument sterilization & infection control
  • Treatment room setup & breakdown
  • Patient scheduling & dental charting
  • Impression taking & suctioning
  • Patient communication & education

DA Externship Sites in North Carolina

Explore dental facilities across North Carolina that may accept externship students. Contact facilities directly to inquire about externship opportunities.

🏙️ Charlotte Metro (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus Counties)

North Carolina's largest city with diverse dental practices.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Charlotte, Heartland Dental Huntersville, Charlotte Family Dental, Ballantyne Dental, Lake Norman Dental, Matthews Dental Care, Concord Family Dentistry

🔬 Specialty Practices

Charlotte Oral Surgery, Carolina Orthodontics, Queen City Periodontics, Levine Children's Dental, Charlotte Endodontics, Atrium Dental Specialists

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Charlotte Community Health Dental, Care Ring Free Clinic Dental, Cabarrus Community Health Dental, Piedmont Health Dental, Lake Norman Community Health Dental

💡 Tip: Charlotte is NC's largest city with abundant opportunities. Growing rapidly with banking industry workforce. Competitive but strong demand for dental assistants.

🔬 Research Triangle (Wake, Durham, Orange Counties)

UNC Adams School of Dentistry and academic excellence.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Raleigh, Heartland Dental Cary, Triangle Family Dental, Durham Dental Group, Chapel Hill Dentistry, Apex Dental Care, Morrisville Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

UNC Adams School of Dentistry Clinics, Duke Dental Specialists, Triangle Oral Surgery, Raleigh Orthodontics, Duke Pediatric Dentistry, UNC Periodontics

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

UNC Dental Clinics, Lincoln Community Health Dental, Wake County Dental Clinic, Alliance Health Dental, Durham Community Health Dental

💡 Tip: Research Triangle has UNC Adams School of Dentistry—excellent externship opportunity. Duke influence. Tech industry workforce. Very competitive but abundant opportunities.

🏭 Piedmont Triad (Guilford, Forsyth Counties)

Greensboro and Winston-Salem with regional dental services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Greensboro, Heartland Dental Winston-Salem, Triad Family Dental, High Point Dental, Burlington Dental Care, Kernersville Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Wake Forest Dental Specialists, Triad Oral Surgery, Piedmont Orthodontics, Greensboro Periodontics, Pediatric Dental Associates Triad

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Cone Health Dental Clinic, Novant Health Dental, Piedmont Health Services Dental, Guilford County Health Dental, Forsyth County Dental Clinic

💡 Tip: Piedmont Triad is more affordable than Charlotte or Triangle. Wake Forest medical presence. Strong manufacturing creates steady workforce with dental needs.

🏖️ Coastal/Eastern NC (New Hanover, Pitt Counties)

ECU School of Dental Medicine and coastal communities.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Wilmington, ECU Dental Associates, Greenville Family Dental, Jacksonville Dental, New Bern Dental Care, Fayetteville Dental Group

🔬 Specialty Practices

ECU School of Dental Medicine Clinics, Wilmington Oral Surgery, Eastern NC Orthodontics, Coastal Periodontics, ECU Pediatric Dentistry

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

ECU Dental Clinics, Goshen Medical Center Dental, Coastal Horizons Dental, Beaufort County Health Dental, Robeson Health Care Dental

💡 Tip: Eastern NC has ECU School of Dental Medicine—excellent externship opportunity. Military presence (Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg). Growing coastal communities. Rural areas have shortages.

How to Arrange Your Externship

1

Research Facilities

Identify dental practices, specialty offices, and clinics in your area that interest you.

2

Contact Directly

Call or email office managers to inquire about externship opportunities and requirements.

3

Schedule & Complete

Arrange hours that work for both parties. Our externship is flexible—no minimum hours required.

4

Build Relationships

Many externships lead directly to job offers. Treat every day as an extended interview.

North Carolina Dental Assistant Information

State Regulations

North Carolina requires dental assistant registration for expanded duties. Two levels: DA I (basic) and DA II (expanded). Radiography certification required. Two dental schools provide excellent training.

North Carolina Dental Board

About Certifications

Professional 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find DA externship sites in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 5,400+ dental facilities. UNC Adams (Chapel Hill) and ECU (Greenville) dental schools offer excellent clinical experiences. Heartland Dental and Aspen Dental have many locations. Contact facilities directly.
Does North Carolina require dental assistant registration?
Yes, North Carolina requires dental assistant registration. DA I allows basic duties. DA II allows expanded functions with additional training. Radiography certification required separately.
Can I get an externship at UNC or ECU dental schools?
Yes—UNC Adams School of Dentistry and ECU School of Dental Medicine offer excellent clinical experiences. Contact their student affairs offices about externship opportunities. Competitive but excellent training.
What's North Carolina's dental assistant salary range?
North Carolina DA salaries: Charlotte $30,000-$42,000, Research Triangle $31,000-$43,000, Piedmont Triad $28,000-$38,000, Coastal/Eastern $27,000-$36,000. Growing market with good cost of living.

Helpful Resources

Explore Nearby States

Looking for DA externship opportunities in neighboring states?

Start Your Dental Assistant Career Today

Free training. Flexible externship. Real career opportunities in North Carolina.

$0 to enroll • $850 to complete • Self-paced online training

Explore All Healthcare Training Resources

Find specific resources by program, topic, and state

Popular: MA Training CA · PCT Jobs TX · DA Cert FL