Dental Assistant Externship in Pennsylvania

Find DA externship opportunities across Pennsylvania. Connect with 7,200+ dental practices, oral surgery centers, and specialty clinics to gain hands-on chairside experience.

7,200+

Dental Facilities

2,020+

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 Pennsylvania

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

🏛️ Philadelphia Metro (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware Counties)

Penn, Temple dental schools and diverse practices.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Philadelphia, Heartland Dental King of Prussia, Penn Dental Associates, Temple Dental Faculty Practice, Philadelphia Family Dental, Bucks County Dental, Main Line Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Penn Dental Medicine Clinics, Temple Kornberg Dental Clinics, Philadelphia Oral Surgery, Philadelphia Orthodontics, Penn Periodontics, Children's Hospital Philadelphia Dental

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Penn Dental Clinics, Temple Dental Clinics, Philadelphia Health Department Dental, Project HOME Dental, Health Federation of Philadelphia Dental

💡 Tip: Philadelphia has Penn and Temple dental schools—excellent externship opportunities. Very competitive but world-class training. Diverse patient populations.

🏗️ Pittsburgh Metro (Allegheny, Westmoreland Counties)

Pitt School of Dental Medicine and diverse healthcare sector.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Pittsburgh, Heartland Dental Cranberry, Pitt Dental Associates, South Hills Dental, North Hills Dental, Monroeville Dental Care, Peters Township Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Pitt School of Dental Medicine Clinics, UPMC Dental, Pittsburgh Oral Surgery, Steel City Orthodontics, Pitt Periodontics, Children's Hospital Pittsburgh Dental

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Pitt Dental Clinics, UPMC Community Dental, Neighborhood Health Dental, Birmingham Free Clinic Dental, Primary Care Health Dental

💡 Tip: Pittsburgh has Pitt School of Dental Medicine. UPMC is major healthcare employer. Tech industry growing. Less competitive than Philadelphia with excellent opportunities.

🏔️ Central Pennsylvania (Dauphin, Lancaster, Centre Counties)

State capital and Penn State region with regional services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Harrisburg, Heartland Dental Lancaster, Harrisburg Family Dental, State College Dental, York Dental Group, Reading Dental Care, Altoona Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Geisinger Dental Specialists, Penn State Hershey Dental, Central PA Oral Surgery, Lancaster Orthodontics, York Periodontics

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Hamilton Health Dental, Family First Health Dental, Lancaster General Community Dental, Geisinger Community Dental, Centre County Health Dental

💡 Tip: Central PA has state capital Harrisburg and Penn State. Lancaster County has diverse Amish and Hispanic populations. More affordable than Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

🌲 Northeastern Pennsylvania (Lehigh, Lackawanna, Luzerne Counties)

Lehigh Valley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Allentown, Heartland Dental Scranton, Lehigh Valley Dental, Wilkes-Barre Dental Group, Bethlehem Family Dental, Easton Dental Care

🔬 Specialty Practices

Lehigh Valley Health Dental Specialists, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Dental, NEPA Oral Surgery, Lehigh Valley Orthodontics, St. Luke's Dental

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

St. Luke's Community Dental, Lehigh Valley Health Network Dental, Scranton Primary Health Dental, Keystone Health Dental

💡 Tip: Northeastern PA serves Lehigh Valley and Coal Region. Geisinger and Lehigh Valley Health are major employers. More affordable than Philadelphia. Access NYC market.

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.

Pennsylvania Dental Assistant Information

State Regulations

Pennsylvania requires dental assistant certification for expanded duties. Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) require additional certification. Radiography certification required. Three dental schools.

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 7,200+ dental facilities—3rd largest market. THREE dental schools (Penn, Temple, Pitt) offer excellent clinical experiences. Geisinger and UPMC operate community dental networks. Contact facilities directly.
Does Pennsylvania require dental assistant certification?
Pennsylvania requires certification for expanded dental assistant duties. Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) require additional training and certification. Radiography certification required separately.
What's Pennsylvania's dental assistant salary range?
Pennsylvania DA salaries: Philadelphia $32,000-$44,000, Pittsburgh $29,000-$39,000, Lehigh Valley $30,000-$40,000, Central PA $27,000-$36,000. Philadelphia has highest wages but highest cost of living.
Can Pennsylvania residents access other state dental jobs?
Yes—Philadelphia accesses New Jersey. Pittsburgh near Ohio and West Virginia. Lehigh Valley accesses NYC market. Cross-border commuting expands job options significantly.

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 Pennsylvania.

$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