Dental Assistant Externship in Texas

Find DA externship opportunities across Texas. Connect with 16,800+ dental practices, oral surgery centers, and specialty clinics to gain hands-on chairside experience.

16,800+

Dental Facilities

4,715+

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 Texas

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

🤠 Houston Metro (Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery Counties)

UT Health Houston dental school and nation's largest medical center.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Houston, Heartland Dental Katy, Houston Family Dental, Sugar Land Dental, The Woodlands Dental, Pearland Dental Care, Cypress Dental Group

🔬 Specialty Practices

UT Health Houston School of Dentistry Clinics, Houston Oral Surgery, Texas Orthodontics, Houston Periodontics, Texas Children's Dental, MD Anderson Dental Oncology

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

UT Health Dental Clinics, Legacy Community Health Dental, Avenue 360 Health Dental, Harris Health Dental, Houston Health Department Dental

💡 Tip: Houston has UT Health dental school and Texas Medical Center. Massive market with abundant opportunities. Bilingual Spanish extremely valuable. Very competitive but diverse.

🏙️ Dallas-Fort Worth Metro (Dallas, Tarrant, Collin Counties)

Texas A&M College of Dentistry and diverse practices.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Dallas, Heartland Dental Plano, DFW Family Dental, Arlington Dental, Fort Worth Dental Group, Frisco Dental Care, McKinney Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Texas A&M College of Dentistry Clinics (Dallas), DFW Oral Surgery, Metroplex Orthodontics, Dallas Periodontics, Children's Medical Center Dental

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Texas A&M Dental Clinics, Parkland Dental Clinic, JPS Health Network Dental, Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic Dental, Community Dental Care

💡 Tip: DFW has Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Corporate headquarters create professional workforce. Fast-growing suburbs. Very competitive but abundant opportunities.

🎸 Austin Metro (Travis, Williamson Counties)

State capital with tech industry workforce.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Austin, Heartland Dental Round Rock, Austin Family Dental, Cedar Park Dental, Georgetown Dental, Pflugerville Dental Care, San Marcos Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Austin Oral Surgery, Capital Orthodontics, Austin Periodontics, Dell Children's Dental, UT Austin Dental Specialists

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

CommUnityCare Dental (multiple), Lone Star Circle of Care Dental, People's Community Clinic Dental, Austin Travis County Health Dental

💡 Tip: Austin is Texas's fastest-growing major city. Tech industry creates excellent dental benefits. UT Austin creates young population. State capital. Very competitive.

🌮 San Antonio Metro (Bexar County)

UT Health San Antonio dental school and military city.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental San Antonio, Heartland Dental Stone Oak, San Antonio Family Dental, Alamo Ranch Dental, New Braunfels Dental, Boerne Dental Care

🔬 Specialty Practices

UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry Clinics, SA Oral Surgery, Alamo Orthodontics, San Antonio Periodontics, University Health Pediatric Dental

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

UT Health Dental Clinics, CommuniCare Health Dental, University Health Dental, San Antonio Metro Health Dental, VA South Texas Dental

💡 Tip: San Antonio has UT Health dental school. Major military presence (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, Randolph). Bilingual Spanish essential. Diverse opportunities.

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.

Texas Dental Assistant Information

State Regulations

Texas requires dental assistant registration through the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Registered dental assistants can perform expanded functions. Radiography certification required. Three dental schools.

Texas 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 Texas?
Texas has 16,800+ dental facilities—largest market in US. THREE dental schools (UT Health Houston, Texas A&M Dallas, UT Health San Antonio) offer excellent clinical experiences. Abundant opportunities statewide. Contact facilities directly.
Does Texas require dental assistant registration?
Yes, Texas requires dental assistant registration through the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Registered dental assistants can perform expanded functions. Radiography certification required separately.
Is bilingual Spanish important in Texas dental?
Yes—bilingual Spanish/English is extremely valuable throughout Texas, especially San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, and Rio Grande Valley. Many employers prefer or require bilingual staff to serve Texas's large Hispanic population.
What's Texas's dental assistant salary range?
Texas DA salaries: Houston $30,000-$42,000, Dallas $30,000-$42,000, Austin $31,000-$43,000, San Antonio $28,000-$38,000. No state income tax is major benefit. Salaries vary significantly by metro and employer.

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 Texas.

$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