Dental Assistant Externship in Washington

Find DA externship opportunities across Washington. Connect with 4,200+ dental practices, oral surgery centers, and specialty clinics to gain hands-on chairside experience.

4,200+

Dental Facilities

1,180+

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 Washington

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

🏙️ Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce Counties)

UW School of Dentistry and tech capital dental services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Seattle, Willamette Dental Bellevue, Gentle Dental Tacoma, Seattle Family Dental, Bellevue Dental Care, Kirkland Dental, Redmond Dental Group

🔬 Specialty Practices

UW School of Dentistry Clinics, Seattle Oral Surgery, Washington Orthodontics, Pacific Periodontics, Seattle Children's Dental, UW Dental Specialists

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

UW Dental Clinics, NeighborCare Health Dental, Sea Mar Community Health Dental, International Community Health Dental, Puget Sound Community Health Dental

💡 Tip: Seattle has UW School of Dentistry—excellent externship opportunity. Tech industry creates excellent dental benefits. Very competitive but abundant. High cost of living.

🌲 Spokane/Eastern Washington (Spokane County)

Inland Northwest hub with regional dental services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Spokane, Gentle Dental Spokane Valley, Spokane Family Dental, Liberty Lake Dental, Cheney Dental Care, Post Falls Dental (ID accessible)

🔬 Specialty Practices

Spokane Oral Surgery, Inland Northwest Orthodontics, Spokane Periodontics, Sacred Heart Dental Specialists, Pediatric Dentistry of Spokane

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

CHAS Health Dental (multiple), Spokane Regional Health Dental, Providence Dental Clinic, Community Health Association of Spokane Dental

💡 Tip: Spokane serves Inland Northwest including North Idaho. Lower cost of living than Seattle. CHAS Health is major community provider. Growing market.

🌸 Vancouver/Southwest Washington (Clark County)

Portland suburb with Oregon market access.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Vancouver, Gentle Dental Camas, Vancouver Family Dental, Battle Ground Dental, Washougal Dental Care, Salmon Creek Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Southwest Washington Oral Surgery, Vancouver Orthodontics, Clark County Periodontics, Legacy Dental Specialists (OR accessible)

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Sea Mar Vancouver Dental, Clark County Public Health Dental, Community Health Centers of Clark County Dental

💡 Tip: Vancouver is Portland metro—access Oregon dental jobs. No Washington state income tax; Oregon has no sales tax. Growing rapidly with expanding dental services.

🍎 Tri-Cities/Central Washington (Benton, Yakima Counties)

Agricultural and energy region with regional services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Tri-Cities Dental Group, Yakima Family Dental, Richland Dental Care, Kennewick Dental, Pasco Dental, Wenatchee Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Tri-Cities Oral Surgery, Central Washington Orthodontics, Yakima Periodontics, Kadlec Dental Specialists

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Dental, Yakima Neighborhood Health Dental, Tri-Cities Community Health Dental, Benton-Franklin Health Dental

💡 Tip: Central Washington serves agricultural communities. Bilingual Spanish valuable. Hanford nuclear site creates professional workforce in Tri-Cities. Significant rural 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.

Washington Dental Assistant Information

State Regulations

Washington requires dental assistant registration. Registered dental assistants can perform expanded functions. Radiography certification required. UW is state's dental school.

Washington 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 Washington?
Washington has 4,200+ dental facilities. UW School of Dentistry (Seattle) offers excellent clinical experiences. Sea Mar and CHAS Health operate community dental networks. Contact facilities directly about externships.
Does Washington require dental assistant registration?
Yes, Washington requires dental assistant registration through the Department of Health. Registered dental assistants can perform expanded functions. Radiography certification required separately.
Can Washington residents access Oregon dental jobs?
Yes—Vancouver, WA is Portland metro. Many workers commute across state lines. Washington has no state income tax; Oregon has no sales tax. Tax planning important for cross-border work.
What's Washington's dental assistant salary range?
Washington DA salaries: Seattle $36,000-$50,000, Spokane $30,000-$40,000, Vancouver $32,000-$44,000, Tri-Cities $28,000-$38,000. No state income tax improves take-home pay.

Helpful Resources

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Start Your Dental Assistant Career Today

Free training. Flexible externship. Real career opportunities in Washington.

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

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