Train on the software
before your first day.
East Texas's only Registered Dental Assistant program where students practice on real-grade practice management software for hundreds of hours — so on day one in any office, you already know what to do.
PDA by the numbers
85%+ of our graduates are working in East Texas dental offices — many with job offers in their graduation week or within 30 days.
100% free · no signup for the quick quiz
How ready are you for the Texas RDA exam?
Take our free practice exam — real exam-style questions with instant explanations and a breakdown of exactly which topics to study next.
Programs
Two ways to train. Same RDA program.
Pick the format that fits your schedule. Same curriculum, same instructors, same career outcome.
In-Person
Hands-on at the Longview campus. Small classes, direct instruction.
- ✓ Instructor-led classes at our Longview campus
- ✓ Hands-on practice with real dental equipment
- ✓ Full access to PDA Practice Pro + ChairSide trainers
- ✓ Infection control + radiology training
- ✓ Job placement help with East Texas offices
- ✓ PDA Certificate of Completion
Online
SaleSame curriculum, attended live from home — start any day, no class schedule.
- ✓ Start any day — no class schedule, work at your pace
- ✓ Full access to PDA Practice Pro + ChairSide trainers
- ✓ Infection control + radiology coursework
- ✓ Job placement help with East Texas offices
- ✓ PDA Certificate of Completion
- ✓ Attend from anywhere in Texas
What sets us apart
The only RDA program with real practice management training.
Other schools teach you what a tooth chart is. We let you mark caries on 25 patients before lunch.
Anatomical tooth chart
Each tooth drawn with real cusps, roots, and gingival anatomy. Mark caries, composites, crowns, RCTs, implants, missing teeth — exactly like the software in real offices.
6-point AAP perio chart
Full pocket depths, bleeding-on-probing, mobility, furcation per tooth. Auto-calculates AAP 2017 stage + grade with clinical interpretation. Nothing on the consumer market does this.
Prescription pad with allergy guard
22-drug dental formulary. Try to prescribe amoxicillin to a penicillin-allergic patient and the app stops you with a red warning — the same safety logic real e-prescribing requires.
Drag-drop operatory schedule
4 operatories, 30-min slots, color-coded by provider. Drag any appointment to reschedule. Text-confirm with a single tap. Built exactly the way the front desk uses it.
SmartDoc clinical notes
15 ready-to-use note templates (Prophy, Restorative, RCT, Crown Seat, SRP…) with the SOAP framework pre-filled. Saved notes lock for legal compliance with amendment tracking.
Real insurance workflow
Generate ADA-format claims, post EOBs, auto-write-off contractual adjustments. Master the insurance side of the practice — the part new RDAs struggle with most.
Why PDA wins
Compare honestly.
| PDA | Self-taught YouTube + books |
Online-only Penn Foster / similar |
Other TX schools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real practice management trainer | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free preview before you pay | ✓ | n/a | ✗ | ✗ |
| In-person clinical training | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| East Texas office partnerships | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | limited |
| Externship guarantee | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | sometimes |
| Mobile-friendly training | ✓ | limited | limited | ✗ |
| Real ADA insurance workflow | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Built-in allergy / drug interaction safety | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Total program cost | $397 – $1,997 | $0 – $200 | $1,200 – $2,000 | $4,000 – $12,000 |
Curriculum
12 weeks. 12 modules. Real skills.
Every module pairs classroom instruction with hands-on practice in the trainer.
Patient check-in & greeting
HIPAA, registration, insurance verification, schedule lookup, financial agreement.
Medical history & vitals
Allergies, meds, conditions, premedication, BP / pulse / SpO2 with clinical alerts.
Tooth charting
Surface marking, restoration types, missing teeth, primary vs permanent dentition.
Periodontal charting
6-point pocket depths, bleeding-on-probing, mobility, AAP staging & grading.
Radiology & imaging
FMX layout, bitewings, panorex, intraoral photo series, safety + technique.
Treatment planning
ADA codes, phased plans, insurance estimates, signed consent, case acceptance.
Insurance & claims
Verification, ADA claim form, EOB matching, contractual write-offs.
Ledger & financials
Posting procedures, payments, adjustments, walkout statements, A/R aging.
Patient communication
Texts, calls, emails, voicemails, recall reminders, post-op check-ins.
Scheduling & recall
Operatory grid, drag-drop appointments, no-show handling, recall automation.
Clinical documentation
SmartDoc templates, locked notes, amendments, lab cases, prescriptions.
Practice analytics
Production, recall retention, no-show rate, case acceptance, hygiene %.
The trainers
Try them right now. Free preview, no signup.
PDA Practice Pro
Front-desk & business management. Schedule, ledger, claims, reports, recall, forms, lab.
- 📅 Drag-drop operatory schedule
- 💵 Ledger with walkout PDF + claim submission
- 📊 Production reports + A/R aging
- 📝 Forms library with e-signature
PDA ChairSide
Chair-side clinical workflow. Sticky patient banner, OnSchedule, SmartDoc, Power Bar.
- 👤 Sticky banner across every screen
- 📝 SmartDoc clinical-note templates
- 🦷 Restorative + perio summary
- 📈 Live Power Bar stats
Voices
From students & offices that hire them.
"I walked into my first office and the EagleSoft screen looked exactly like Practice Pro. I felt like I'd already worked there a month. The hiring DDS hired me on the spot."
"Every new hire we get from PDA is ready to chart, ready to schedule, ready to submit claims. They cut our onboarding time in half — easily."
"I was a single mom looking for a career change. PDA's evenings-and-weekends schedule made it actually doable. Twelve weeks later I had a job."
Pricing
Affordable today. Pays for itself in 6 weeks.
Average RDA starting salary in East Texas: $36,000 – $44,000. Your investment in PDA pays back in 4–8 weeks of working.
Free Preview
For anyone curious about a dental career.
- ✓ Try the trainers (5 essential tabs)
- ✓ 25 sample patients
- ✓ No signup required
In-Person
At the Longview campus.
- ✓ Live instruction at our campus
- ✓ Hands-on equipment practice
- ✓ Full trainer access
- ✓ PDA Certificate of Completion
- ✓ Job placement help
Online
Start any day · no class schedule.
- ✓ Start any day, work at your pace
- ✓ Same curriculum as in-person
- ✓ Full trainer access
- ✓ PDA Certificate of Completion
- ✓ Job placement help
Eligible for Texas Workforce Solutions funding · Veterans benefits accepted · Payment plans available
FAQ
Honest answers.
How long until I'm working?
Do I need previous dental experience?
What makes the PDA trainers different from "online courses"?
Will my certificate be recognized by Texas dental offices?
Can I make payments instead of paying upfront?
Where is the school located?
What if I don't like it after enrolling?
In-Person ($1,997): pro-rated refund per Texas state proprietary-school guidelines. Submit withdrawal in writing (email is fine); refunds process within 30 days.
Ready for the career you actually want?
In 12 weeks you can be a working RDA earning $36k+ in East Texas. The first step is filling out the application.
No payment required to apply · Online sale non-refundable but transferable · In-Person pro-rated per TX guidelines
Stay in touch
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