Classes · Enrollment
Fall 2026 dental assistant class dates in Longview: the full rundown
If you've been telling yourself "I'll start in the fall," this is the page to bookmark. Here is every real start date at our Longview campus between now and Thanksgiving — no vague "enrolling now!" talk, just the actual calendar and how to pick your spot.
The quick answer: all six dates
Six in-person cohorts start at the Longview campus this fall — two class-day patterns, three windows:
August: Monday/Wednesday/Friday starting August 17, or Tuesday/Thursday starting August 25.
September: Monday/Wednesday/Friday starting September 14, or Tuesday/Thursday starting September 29.
November: Monday/Wednesday/Friday starting November 9, or Tuesday/Thursday starting November 17.
Exact hours depend on your cohort — call or text (903) 913-6444 and we'll walk you through the schedule for the date you're eyeing. The calendar page always shows what's coming next.
Tap a date to see your timeline
Pick the start date you're considering. We'll show you how far away it is and roughly when you'd finish — about twelve weeks after day one.
MWF or Tuesday/Thursday — which rhythm fits you?
Both patterns cover the same ~12-week program, the same skills, the same certificate. The difference is purely the shape of your week. A Monday/Wednesday/Friday cohort spreads training across three days, which many students find easier to absorb — shorter gaps between classes, steady momentum. A Tuesday/Thursday cohort keeps five days a week free for work, kids, or everything else, which is why it's a favorite for students holding down a job while they train.
Neither is "better." Pick the one your real weekly life can sustain for twelve weeks — that's the honest test. If you're working while training, here's how students make that work.
August, September, or November?
August is the soonest path: start in a couple of weeks, finish in mid-November, and be job-hunting before the year ends. September gives you a few weeks to arrange work schedules, childcare, or funding paperwork first — and still wraps by roughly mid-December. November suits planners: lock in your seat now, settle your fall, train through the winter, and walk into the new year with a new career underway.
One thing to know either way: classes are capped at eight students. That's a promise about attention, not a pressure tactic — but it does mean a specific date can genuinely fill. If your heart is set on one cohort, don't sit on it for weeks. More on choosing timing: September or November?
What the twelve weeks actually look like
Training happens in a space built to feel like a working dental office, because that's what you're being prepared for. You'll practice with real instruments and equipment, learn tooth and perio charting, tray setups and sterilization, patient scheduling, clinical notes, and the insurance paperwork — ADA claims and EOBs — that makes you genuinely useful from week one on the job. You can try pieces of it yourself right now in the Skills Lab and the free Practice Pro trainer.
Cost, in plain numbers
Tuition is the same for every cohort: $3,000 paid in full, or $3,500 on a payment plan — $500 down to hold your seat, then the $3,000 balance in simple weekly or monthly payments. No surprise fees between those two numbers. The free tuition planner lets you build your exact payment schedule before you commit.
We accept Texas Workforce Solutions, WIOA, and GI Bill funding. If money is the thing holding you back, ask before you rule anything out — start with how WIOA funding works in East Texas.
Three quick questions everyone asks
"Is it too late for the August dates?" Not as of this writing — but with eight seats per class, August is always the first to tighten up. The honest move is to apply or call now and ask exactly what's open, rather than guessing from a webpage. The calendar stays current.
"Do I need any experience first?" No. The program is built for beginners — that's the whole point of the twelve weeks. If you're nervous about starting from zero, read this honest answer about starting with no experience.
"Does finishing make me an RDA?" Finishing the program and becoming a Registered Dental Assistant in Texas are two separate steps — the RDA registration goes through the state. We prepare you for it, and you can warm up anytime with the free practice exam tool. For official requirements, always check tsbde.texas.gov.
If fall genuinely doesn't work
Life doesn't always cooperate with a cohort calendar. The online program is self-paced and starts any day you do — it's $397 right now (regular $997). It's the same curriculum knowledge delivered fully online, so it isn't physical hands-on training, but every dollar of it transfers as credit toward in-person tuition within 90 days if you decide to come train in the building. Compare the two honestly: online vs. in-person.
How to grab your seat
Start with the free application — it takes a few minutes and commits you to nothing. Have questions first? Call or text (903) 913-6444; you'll get Amanda, not a call center. When you're ready, enrollment is where you pay in full or put $500 down to lock your date.
Pick your date. We'll hold your seat.
Six fall start dates, eight seats each, twelve weeks to a new career — right here in Longview.
Enroll for fall →Keep reading: September or November? Picking your cohort · August classes: what's starting soon · Your first week at PDA