From Nacogdoches to the classroom
US-259 north runs straight from Nacogdoches to Longview — about 68 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. We'll be honest: that's a long haul for a regular evening class. Most Nacogdoches students train online ($397, self-paced) and treat campus visits as optional hands-on boosts rather than a commute.
Our one and only campus: 2800 Gilmer Rd, Suite 106, Longview, TX 75604 — about 68 miles from Nacogdoches via US-259 South. Distances and drive times are approximate; check your own route.
What you'll learn
Both paths cover the core skills a dental office actually needs from day one:
- ✓ Charting — reading the tooth chart and recording conditions and treatment accurately.
- ✓ Radiology basics — how dental x-rays work and how they fit into patient care.
- ✓ Chairside assisting — setting up, passing instruments, and supporting the dentist during procedures.
- ✓ Front-office software — the practice-management tools offices use to schedule, chart, and bill.
- ✓ Infection control — sterilization and safety the way real offices run it.
You can get a feel for the work right now, for free. Try our Skills Lab and the Practice Pro charting trainer — the same kinds of tools you'll use on the job.
Pay & funding
We keep tuition straightforward. In-person is $3,000 paid in full, or $500 down on a $3,500 payment plan with simple weekly or monthly payments. Online is a flat $397, self-paced. No surprises and nothing buried in fine print.
Depending on your situation, you may qualify for WIOA workforce funding through your local Workforce Solutions office — we can't promise anything, but we're glad to point you in the right direction. Apply or reach out and we'll talk through your options. Wondering what dental assistants earn in East Texas? See our salary page.
New to dental assisting?
Start with our plain-English guide: How to become a dental assistant in Texas — the requirements, training, registration, cost, and timeline, step by step.
Nacogdoches-area FAQs
Should I even consider the in-person program from Nacogdoches?
Only if the drive genuinely works for you — it's about 75 minutes each way. For most Nacogdoches students the online program ($397, same curriculum, self-paced) is the realistic path, and online tuition transfers as credit toward in-person within 90 days if you change your mind.
How is this different from a community-college dental program?
Speed and cost. This is focused career training measured in months, at $397 online or $3,000 in-person — versus semesters of prerequisites. Our cost-vs-community-college guide walks the comparison honestly, tradeoffs included.
Does SFA student life fit around this?
The online program is self-paced, so students (or staff) at SFA fit lessons around class and work schedules all the time. There's no fixed login time — you study when you can.
What are the Texas requirements to become an RDA?
Texas requires radiology, jurisprudence, and infection-control coursework and registration with the TSBDE. Our Texas RDA guide covers the official steps; the curriculum is built around them.
