One of the most in-demand and fastest-growing career fields is dental assisting.
Anyone who wants to pursue a career path in this opportunity-filled industry has plenty of options for work and lots of flexibility.
Those who want to attend a school offering programs to become certified dental assistants in the state of Illinois have several options.
Keep reading to learn more about the various schools and salary potentials in this rewarding field.
Keep reading to learn more about this exciting career in Illinois.
Page Navigation
- 5 Dental Assisting School in Illinois
- Dental Assistant Salary in Illinois
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to become a dental assistant?
- What are the requirements to become a dental assistant in Illinois?
- Can you work as a dental assistant in Illinois without being certified in the state?
- What duties can a dental assistant perform in Illinois?
- What cannot dental assistants do in terms of procedures in the state of Illinois?
5 Dental Assisting School in Illinois
There are many dental assisting education opportunities in Illinois.
Here are five of the most popular in the state that offer either online, in-person, or both classes to students who want to become certified dental assistants.
Keep reading to find out more about each program, tuition, length of studies, location, and more.
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College
This program offers a certified dental assistant education from an accredited school.
This program provides a night-school option for busy individuals and can be completed in as little as ten months.
The estimated cost to complete the course is $2,575.
This school is located at 1130 South Alpine Rd, Suite 100, Rockford, Illinois 61108-3900.
The phone number for this campus is (815)965-8616.
Midwest Technical Institute-Springfield
This school offers a program for becoming a certified dental assistant.
The state also accredits this institution.
It is located at 2731 Farmers Market Road, Springfield, Illinois, 62707.
The phone number for the campus is (217) 527-8324.
The length of this course is nine months or 35 weeks.
The average cost per year to attend this school is about $6,000.
Lewis and Clark Community College
This program offers a certified dental assisting program that is state-accredited.
The campus is located at 5800 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey, Illinois 62035.
The phone number for the campus is (618)468-7000.
The estimated cost to complete the one-year program is $2,312.
Kaskaskia College
This program offers certification for both an associate in dental assisting and certification in dental assisting.
It is located at 27210 College rd, Centralia, Illinois 62801.
The phone number for the campus is (618)545-3000.
This nine-week, semester-long program costs approximately $4,545 to complete.
John A Logan College
This institution offers a program to become certified in dental assisting.
It is an accredited program with the state.
Its location is 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville, Illinois 62918-2500.
The phone number for the campus is (618)985-3741.
The semester-long course, or nine-week program, costs approximately $144 to $188 per hour.
Dental Assistant Schools in Illinois – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Illinois
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | 1130 S Alpine Rd #100, Rockford, IL 61108 |
| Midwest Technical Institute-Springfield | 2731 Farmers Market Rd, Springfield, IL 62707 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | 5800 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey, IL 62035 |
| Kaskaskia College | 27210 College Rd, Centralia, IL 62801 |
| John A Logan College | 700 Logan College Dr, Carterville, IL 62918 |
Dental Assistant Salary in Illinois
The average salary for a dental assistant in the state of Illinois is $40,809.
However, the overall pay is determined by a few factors, including location, experience, and specialties of the clinic the assistant works in within Illinois.
Some dental assistants can make over $50k + per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dental Assistants in Illinois
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $43,294 |
| Rockford | $40,189 |
| Aurora | $42,932 |
| Naperville | $42,515 |
| Peoria | $39,418 |
| Springfield | $37,666 |
| Joliet | $42,220 |
| Elgin | $42,559 |
| Waukegan | $40,856 |
| Cicero | $43,294 |
Regional Salary in Illinois
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 180 | $41,740 | $20.07 | $53,660 | $31,570 |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | 110 | $36,890 | $17.73 | $45,670 | $27,740 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 200 | $41,510 | $19.96 | $48,460 | $30,010 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 11,290 | $43,330 | $20.83 | $56,380 | $28,170 |
| Decatur, IL | 70 | $40,540 | $19.49 | $47,040 | $29,630 |
| Kankakee, IL | 50 | $36,740 | $17.66 | $46,350 | $30,770 |
| Peoria, IL | 310 | $41,000 | $19.71 | $46,960 | $30,820 |
| Rockford, IL | 350 | $42,360 | $20.37 | $48,040 | $35,530 |
| Springfield, IL | 210 | $40,210 | $19.33 | $47,150 | $29,960 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a dental assistant?
There is a 1000-hour minimum training requirement and or completion of a state-accredited dental assistant course.
Each approved course requires a minimum length of study ranging from 9 weeks to one year, depending on the school.
In order to complete the course, there is a certification test that must also be passed.
What are the requirements to become a dental assistant in Illinois?
There are a few basic requirements for those who want to become a dental assistant in Illinois.
First, they must be 18 or older and have a high school diploma or a GED.
They must then attend a qualified education facility that provides adequate training and study.
The candidate must then pass their certification testing for the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
You must also have 1,000 hours of experience if you forgo the educational requirement through a program.
Can you work as a dental assistant in Illinois without being certified in the state?
You can do limited supervised dental assistant work if you are not yet certified in the state.
However, the individual must work directly under the supervision of a licensed dentist working in Illinois.
In instances where people move from one state to another to secure a new position as a dental assistant, they may get permission from the clinic they work through to practice until they become certified in the state.
Once that process is completed, they can work without direct supervision from the dentist at their practice.
What duties can a dental assistant perform in Illinois?
According to the state regulations, a dental assistant may only perform duties that involve the use of hand tools.
The dentist must perform more complex procedures, such as surgery.
To find out the extent of the procedures a dental assistant may perform at their job, they must read the comprehensive list of limitations for the state.
What cannot dental assistants do in terms of procedures in the state of Illinois?
While dental assistants can perform many procedures, they cannot undertake contour, finishing restorations, installing crowns, or applying restorative materials.
The dental assistant can perform procedures such as fillings, implants, or crowns but can perform other procedures such as coronal scaling.
