Frequently Asked Questions
What sets AIDA apart from other dental assistant programs in the area?
At AIDA, students do not just learn about dental assisting they experience it. What truly sets us apart is that AIDA is the only dental assistant program in Arizona that includes live patient clinics directly in the class schedule. That means our students get real hands-on experience working with licensed dentists, instructors, and actual patients before they graduate.
We believe confidence comes from doing. That is why our training goes beyond lectures, videos, and classroom practice. Students learn in a real dental office-style environment, practice clinical skills, and gain the type of experience employers are looking for.
AIDA also stands out because our instructors are required to be currently working in dentistry, so students are learning from professionals who understand today’s dental offices and expectations. Our owner and director, Dr. Eldon Hastings, also brings more than 40 years of dental experience, helping guide the quality and direction of the program.
Students choose AIDA because we offer:
- Real live patient clinics during the class schedule
- Hands-on training with licensed dentists and experienced instructors
- Instructors currently working in the dental field
- Internship placement assistance
- Lifetime job placement assistance
- A 24 year proven program focused only on dental assisting
At AIDA, our goal is not just to help students finish school. Our goal is to help them become trained, confident, and ready to start a new career in dentistry.
What certification will I receive after completing the program?
After successfully completing the AIDA program, students receive a Dental Assisting Certificate from the American Institute of Dental Assisting.
AIDA also helps prepare students for important certifications that can make them more confident and more competitive when entering the dental field. One of the most important certifications for dental assistants is the national Radiation Health and Safety, or RHS, exam through the Dental Assisting National Board.
Unlike programs that only talk about X-rays in a classroom, AIDA prepares students through real hands-on learning and in-class instruction. Students are trained on radiology concepts, safety, positioning, and the skills needed to feel more prepared for the national RHS exam.
The cost of the national board RHS exam is included in the AIDA program, so students do not have to worry about paying that exam fee separately.
AIDA also provides training and preparation for the coronal polish exam and certification, giving students another valuable skill that can help them as they begin their dental assisting career.
Our goal is to help students graduate with more than just a certificate. We want students to leave AIDA with hands-on experience, confidence, and the preparation needed to start strong in the dental field.
What do you mean by “hands-on training”?
At AIDA, hands-on training means real hands-on training. Our students do not learn dental assisting by simply reading from a textbook, watching videos, practicing only on plastic dental dummies, or just passing instruments back and forth in a classroom.
AIDA students assist licensed dentists during live dental procedures on real patients. That means students get true chairside experience while learning in a real dental environment — the kind of experience that helps build confidence and prepares them for what dental offices actually expect.
Many schools say they offer “hands-on training,” but it is important to understand what that really means. At some programs, hands-on may mean working on a dental mannequin, practicing alone, or learning basic instrument passing without real patients or real procedures.
At AIDA, we believe students deserve more than pretend practice. There is a reason AIDA is the only dental assistant program in Arizona that includes live patient clinics directly in the class schedule — because doing it the right way requires a tremendous amount of work, coordination, and commitment.
Our live patient clinics require coordination between licensed dentists, real patients, experienced instructors, and our dedicated clinical team — all working together to help students succeed. This is not easy to provide, but we believe it is one of the most important parts of learning how to become a confident dental assistant.
This is the only way to truly learn the chairside skills needed to be successful from day one of your dental assisting career. At AIDA, students train with real dentists, real patients, real procedures, and real hands-on learning.
By the time students graduate, they have had the opportunity to assist multiple dentists, work with actual patients, and gain the type of real-world chairside experience that can make a difference when starting their dental assisting career.
Do not be misled by programs that use the phrase “hands-on training” without providing true live patient experience. AIDA is the real deal.
What kind of financing options do you offer?
At the American Institute of Dental Assisting, we believe every student deserves access to affordable, high-quality, hands-on training that can lead to a successful career in dentistry. That is why we offer several financing options designed to help students find a pathway that works for their budget and goals.
One of the biggest advantages of AIDA is our accelerated, direct, true hands-on approach. Because our program is focused specifically on dental assisting and designed to get students trained efficiently, we are able to help lower the overall cost of schooling for our students.
Many other programs can cost two to three times more than the AIDA program. At AIDA, students can receive real hands-on training, live patient clinic experience, and career support without taking on the high cost of a much longer program.
Our financing options may include:
- AIDA Exclusive Scholarships – We offer scholarship opportunities exclusive to AIDA that may cover the full cost of the program for eligible students.
- No Interest, No Payments While in School – Some financing plans allow students to focus on learning with no payments and no interest while they are in school.
- Grants and Financial Aid Opportunities – We help connect students with grant opportunities that may cover program costs and do not need to be repaid.
- Flexible Financing Plans – We offer budget-friendly financing options designed to help make dental assisting school more affordable.
Our admissions team will walk you through your options and help you understand what may be available to you. We want students to feel confident not only about choosing AIDA, but also about having a realistic plan to make their education affordable.
At AIDA, our goal is to make high-quality dental assisting education more accessible. With flexible financing options, exclusive scholarship opportunities, and a program designed to help students start a new career quickly, AIDA is committed to supporting students every step of the way.
What’s included in our curriculum?
The AIDA curriculum is designed to help students become trained, confident, and ready to work in a real dental office. Our program is not built around simply reading from a textbook or practicing only on dental dummies. AIDA students learn through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on skills training, and real live patient clinic experience.
One of the biggest parts of our curriculum is our live dental clinicals, where students assist licensed dentists during real procedures on actual patients. This is one of the most important differences between AIDA and many other programs because plastic dental dummies are not the same as learning with real dentists, real patients, and real chairside experience.
Our curriculum includes training in areas such as:
- Live dental clinicals assisting licensed dentists with real patients
- Chairside dental assisting skills used in actual dental offices
- Infection control protocols and safety procedures
- Dentrix dental software training
- Extensive preparation for the DANB RHS X-ray certification exam
- Training and preparation for the coronal polishing certification exam
- Dental anatomy and physiology
- Dental instruments, materials, and procedures
- Working chairside with Arizona licensed dentists
- Training with modern dental technology, including intraoral digital scanners and handheld X-ray units
- Patient communication and professionalism
- Internship preparation and career readiness
AIDA focuses on the skills students actually need to begin a dental assisting career. Our goal is not just to teach students what dental assisting is — our goal is to help them experience it, practice it, and gain the confidence needed to succeed from day one.
For more detailed information about the full curriculum, you can visit our program page or contact our admissions team. We would be happy to walk you through what students learn and how AIDA helps prepare them for a career in dentistry.
Is American Institute of Dental Assisting licensed?
Yes! We are licensed by the Arizona Board of Private Post Secondary Education and recognized by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
We have been awarded many times from the Arizona Private Schools Association and Ranking Arizona.
What kind of class schedules do you offer for dental assisting classes?
At AIDA, we understand that students have busy lives. Many of our students are working, raising families, managing responsibilities, or trying to make a career change while still balancing everything else in life. That is why our class schedules are designed with the student in mind.
This is another way AIDA is different. We do not believe students should have to put their entire life on hold to start a new career. Our goal is to make dental assisting school realistic, accessible, and achievable for motivated students who are ready for change.
AIDA offers several schedule options to help fit different lifestyles, including:
- Morning classes — only 2 days per week
- Evening classes — only 2 days per week
- Daytime classes — only 1 day per week
- Saturday class options
Because AIDA is an accelerated dental assisting program, students can receive focused, hands-on training without spending years in school. Our schedules are built to help students move forward quickly while still receiving the real-world training and support they need.
Class schedules and availability can vary by campus and start date, so we encourage students to contact our admissions team for the most current schedule options. We will help you find the class schedule that best fits your goals, your responsibilities, and your life.
When do classes start?
AIDA has new dental assisting classes starting every month, with class starts available throughout the year. This makes it easier for students to begin when the timing is right for them instead of waiting several months to start working toward a new career.
We also keep our classes small on purpose. Smaller class sizes help create a better learning experience, allow students to receive more personal attention, and give our instructors more opportunity to work directly with each student.
Because our program is accelerated and class sizes are limited, available seats can fill quickly. We encourage students to contact our admissions team to learn about upcoming start dates, current class availability, and which schedule may work best for them.
At AIDA, our goal is to help students start strong, feel supported, and begin moving toward a dental assisting career as soon as possible.
How can I get more information about the dental assistant program?
We would love to help you learn more about the AIDA dental assisting program. Choosing the right school is an important decision, and our team is here to answer your questions, explain the program, and help you understand what makes AIDA different.
You can learn more about our hands-on dental assistant training by visiting our program page, where you can find more details about what students learn, how our program works, and the real-world training experience we provide.
You can also contact our admissions team through this form or call us directly at 480-209-1392. We would be happy to walk you through class schedules, financing options, upcoming start dates, and what to expect as an AIDA student.
The best way to know if AIDA is right for you is to connect with our team, ask questions, and learn how our program can help you take the next step toward a career in dental assisting.
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