Many people living in Colorado find themselves in jobs that were never meant to become their long-term path. Perhaps it began in hospitality, a service industry role with no clear future attached to it, or right after high school with a desire to build something real and purposeful before committing to four more years in a classroom. Whatever the starting point, dental assisting offers a way forward in approximately nine months, setting the stage for a meaningful career you can build a future on.
Pima Medical Institute offers the Dental Assistant certificate program at three Front Range campuses: Aurora, Colorado Springs and Denver. In approximately nine months, the Dental Assistant certificate program can help you gain the core skills needed to pursue a dental assisting career in Colorado.
Dental Assisting in Colorado: What the Job Actually Looks Like
Colorado’s relationship with oral health is more unique than you might expect, and understanding it can make you a better dental assistant from day one.
The active lifestyle and altitude effect. Colorado consistently ranks among the most physically active states in the country, and that lifestyle has direct oral health implications. Sports-related dental trauma is more common here than in states with more sedentary populations. The high altitude and low humidity that define Colorado’s climate contribute to chronic dehydration and dry mouth, conditions that accelerate tooth decay and gum disease. The cumulative effects of altitude and an active lifestyle on oral health are things you will likely encounter regularly as a dental assistant in Colorado, and the more you understand them, the more effective you will be at supporting patient education.
A progressive dental workforce. Colorado is one of a small number of states to authorize dental therapists, a mid-level provider role that sits between dental assistants and dentists in the care delivery model. This matters for your career because it signals that Colorado takes dental workforce development seriously.
The military community. Particularly in Colorado Springs, the military presence shapes who walks through the door of nearly every dental practice in the area. Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and the United States Air Force Academy together make Colorado Springs one of the most military-dense cities in the country. Military families and veterans represent a significant and stable patient population across the area, and if you work in practices near the bases, this community will be a regular part of your patient mix.
The patient education dimension. Colorado’s diverse lifestyle choices and habits that affect oral health create regular opportunities for dental assistants to play a meaningful role in patient education. Whether it is dry mouth management, periodontal support, or helping patients understand how their daily habits affect long-term oral health, the patient education dimension of dental assisting in Colorado is substantive and meaningful.
The Front Range health care corridor. Across the Front Range, practices serve patients from Aurora to the Denver metro and south through Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. The health care corridor that runs along I-25 includes UCHealth, Centura Health, SCL Health and hundreds of private dental practices and specialty clinics. Dental assistants work in all of these environments, and demand across the region is steady.
Our Dental Assistant Certificate Program: What You Will Learn
Pima Medical’s Dental Assistant certificate program trains you for both the clinical and administrative sides of the role in approximately nine months. The curriculum is structured to build your skills progressively, starting with foundational knowledge and moving into the hands-on competencies employers expect from a day-one dental assistant.
You will cover:
- Dental anatomy and terminology so you can communicate clearly with dentists and understand the procedures you are supporting
- Chairside assisting, including instrument transfer, suction and maintaining the operating field during procedures
- Dental radiography so you can take, process and mount X-rays accurately and safely
- Infection control and sterilization, including proper instrument and equipment protocols that protect both patients and staff
- Dental materials covering the preparation and handling of impressions, temporary crowns and restorative materials
- Patient communication and care, including how to help patients feel comfortable, explain procedures and support their overall experience
- Administrative and office procedures, including scheduling, records management, billing and insurance forms
Everything in the curriculum is built around what Colorado dental employers are looking for. You are not just learning dental assisting. You are preparing for specific work with specific patients in a state with its own clinical culture.
Clinical Externships in Colorado: Real Experience, Local Connections
The Dental Assistant certificate program includes a clinical externship. The externship places you in a real-world dental practice before you graduate, giving you the experience and training needed to graduate with confidence. You may be placed in a private practice in Aurora, a specialty clinic in Colorado Springs near the military corridor, a group practice in Denver, or a community health facility somewhere along the Front Range.
Unlike a simple observation placement, your externship places you in an active, hands-on role, performing real clinical tasks under the supervision of licensed dental professionals. That hands-on experience is exactly what makes you a stronger, more confident candidate once you start applying for positions.
Clinical externships provide resume-worthy experience, a professional reference and in some cases a direct path to employment with the practice where you trained.
Certification: Your Credential in Colorado
Colorado does not require dental assistants to hold a state license to work in a general practice capacity, but employers often prefer candidates who hold national certification, and some expanded duties do require additional credentialing under Colorado regulations.
The nationally recognized credential for dental assistants is the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) awarded by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The CDA exam covers the core competency areas you build throughout the Dental Assistant certificate program, including infection control, radiation health and safety and general chairside skills. Graduates of the Dental Assistant certificate program are prepared to apply to sit for the CDA examination.
What Does It Cost?
Total program cost for the Dental Assistant certificate program at the Colorado campuses is approximately $18,527.*
*For the most current tuition costs, go to the Aurora, Colorado Springs or Denver addenda in the Academic Catalog.
Federal financial aid is available for eligible students, including Federal Pell Grants, federal student loans and scholarships. The financial services team can walk you through what you qualify for and what your actual out-of-pocket cost will be after aid is applied. The admissions team can help answer any questions you may have and help you build the full picture.
The Job Outlook for Dental Assistants in Colorado
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for dental assistants was $47,300* as of May 2024, with the top 10 percent of earners making more than $61,780 depending on setting, certification and location.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm (visited July 27, 2026).
In Colorado specifically, the demand is shaped by the state’s growing population, the density of practices along the Front Range health care corridor, the military community’s consistent need for dental care and the state’s ongoing efforts to expand access to oral health services. Colorado has a significant number of federally designated dental health professional shortage areas, particularly in rural and frontier communities on the Eastern Plains, in the San Luis Valley and in mountain towns where access to dental care remains limited. For graduates who want to work outside the urban core, those communities represent real opportunities to build a career while making a direct difference in a place that needs it. Graduating into this market with your externship hours and CDA preparation already behind you puts you in a strong position from day one.
This program may be a strong fit if your situation looks like one of these:
- You are working in seasonal hospitality, tourism, or the service industry and are looking for something more consistent
- You recently graduated high school and want to explore health care careers without committing to a four-year degree
- You recently relocated to Colorado and want to restart your career in a health care field that is hiring consistently across the Front Range
- You want to pursue a rewarding career in health care
And it works especially well if:
- You are drawn to patient-facing work that combines clinical skill with human connection
- You have a military background or are a military spouse looking for a portable credential that is valued across Colorado’s military and civilian health care community
- You want to work in a community that needs you, whether that is a busy Front Range practice or a rural area where dental access is limited
You do not need prior dental experience to apply. The Dental Assistant certificate program is built for people starting fresh and the externship ensures you graduate with real clinical experience.
Ready to Get Started?
Pima Medical Institute enrolls students throughout the year at all three Colorado campuses. Visit the Aurora, Colorado Springs, or Denver campus page to find the location nearest you, or visit the Dental Assistant certificate program page to learn more. You can also call 1-800-477-PIMA to speak with an admissions advisor.
Colorado’s dental practices need assistants who understand this state. Pima Medical Institute can get you there.
