Home » Texas » Corpus Christi, TX

Dental Assistant’s Guide to Corpus Christi

If you’re beginning your dental assistant career in southern Texas, the coastal city of Corpus Christi is a beautiful place to start. Located on the Coastal Bend of the Gulf of Mexico, the city’s fresh gulf breeze creates comfortable summertime temperatures.

Tell us about yourself so we can find programs near you.




If you enjoy seafood, you’ll like the abundance of Corpus Christi’s fresh gulf seafood. Enjoy a laid-back lifestyle while you study to be a dental assistant or begin your very first job.

Harbor bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas

Where to Go to School

Training for your career in dental assisting is necessary to become a registered dental assistant (RDA). While you enjoy life in Corpus Christi, you might choose to study at one of these schools:

  • Del Mar College. On this school’s West Campus, students can earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Assisting. The one-year program runs from August to August and is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Graduates are eligible to take dental assistant exams issued by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE).
  • South Texas Vocational Technical Institute. This school has many campuses across south Texas, and the Corpus Christi branch is located just outside downtown. The diploma program lasts 40 to 48 weeks and is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

Increasing Need for Well-Paid Dental Assistants

In 2018, 370 dental assistants were employed in Corpus Christi, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This number will keep growing since Texas is predicted to experience a 22 percent increase in dental assistant employment by 2026. That means 4,040 jobs, on average, will open for dental assistants per year across the state.

Corpus Christi dental assistants earned a median income of $18.33 per hour in 2018, making them some of the higher-paid dental assistants in the state.

Downtime in Corpus Christi

During your time studying and working as a dental assistant in Corpus Christi, make sure to check out all the available attractions. Revisit history at the USS Lexington and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, or spend time outdoors at the Padre Island National Seashore.

There’s plenty of animal life at the Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge and Texas State Aquarium. Many residents enjoy swimming, surfing, kayaking and snorkeling on Corpus Christi beaches. With a welcoming environment for dental assistants and a laid-back beach culture, Corpus Christi is the perfect place to begin your career.