Surgical Assistant Apprenticeship: Earn-While-You-Learn Clinical Track

Position Type: Full-Time | Entry-Level (No Medical/Dental Experience Required)

Career Path: Uncredentialed Apprentice ➔ Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) ➔ Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) ➔ Anesthesia Assistant

Stop Paying Tuition. Get Paid to Learn Surgical Assisting. Are you considering enrolling in a 9-month dental assisting program, spending $10,000 on tuition, lost income potential during the training, and working unpaid externship hours? There is a better path.
Our accredited Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery center offers a select Surgical Apprenticeship—a high-intensity, "earn-while-you-learn" apprenticeship designed for driven, high-aptitude individuals seeking a career in specialty healthcare.
Rather than sitting in a classroom, you will receive direct, one-on-one surgical mentorship from a board-certified surgeon. Through a combination of intensive chairside training and self-directed study, you can earn your Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) credentials in 4 months or less—completely debt-free—while earning a paycheck from Day 1.

The Academic Trade-Off (Read Before Applying) To protect our surgical standards, we keep our starting apprentice wage at $12.50/hour during your training phase. In exchange, we reimburse 100% of your credentialing fees and provide direct surgical training.
However, earning your state QDA board certification in under 4 months requires significant, disciplined study at home on your own time.

• The Reality: You will be expected to learn basic anatomy, radiation safety, and infection control protocols after hours. You will need to study and master emergency protocols starting with basic life support (BLS), anesthesia emergency protocols, and eventually advanced life support (ACLS), pediatric life support (PALS), and pass the Dental Anesthesia Assistant Certifying Examination (DAANCE)
• The Filter: If you are looking for a simple 8-to-5 job where you leave your work at the office, this is not the right fit. This program is built exclusively for individuals willing to put in heavy academic effort outside of clinic hours to rapidly build a high-earning clinical skill set.

The Career & Earnings Roadmap: We do not cap your income based on seniority. Your hourly wage is driven entirely by your individual clinical performance and credential progression.
[MONTHS 1–4: APPRENTICE & INITIAL STUDY PHASE] Starting Rate: $12.50 / hour * Focus: Chairside training, sterile technique, heavy at-home study, and QDA exam prep. * Benefits: 30-day orientation period; full health plan eligibility activates after a 90-day training phase. [MILESTONE 1: QDA CREDENTIALED] (Target: < 4 Months) Wage Range: $21.21 – $33.60 / hour * Immediate jump to $21.21/hr upon receiving your State Board QDA credential * Progression toward $33.60/hr based strictly on individual achievement of clinical performance benchmarks. [MILESTONE 2: RDA & ANESTHESIA ASSISTANT] (Target: 24 Months) Wage Range: $30.00 – $40.00 / hour. Focus is on earning your Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license and IV Anesthesia Assisting Permit. * Master IV deep sedation monitoring, emergency pharmacology, and advanced surgical protocols at top-of-market compensation.

Who You Are (The Target Profile): This is a fast-paced, zero preventable mistake environment. We do not look at past medical experience; we look at raw brainpower, emotional resilience, and academic discipline.

• Self-Directed Learner: You have the self-discipline to study complex medical materials independently without being micromanaged.
• High Cognitive Speed & Spatial Logic: You pick up physical workflows rapidly, remember detailed instrument sequences, and anticipate what needs to happen next in a room.
• Composed Under Pressure: You take direct clinical critique in stride and remain calm, focused, and pleasant when high-stress surgical situations arise.
• Personal Humility: No task is beneath you. From cleaning biohazard waste and mopping surgical bays to holding retractors in complex trauma cases, you take immense pride in every detail.

What We Offer:

• Predictable Specialty Schedule: Enjoy a stable work-life balance—no night shifts, no weekends, and home every evening.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Structured 30-day orientation period, health insurance eligibility following a 90-day training phase, 401(k) retirement safe harbor contributions of 3% and profit-sharing which can be up to 11%, and generous paid time off (PTO).

The Application Process:

We fiercely protect our patients, surgical environment, and training investment.
To apply, submit your resume. Qualified candidates will be sent a mandatory 20-minute online cognitive aptitude and behavioral assessment. Candidates who pass the assessment will be invited to a structured interview and a 4-hour Observational Working Shadow in our surgical suite.
If you are not willing to dedicate personal time after hours to study and master this trade, please do not apply. If you are ready to work hard and earn a top-tier clinical wage, we invite you to apply today.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $12.50 - $40.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $13 - $40