NC Dental U

What NC Dental U does

NC Dental U is a private, for-profit proprietary school founded in 2007 and headquartered in Wake Forest, North Carolina, that provides accelerated dental career training and continuing education across the Carolinas. Its core product is a 9-week Dental Assisting program (tuition $3,195–$3,695 depending on format) that prepares entry-level Dental Assistant I graduates with embedded Radiology and Nitrous Oxide certifications, supplemented by a 40-hour online Dental Receptionist program ($1,099) and six continuing education courses for licensed dental professionals (Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist $1,050, Radiology $695, Coronal Polishing $325, Nitrous $315, SPICE $145, plus a $49 Anesthesia Update CE and a $185 RAD Challenge Exam). All programs are delivered through a hybrid learning model combining asynchronous narrated online lectures, synchronous instructor-led virtual classes, and in-person clinical training in real dental offices, with student management handled by poliSCHOOL software.

The company operates 12 campuses across North Carolina (Wake Forest, Cary, Charlotte, Charlotte-Steele Creek, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Kernersville, Mooresville, Smithfield, Wilson) plus 1 South Carolina campus under the Dental Assistant U brand in Inman, SC, with clinical training partnerships including East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time tuition payments (with weekly/bi-weekly installment plans starting at $0 down), plus government-funded tuition through NC Works/WIOA sponsorship, franchise royalties from third-party operators of NC Dental U branded schools, and on-site CE delivery to dental practices with 10+ enrolled employees. Customer segments span career changers seeking entry into dental assisting (primary), licensed dental hygienists and dental assistants pursuing expanded-function certifications, and dental practices using the school as a hiring pipeline via the exclusive Dental Team Builders placement partnership, through which 75% of students obtain employment prior to graduation.

Name

NC Dental U

Legal name

NC Dental U

Website

https://ncdentalu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NC Dental U is a private, NC-licensed proprietary school founded in 2007 that runs an accelerated 9-week Dental Assisting program, a Dental Receptionist course, and continuing education certifications across 13 campuses in North and South Carolina, serving career changers, dental professionals, and dental practices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Career Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOAJAJ

Dental Assisting

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Healthcare Allied & Clinical Support Training

Keywords

• Dental assistant training
• Dental continuing education
• Dental assisting school
• Dental radiology certification
• Dental receptionist program

Headquarters

HQ city

Wake Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Dental Assisting Program Tuition: Primary revenue stream from dental assisting certification courses. Students pay tuition upfront or through installment plans. Pricing varies by delivery format: $3695 for In-Person and Hybrid Instructor-Led formats, $3195 for Self-Guided Hybrid format.
2. Continuing Education Courses: Shorter certification and CE courses for practicing dental professionals including Radiology ($695), Nitrous ($315), Coronal Polishing ($325), SPICE ($145), and Anesthesia for Dental Hygienist ($1050).
3. Dental Receptionist Program: Online-only 40-hour course priced at $1099, includes textbook and certifications.
4. Payment Plan Fees: Revenue generated from payment plan arrangements including setup fees and interest charges on extended payment terms.
5. Franchise Fees: Revenue from franchisees who pay for the right to operate NC Dental U branded dental assisting schools, including training, operations manuals, and ongoing support.
6. NC Works/WIOA Sponsorship: Government-funded tuition sponsorship for qualifying unemployed or underemployed students, where workforce development programs cover tuition costs directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NC Dental U is a proprietary dental assisting school that delivers an accelerated 9-week Dental Assisting Program, a 40-hour Dental Receptionist Program, and a portfolio of continuing education courses (Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist, Coronal Polishing, Radiology, Nitrous Oxide, and SPICE Infection Control) through hybrid learning formats. Training combines online lectures with hands-on clinical experience at real dental offices, and graduates receive multiple state-recognized certifications plus job placement support via the Dental Team Builders partnership.

Product overview

NC Dental U offers a portfolio of dental career training programs and continuing education courses for the dental field. The core product is the Dental Assisting Program (9-week accelerated training leading to Dental Assistant I certification), supplemented by a Dental Receptionist Program. The continuing education portfolio includes Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist, Coronal Polishing, Radiology, Nitrous, and SPICE (Infection Control) courses. The company operates under two brands: NC Dental U (North Carolina) and Dental Assistant U (South Carolina), with 13 campus locations across both states. All programs offer flexible payment plans and multiple attendance methods (In-Person, Hybrid Instructor-Led, Self-Guided Hybrid, and On-Demand).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dental Assisting Program Comprehensive dental assistant training program enabling students to become entry-level Dental Assistant I (DAI) in approximately 9 weeks. Includes NC Radiology and Nitrous Oxide certifications, hands-on clinical training, and multiple learning formats (In-Person, Hybrid Instructor-Led, Self-Guided Hybrid). Tuition: $3,695 (IP & HIL) or $3,195 (SGH). Designed for adult career changers and entry-level dental assisting aspirants.
• Dental Receptionist Program 40-hour online course providing essential skills for entry-level dental receptionist positions. Covers infection control, medical office emergencies, HIPAA, scheduling systems, insurance processing, and bookkeeping. Price: $1,099. For individuals seeking entry-level front-office dental administrative roles.
• Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist AGD-approved CE course providing local anesthesia administration certification for licensed dental hygienists in North Carolina. Includes 16 hours didactic learning and 8 hours clinical experience. Price: $1,050. For licensed dental hygienists seeking expanded scope of practice.
• Coronal Polishing Expanded function certification course for DAI in-training and DAII in North Carolina. Includes on-demand virtual lecture and clinical practice of coronal tooth polishing per NC state guidelines. Price: $325. For dental assistants seeking expanded functions certification.
• Radiology NC X-Ray Certification course for Dental Auxiliary, approved by the NC State Board of Dental Examiners. Covers radiation safety, intraoral radiography techniques, digital and analog radiography. Price: $695. For dental auxiliaries seeking state radiology certification.
• Nitrous Online course for Dental Auxiliary (DAI, DAII, RDH) providing background knowledge for monitoring nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia. Covers pharmacology, equipment, techniques, and legal considerations. Price: $315. For dental auxiliaries seeking nitrous oxide monitoring certification.
• SPICE (Infection Control) Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE) approved infection control course meeting NC Code requirements. Covers blood borne pathogens, decontamination, sterilization, and CDC guidelines. Price: $145. For dental professionals needing state-required infection control certification.
• RAD Challenge Exam Challenge exam for dental professionals moving to North Carolina from out-of-state. Allows those with prior radiography training (minimum 7 hours didactic + 14 hours clinical) to obtain NC certification without retaking the full course. Price: $185. For out-of-state dental professionals seeking NC radiology reciprocity.
• Local Anesthesia Update CE Course Self-paced On-Demand continuing education course (3 CE hours) for already-certified NC dental hygienists. Reviews local anesthetic technique, contraindications, systemic complications, and dental office emergencies. Price: $49. For licensed dental hygienists maintaining anesthesia certification.
• Dental Assistant U (South Carolina) South Carolina branch of the dental assisting program, located in Inman, SC. Licensed by the SC Commission on Higher Education. Tuition: $3,495 (pay in full) with payment plan options. For South Carolina residents seeking dental assisting certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of students obtain employment prior to graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Dental Team BuilderscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive job placement partnership connecting NC Dental U graduates with hiring dental practices across North and South Carolina. Graduates create profiles on the Dental Team Builders platform to connect directly with employers. Many students begin connecting with employers before graduation. This partnership is marketed prominently on the NC Dental U website as a key differentiator.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ross Medical Education Center: Multi-state for-profit career school with dental assisting among healthcare programs. Targets similar career-changer demographics with similar accelerated credentialing approach, competing for the same entry-level dental workforce segment.
• Lincoln Tech: Established multi-state for-profit technical school offering dental assisting programs alongside broader healthcare and skilled trades. Competes with NC Dental U for adult career changers and offers similar accelerated credentialing models with institutional scale advantages.
• Fortis College: National for-profit career school chain with dental assisting among its healthcare programs. Larger and more geographically diverse than NC Dental U, competing for similar career-changer students seeking accelerated vocational healthcare credentials.
• Concorde Career Colleges: Multi-campus for-profit career college network offering dental assisting programs among many healthcare and trades programs. Operates in multiple states with broader program portfolio and institutional accreditation, representing a larger but less specialized competitor to NC Dental U.

Others

• East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine: Accredited dental school where NC Dental U students participate in clinical learning experiences. Not a direct competitor but an academic partner and ecosystem participant that legitimizes NC Dental U's training through clinical rotation access.
• Evolve Dental Management: Back-office management services provider supporting NC Dental U's registrar function. Not a direct peer but an operational enabler that scales administrative capacity alongside campus expansion without proportional corporate headcount.
• Dental Team Builders: Job placement platform and NC Dental U's exclusive graduate-to-employer matching partner. Functions as a distribution channel and value-added service for NC Dental U students, enhancing employment outcomes versus competing schools without similar placement infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Charter College: For-profit career college offering dental assisting programs in select markets with accelerated formats similar to NC Dental U's 9-week model. Targets the same career-changer demographic with comparable tuition structures.
• U.S. Career Institute: Online career school offering dental assisting certificate programs via distance learning. Competes with NC Dental U's hybrid/online formats for price-sensitive and geographically remote students, though without physical campus presence or local job placement partnerships.
• Penn Foster: Online-based career school offering self-paced dental assisting programs. Comparable to NC Dental U's Self-Guided Hybrid format and competes for flexibility-seeking career changers, though lacks the in-person clinical component and multi-campus footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NCDentalU
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncdentalu
• TikToktiktok.com/@ncdentalu
• Xx.com/ncdentalu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nc-dental-u

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NC Dental U