On July 25, 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) launched the state’s first dental assistant registered apprenticeship program at Martin Dental in Altoona.
The move is DWD’s latest “earn while you learn” program aimed at alleviating labor shortages in key industries such as healthcare.
Two dental assistant apprentices have signed contracts and will receive future course training at Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Eau Claire campus.
The program is funded by the Department of Health Services (DHS) through the Wisconsin Oral Health Workforce Pathway Program.
“The Dental Assistant Registered Apprenticeship Program is a critical investment by the Evers Administration to address workforce challenges and develop the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek.
Closing the healthcare workforce gap is crucial to community well-being and the sustainability of our healthcare system. We will continue working with our partners to build a strong healthcare workforce for the future.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kirsten Johnson said, “Oral health is essential to overall health. We support innovative programs like the Registered Apprenticeship Program to increase public awareness of oral health careers, strengthen the dental workforce, and improve access to care.”
Dentist Tony Martin, owner and owner of Martin Dental, emphasized, “The professional training of dental assistants is directly linked to the quality of care and patient experience.
The apprenticeship program provides dental assistants with a valuable pathway to the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in modern dental practice.”
The Dental Assistant Registered Apprenticeship Program lasts 15 months and includes 2,600 hours of paid training and classroom instruction. The minimum hourly wage during this period is $20 to $22.
Training covers a variety of skills, including clinical assisting, equipment sterilization, record management, patient communication, and basic dental care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the dental assisting profession is projected to experience above-average job growth of 8% over the next decade. The median annual salary for dental assistants in Wisconsin is approximately $48,000.
Wisconsin, with a registered apprenticeship system spanning over a century, saw a record-breaking 17,089 registered apprentices in 2025, demonstrating the continued vitality of the state’s apprenticeship system.
Uniquely, the state requires employers to pay apprentices for both on-the-job and classroom time, combining a “dual system” training model to closely integrate skills and theoretical learning.
In recent years, Wisconsin has seen a rapid expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in the healthcare sector, encompassing a variety of professions, including nursing, respiratory therapists, and medical assistants.
The youth apprenticeship program has also continued to grow, with record enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year. The dental assistant youth apprenticeship program continues to cultivate new talent.
In addition, the state government has invested tens of millions of dollars to support medical talent training and retention through a number of initiatives such as the Workforce Innovation Grant (WIG), the Worker Advancement Program, and the “Fast Forward” training grant program to ensure the supply of industry talent.
In 2024, Governor Evers signed an executive order to establish a healthcare workforce task force to promote systemic solutions such as education and training, recruitment and retention.
