Dental Assisting Certification

Professional Certification Disclosure

COCC prepares students for jobs that require certification to practice in Oregon. If you plan to work in another state, please check with that state's Board of Dentistry. Remember that certification can help you find a job, even in states that don’t require certification.

Beyond training, certification or licensure, states may have additional requirements including but not limited to: living in the state for a certain amount of time; taking state-approved tests; registering with the state; previous work experience; proof of Oregon state certification. 

COCC provides the information below at the direction of the U.S. Department of Education and National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Since rules can change, be sure to check the state you want to move to and ask about current guidelines.

STATE/TERRITORY	COCC SATISFIES REQUIREMENTS?	DENTAL BOARD OR DENTAL LICENSING AUTHORITY	NOTES
Alabama	Yes	Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama	There are no education or training requirements for dental assisting.
Alaska	Yes, with additional requirements	Board of Dental Examiners	Requires authorization from Oregon and testing through the Western Regional Examining Board.
Arizona	Yes	Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners	Requires Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Arkansas	Yes	Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners	Requires Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
California	Yes, with additional requirements	Dental Board of California	Requires additional instruction and testing to become registered (RDA).
Colorado	Yes	Colorado Dental Board	Dental Assistants are not required to register with the state.
Connecticut	Yes	Connecticut State Dental Commission	Must provide records demonstrating successful performance on DANB's Infection Control Exam.
Delaware	Yes	Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene	Not required to be licensed. Supervised by the dentist.
District of Columbia	Yes	DC Board of Dentistry	Must register with the state as a Dental Assistant 1 or Dental Assistant 2.
Florida	Yes, with additional requirements	Florida Board of Dentistry	Requires Florida Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Georgia	Yes	Georgia Board of Dentistry	Not required to register but must have CDA certificate to perform expanded functions.
Hawaii	Yes, with additional requirements	Board of Dentistry	Requires training by a Hawaii Board of Dentistry-approved continuing education sponsoring organization.
Idaho	Yes	Idaho Board of Dentistry	There are no education or training requirements for dental assisting.
Illinois	Yes	Board of Dentistry	Requires Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Indiana	Yes	Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Dentistry Board	No specific education or training requirements.
Iowa	Yes	Iowa Dental Board	Must register with the state.
Kansas	Yes, with additional requirements	Kansas Dental Board	Requires Kansas Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Kentucky	Yes	Kentucky Board of Dentistry	Not required to license with the state but must have CPR certification.
Louisiana	Yes, with additional requirements	Louisiana State Board of Dentistry	Requires Louisiana-based formal training if performing expanded functions.
Maine	Yes	Maine Board of Dental Practice	Requires licensing and Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Maryland	Yes	Board of Dental Examiners	Requires licensing and Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Massachusetts	Yes	Board of Registration in Dentistry	Must register with the state and pass the Massachusetts Board's ethics and jurisprudence exam.
Michigan	Yes, with additional requirements	Michigan Board of Dentistry	Requires Michigan-based training and examination if performing expanded functions.
Minnesota	Yes	Board of Dentistry	Must register with the state and pass Minnesota's own licensing and jurisprudence exams.
Mississippi	Yes	Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners	Not required to be licensed. Supervised by the dentist. Must have current CPR certification.
Missouri	Yes, with additional requirements	Dental Board	Requires the Missouri Dental Assisting Skills Exam and additional permits for expanded functions.
Montana	Yes	Montana Board of Dentistry	Licensure not required.
Nebraska	Yes	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services	No licensing required for Dental Assistant. However, you can apply for licensure as a "Licensed Dental Assistant" and perform some expanded functions.
Nevada	Yes	Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners	The State of Nevada does not require dental assistants to be registered or licensed with the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners.
New Hampshire	Yes	Board of Dental Examiners	No specific education or training requirements.
New Jersey	Yes	New Jersey State Board of Dentistry	Requires licensing and Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
New Mexico	Yes	NM Board of Dental Health Care	Requires licensing and Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
New York	Yes	NY State Education Department Office of the Professions State Board of Dentistry	If you have passed all three components of DANB's CDA examination after June 1, 1993, you have met New York State's examination requirement.
North Carolina	Yes	North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners (NCSBDE)	North Carolina does NOT certify assistants. Classification is based on experience and/or training.
North Dakota	Yes	Board of Dental Examiners	No requirements for a Dental Assistant. To be a Qualified Dental Assistant you must pass DANB's NELDA exam
Ohio	Yes	Ohio State Dental Board	Licensing not required.
Oklahoma	Yes, with additional requirements	Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry	Requires application and additional testing.
Oregon	Yes	Oregon Board of Dentistry	Requires Board-approved certification if performing expanded functions including x-rays.
Pennsylvania	Yes	State Board of Dentistry	Requires licensing and Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Rhode Island	Yes	Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry	Licensing not required.
South Carolina	Yes	South Carolina Board of Dentistry	Licensing not required.
South Dakota	Yes	South Dakota State Board of Dentistry	Requires licensing and Board-approved training if performing expanded functions.
Tennessee	Yes	Board of Dentistry	Must register with state but no education required unless you want to perform expanded functions.
Texas	Yes	Texas State Board of Dental Examiners	Requires licensing and Board-approved training and exams if performing expanded functions.
Utah	Yes	Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board	No licensing, specific education, or training required. Must be CPR certified.
Vermont	Yes	OPR: Dental Examiners	Must register with the state as a traditional or certified dental assistant.
Virginia	Yes	Virginia Board of Dentistry	Must register with the state and have CDA certification.
Washington	Yes, with additional requirements	Dental Quality Assurance Commission	Must register with the state and meet specific state qualifications.
West Virginia	Yes, with additional requirements	West Virginia Board of Dentistry	Requires West Virginia Board-approved training and examination if performing expanded functions.
Wisconsin	Yes	Dentistry Examining Board	Licensing not required.
Wyoming	Yes	Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners	Licensing not required. However, must obtain permit for expanded functions.