Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Dental Assistant Licensing Requirements by State

Dental Assistant licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Dental Assistant across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Hygienist.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Dental Assistant: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Hygienist.

Assists dentists during procedures, takes X-rays, and manages patient records.

Dental Assistant: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Dental Assistant drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Dental Assistant states

51

Top quartile, highest

Board gates for Dental Assistant: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Dental Assistant: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Dental Assistant boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Librarian / Media Specialist · Surgical Technologist
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Health Aide · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Cosmetologist · Elementary School Teacher
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist

What to do with this

Dental Assistant is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Dental Assistant's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #20 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Athletic Trainer →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Dental Assistant requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.