Dental Assistant / Arkansas
2026 data Arkansas board category estimate

Arkansas Dental Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Category-average requirements, fees, and renewal figures for dental assistant in Arkansas, pending confirmation with the state licensing board.

Category estimate. The figures on this page are a category average, not yet confirmed with the Arkansas licensing board. The state and profession tables mark this row the same way. Treat the numbers as directional and check the board before relying on them; see the methodology limitations.

PlainCredential home → About this data

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

What the Arkansas data shows for Dental Assistants

To practice as a dental assistant in Arkansas, the state licensing board requires 1,000 documented education or training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under Arkansas's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

The initial price tag is $100 every 2 years. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Arkansas, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

Arkansas evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Dental Assistant · Arkansas

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Arkansas

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Dental Assistant All Arkansas licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Arkansas licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Assistant in Arkansas? ▼
In Arkansas, the license path calls for 1000 education/training hours, a passing exam score, and a $100 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Dental Assistant in Arkansas? ▼
Certification as a dental assistant in Arkansas means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Arkansas licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Assistant license to Arkansas from another state? ▼
Out-of-state dental assistant credentials get a case-by-case review in Arkansas rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Arkansas licensing board.
Does Arkansas require a background check for Dental Assistant licensing? ▼
Yes, Arkansas requires a criminal background check as part of the dental assistant licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental assistant license

Dental Assistant in Arkansas is one requirement row in a dental assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Arkansas licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.