Dental Assistant / Illinois
2026 data Illinois board official source

Illinois Dental Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

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

What the Illinois data shows for Dental Assistants

Becoming a licensed dental assistant in Illinois means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Illinois regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Upfront cost is $100 on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Illinois, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Illinois reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Dental Assistant · Illinois

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 Illinois

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 Illinois licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Illinois licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Assistant in Illinois? ▼
In Illinois, 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 Illinois? ▼
To become a licensed dental assistant in Illinois, you must meet the state's requirements including 1000 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Illinois licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Dental Assistant license to Illinois from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for dental assistants in Illinois - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Illinois licensing board for the current process.
Does Illinois require a background check for Dental Assistant licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental assistant licensing process in Illinois. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental assistant license

Dental Assistant in Illinois 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 Illinois 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.