Dental Assistant / Maryland
2026 data Maryland board category estimate

Maryland Dental Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

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

Category estimate. The figures on this page are a category average, not yet confirmed with the Maryland 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 Maryland data shows for Dental Assistants

Maryland sets the entry bar for dental assistants at 1,000 training hours and a passing score on a state-approved exam. A background check is a standard part of the process. The credential is administered under Maryland's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Budget $100 to get started on a 2-year cycle. Maryland doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

Maryland 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 · Maryland

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 Maryland

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Assistant in Maryland? ▼
Maryland's requirements cover 1000 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $100. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Dental Assistant in Maryland? ▼
Certification as a dental assistant in Maryland means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Maryland licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Assistant license to Maryland from another state? ▼
Out-of-state dental assistant credentials get a case-by-case review in Maryland rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Maryland licensing board.
Does Maryland require a background check for Dental Assistant licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental assistant licensing process in Maryland. 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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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.