Dental Assistant / Minnesota
2026 data Minnesota board official source

Minnesota Dental Assistant License Requirements

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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

What the Minnesota data shows for Dental Assistants

To practice as a dental assistant in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Budget $100 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Minnesota, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Dental Assistant · Minnesota

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 Minnesota

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Assistant in Minnesota?
Minnesota requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Dental Assistant in Minnesota?
Certification as a dental assistant in Minnesota means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Minnesota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Assistant license to Minnesota from another state?
Minnesota evaluates out-of-state dental assistant licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the Minnesota licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does Minnesota require a background check for Dental Assistant licensing?
A criminal background check is mandatory for dental assistant licensing in Minnesota. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

What to do with this dental assistant license

Dental Assistant in Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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.