Dental Assistant / Missouri
2026 data Missouri board official source

Missouri Dental Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

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

PlainCredential home → About this data

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

What the Missouri data shows for Dental Assistants

Becoming a licensed dental assistant in Missouri means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Missouri regulators place this credential inside their 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 Missouri, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Dental Assistant · Missouri

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 Missouri

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Assistant in Missouri? ▼
In Missouri, 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 Missouri? ▼
Certification as a dental assistant in Missouri means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Missouri licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Assistant license to Missouri from another state? ▼
Missouri doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for dental assistants; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The Missouri licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does Missouri require a background check for Dental Assistant licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for dental assistant licensing in Missouri. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental assistant license

Dental Assistant in Missouri 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 Missouri 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.