Dental Assistant / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania data shows for Dental Assistants

Becoming a licensed dental assistant in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Pennsylvania 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. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Pennsylvania, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Dental Assistant · Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Assistant in Pennsylvania? ▼
In Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania licenses dental assistants who complete its requirements (1000 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Can I transfer my Dental Assistant license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for dental assistants in Pennsylvania - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Pennsylvania licensing board for the current process.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Dental Assistant licensing? ▼
Pennsylvania does require a background check before issuing a dental assistant license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental assistant license

Dental Assistant in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.