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Sort and compare dental assistant licensing requirements side-by-side across all 50 states.
| State | Credential | Regulation Type | DANB Required | Radiology Cert | OJT Allowed | Expanded Functions | Fees | CE Hours | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | None | Unregulated | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Dental Assistant (no credential for basic); Coronal Polishing Certificate; Restorative Functions Certificate | Certification (for expanded functions only; basic dental assisting is unregulated) | No | No | Yes | Yes | $120 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | EFDA / OPA | Certification (for radiology and expanded functions; basic dental assisting is unregulated) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $375+ | 12 | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | RDA | Permit system: dental assistants must hold a current permit issued by the ASBDE to perform dental radiography, coronal polishing, administration/monitoring of nitrous oxide, and sedation monitoring. Basic dental assisting duties not on this list do not require a permit. | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50+ | 2 | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | RDA / RDAEF | Full licensure — Board licenses, monitors, and disciplines RDAs and RDAEFs | No | Yes | No | Yes | $75+ | 25 | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | None | Unregulated – The Board does not regulate or require the registration of dental assistants or expanded duty dental assistants. | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Dental Assistant / Expanded Function Dental Assistant | Mandatory DANB certification | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $680+ | 6 | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | None (basic DA) | Unregulated (basic DA); radiography certification required via Delaware ORC | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $300 | 0 | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | RDA Level I / RDA Level II | Registration required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $385-$810 | 24 | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | CDA / EDDA | Certification (credential-based, not full licensure) | No | Yes | No | Yes | $90+ | 18 | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | EDDA | Unregulated (basic); EDDA certification for expanded duties | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | None | Unregulated | No | No | Yes | No | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | None | Unregulated (no dental assistant license or registration category exists) | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | EDDA | Unregulated (basic DA); EDDA requires permit | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | DA / EFDA | Unregulated (affidavit-based qualification system) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | RDA / QDA | Registration (optional as of July 1, 2025) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $40-$60 | 20 | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | None | Unregulated (no licensure or certification required for basic dental assisting) | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | None (listed on dentist's renewal) | No license issued; registration through employer dentist's renewal every two years | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | EDDA | Unregulated (basic DA); EDDA certification for expanded duties | No | No | Yes | Yes | $100 (EDDA only) | 0 | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Dental Radiographer (RAD) / Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | $161-$181 | 50 | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $100 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | DA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $75 | 20 | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $36 | 18 | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | LDA/RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $80 | 20 | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $25 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | DA/EFDA | Unregulated (basic DA); Permit required (EFDA) | No | No | Yes | Yes | $10 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | DA | Permit | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | DA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $25 | 24 | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | DA/EFDA | No registration required (basic DA); Registration (EFDA) | No | No | Yes | Yes | $200 | 12 | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | DA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50 | 12 | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $75 | 20 | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50 | 12 | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | CDA | Certification | No | Yes | No | Yes | $175 | 18 | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | DA II / DA III | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50 | 6 | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | QDA / RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $130 | 16 | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | CDA / EFDA | Certification | No | Yes | No | Yes | $100 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | DA Permit | Permit | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $60 | 2 | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | CDA / EFDA | Certification | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by certificate type | 0 | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | EFDA | Certification (EFDA only; basic DA is unregulated) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $120 | 10 | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | DA (unregulated) / EDDA | No state registration (basic DA unregulated; expanded functions require DANB) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 1 | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | DA (unregulated) / EDDA | No registration (basic DA unregulated; EDDA for expanded functions) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 2 | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $20 | 60 | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $37.50 | 24 | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $70 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | DA | Unregulated | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | RDA/RCDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $80 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | DA I / DA II | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50 | 16 | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | RDA (Registered Dental Assistant) | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $90 | 0 | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | RDA | Registration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50 | 10 | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | DA / EFDA | Unregulated | No | No | Yes | Yes | $0 | 0 | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | DA Permit | Permit | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 0 | March 2026 |