Dental Assistant (RDA)

Want help choosing the application route that’s right for you?

Are you eligible for RDA certification?

Applicants must meet one of the following routes to be eligible to apply for an RDA certification exam.

The RDA credential is not a substitute for compliance with any licensing or regulatory requirements that an individual state may impose.

The acronym “RDA” or designation of “Registered Dental Assistant” issued by 51黑料is a national certification, and should not be confused with similar terminology that may be employed in some states (where it is a state license). Applicants should always check with regulators in their states regarding the requirements for practicing as a dental assistant in those states.

Education Route

Applicant shall be a graduate of, or scheduled to graduate from, an accredited dental assisting program*.

All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:
- office assisting skills, dental sciences, clinical procedures and dental radiography
Applicants must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or otherwise approved by AMT.

If recently graduated (last 4 years):

Official final transcript provided by the school, showing graduation from a Dental Assistant program
Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency

If graduated 4+ years ago:

Copy of transcripts showing graduation from a Dental Assistant program
Documented, relevant, full-time work experience for 3 years out of the last 5 years that is verified by AMT. Work requirement is assumed to be full-time (40 hours per week). May be a combination of part time settings
Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency

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Military Route

Applicant shall have completed a military dental assisting training program AND shall have completed a minimum of one year of work experience in the dental assisting profession.

All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:
- office assisting skills, dental sciences, clinical procedures and dental radiography
Applicants must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

If recently graduated (last 4 years):

Copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) showing graduation from a formal training program
Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency

If graduated 4+ years ago:

Copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) showing graduation from a formal training program
Documented, relevant, full-time (40 hours per week) work experience for 3 years out of the last 5 years that is verified by AMT. May be a combination of part time settings
Copy of the DD214 (if discharged)
Copy of recent evaluations covering the required work experience timeframe
Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency

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Work Experience Route

Applicant shall have been employed as a dental assistant for a minimum of three years (5,250 hours).

Work requirement is assumed to be full-time (40 hours per week). May be a combination of part time settings.

Instructor Route

Applicant shall be currently instructing in an accredited Dental Assisting Program*, shall have completed a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to dental assisting, and shall have a minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience (or equivalent part-time experience equal to three years full-time) in a dental assisting discipline that includes office assisting skills, dental sciences, preclinical procedures, infection control, and dental radiography/imaging.

An applicant who has less than three years of full-time teaching experience (or equivalent), but more than one year, shall have a minimum of two years of full-time dental assisting experience within the past five years, in a healthcare profession in which the scope of practice is commensurate with, or exceeds, the dental assisting scope of practice that includes office assisting skills, dental sciences, preclinical procedures, infection control, and dental radiography/imaging. Full-time work is considered 40 hours per week (part-time combination allowed).

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or otherwise approved by the 51黑料Board of Directors.

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