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Dental Assistant Occupational Licensing

License required in 8 states

69th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$154

What They Do

Dental assistants assist dentists, set up equipment, prepare patients for treatment and keep records.

Dental Assistant Licensing Overview

Eight states require a licence to work as a Dental Assistant. On average, these laws require $154 in fees, 87 days of education and about 1 exam. Dental Assistant Licenses have the 69th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Where is a Dental Assistant the most regulated?

Out of the 8 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Dental Assistant has the highest burden in Minnesota. Minnesota requires $659 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 43.5 credit hours education.

Where is a Dental Assistant the least regulated?

Out of the 8 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Dental Assistant has the lowest burden in Washington. Washington requires $40 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a Dental Assistant license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a Dental Assistant costs the most in Minnesota. Minnesota requires $659 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 43.5 credit hours education.

Where is a Dental Assistant license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Dental Assistant costs the least in Washington. Washington requires $40 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where does it take the longest to obtain a Dental Assistant license?

An occupational license for a Dental Assistant takes the longest to obtain in Minnesota. It takes 305 days (0 years and 5 days). Minnesota requires $659 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 43.5 credit hours education.

Where is it fastest to obtain a Dental Assistant license?

An occupational license for a Dental Assistant takes the least time to obtain in Tennessee, Vermont, Oklahoma, Washington (0 days).

What states require exams for a Dental Assistant license?

To obtain an occupational license for a Dental Assistant there is at least one exam required in: Minnesota, Iowa, Tennessee, Massachusetts. Minnesota requires 3 exams.

Nine states license dental assistants. On average, these laws cost aspiring workers $138 in fees and 92 days in education and experience and require them to pass about one exam—the 71st most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Because dental assistants are not very widely licensed, the occupation ranks as the 81st most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary across states. Minnesota’s license is the most burdensome, requiring $681 in fees, about 425 days lost to education and three exams. California’s, by contrast, requires only about two days (10 hours) of education and no fees or exams.

States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations

More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022

State Licensing Requirements

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank State Occupations Licensed Fees Estimated Calendar Days Lost Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
1 Minnesota 35 $659 305 43.5 credit hours None 3 0 0
2 District of Columbia 61 $190 211 1 days & 900 clock hours None 0 12 18
3 Iowa 71 $86 182 2 clock hours 6 months 2 12 17
4 Tennessee 69 $75 0 None None 1 12 18
5 Massachusetts 50 $60 0.3 2 clock hours None 2 0 18
6 Vermont 31 $70 0 None None 0 0 0
7 Oklahoma 42 $50 0 None None 0 0 0
8 Washington 76 $40 0 None None 0 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report