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Check Eligibility

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

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

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 AMT 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.

Apply

Once you are eligible, you can apply!

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Application Fee*

RDA
$150
  • Submit a separate application for each certification.
  • *Fees are non-refundable and include application, exam and first annual fee.

Prepare

Utilize AMT study resources to increase testing confidence.

Dental Assistant (RDA)

Take the Exam

Once you receive notice from AMT with approval, you may proceed.

Schedule Exam
  • If you are taking the exam at school, your instructor will provide the exam date and time.
  • If you are taking the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center location, you will schedule your own exam.

RDA Eligibility Routes

Education Route ▼

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

Applicants must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:

  • Office Assisting Skills
  • Dental Sciences
  • Clinical Procedures
  • Dental Radiography
*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.

Required Documentation:

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
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting relevant, full-time (40 hours per week) work experience for 3 years out of the last 5 years(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

Competency & Work-Based Learning Route ▼

Applicant shall have completed, within the last 4 years, a hybrid education/work experience dental assisting program* that has EITHER

  • A combination of didactic and clinical experience to equal 720 total hours (160 hours of externship as a minimum)

OR

  • Shall have completed a structured, approved alternative training course that is a minimum of 500 hours in duration, which must include at least 160 hours of accumulated externship experience and at least 340 hours of didactic instruction.

AND

Shall have demonstrated practical competence through a structured competency evaluation process that reflects mastery of required skills and knowledge defined by the dental assisting practice role.

Applicants must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:

  • Office Assisting Skills
  • Dental Sciences
  • Clinical Procedures
  • Dental Radiography
*All acceptable programs must be approved by AMT as meeting or surpassing AMT criteria for dental assisting competencies.

Required Documentation:

  • Official documentation showing completion of an eligible hybrid program (such as a secondary school program, structured workforce development program, or government-approved apprenticeship program).
  • Dental Assisting Competency Checklist attesting to the successful completion of the required dental assisting skills.
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency

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.

Applicants must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:

  • Office Assisting Skills
  • Dental Sciences
  • Clinical Procedures
  • Dental Radiography

Required Documentation:

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) or DD214 (if discharged) showing graduation from a formal training program
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting relevant, full-time (40 hours per week) work experience for 3 years out of the last 5 years(May be a combination of part time settings).
  • 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

Work Experience Route ▼

Applicant shall have been employed as a Dental Assistant for a minimum of 3 years (5,250 hours).

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

Required Documentation:

  • A copy of your high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting relevant, full-time (40 hours per week) work experience for 3 years (May be a combination of part time settings).
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back) that includes hands-on training

Instructor Route ▼

Applicant shall be currently instructing in an accredited Dental Assisting Program* AND shall have completed a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to Dental Assisting AND shall have a minimum of 3 years of full-time teaching experience (or equivalent part-time experience equal to 3 years full-time) in a Dental Assisting discipline that includes:

  • Office Assisting Skills
  • Dental Sciences
  • Preclinical Procedures
  • Infection Control
  • Dental Radiography/Imaging

An applicant who has less than 3 years of full-time teaching experience (or equivalent), but more than one year, shall have a minimum of 2 years of full-time (40 hours per week, part-time combination allowed) Dental Assisting experience within the past 5 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
  • Dental Radiography/Imaging

*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 AMT Board of Directors.

Required Documentation:

  • Copy of academic transcript
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back) that includes hands-on training
If More Than 3 years of Teaching Experience
If Less Than 3 Years of Teaching Experience
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting at least 1 year of full-time teaching experience (or equivalent part-time experience equal to 1 years of full-time).
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting 2 years of full-time (40 hours per week) (part-time combination allowed) Dental Assisting experience within the past 5 years.

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