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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* within the last 4 years.

  • All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:
    • Office Assisting Skills
    • Dental Sciences
    • Clinical Procedures
    • 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.

Required Documentation:

  • Official final transcript provided by the school, showing graduation from a Dental Assistant program.
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back) that includes hands-on training.
    • 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 within the last 4 years, AND shall have completed a minimum of 1 year (2,080 hours) of work experience in the Dental Assisting profession within the last 5 years.

  • All training programs must have been structured to include at least the following content areas:
    • Office Assisting Skills
    • Dental Sciences
    • Clinical Procedures
    • Dental Radiography
  • Applicants must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Required Documentation:

  • Copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) showing graduation from a formal training program
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back) that includes hands-on training.
    • CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency.
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting 1 year of relevant, full-time work experience within the past 5 years(40 hours per week, part-time combination permitted).
Request Military Transcripts

Work Experience Route ▼

Applicant shall have been employed as a Dental Assistant for a minimum of 3 years (6,240 hours) within the last 5 years.

  • Work requirement is assumed to be full-time 40 hours/week (part-time combination allowed).

Required Documentation:

  • A copy of your high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting 3 years of relevant, full-time work experience within the past 5 years (40 hours per week; part-time combination permitted).
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back) that includes hands-on training.
    • CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency.

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.

Applicants must also have one of the following:

  • A minimum of 3 years of full-time teaching experience, OR
  • More than 1 year, but less than 3 years, of full-time teaching experience AND a minimum of 2 years (4,160 hours) of full-time supplemental clinical dental assisting experience within the past 5 years.
    • Supplemental clinical experience must be in a healthcare profession in which the scope of practice is commensurate with or exceeds the dental assisting scope of practice.
  • Applicants must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Qualifying teaching and/or clinical experience must reflect competency in the following content areas:

  • 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 AMT.

Required Documentation:

  • Copy of academic transcript showing completion of a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to dental assisting
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back) that includes hands-on training
    • CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency

Teaching Experience Verification:

If Instructing for 3 or More Years
If Instructing for More Than 1 Year but Less Than 3 Years
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting at least 1 year of full-time teaching experience within the past 5 years (or equivalent part-time experience).
  • RDA Employment Verification Form documenting 2 years of relevant, full-time clinical dental assisting experience (40 hours per week; part-time combination permitted) within the past 5 years.
    • Clinical experience must be in a healthcare profession whose scope of practice is commensurate with or exceeds dental assisting practice.

Note: The Employment Verification Form may be submitted multiple times if experience was completed with different employers.

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