Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Start your dental assisting career with AMT’s professionally valued Registered Dental Assistant certification.
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Choose Your Eligibility Route
Education
Accredited dental assisting program
Education
How to Qualify
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
Hybrid education and work experience
Competency & Work-Based Learning
How to Qualify
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 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.
Work Experience
3 years of dental assistant experience
Work Experience
How to Qualify
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.
Military
Military dental assistant training program
Military
How to Qualify
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
For the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard – Request your Joint Services Transcript (JST)
For the Air Force or Space Force – Request your transcript through Parchment
Instructor
Current instructor in an accredited dental assisting program
Instructor
How to Qualify
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
If Instructing 3 + years
RDA Employment Verification Form documenting 3 years of full-time teaching experience within the past 5 years (or equivalent part-time experience).
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.
Apply & Prepare
Apply
If you are eligible, you can apply.
Application Fee*
RDA $150
-
- *Fees are non-refundable and include application, exam and first annual fee.
Take the Exam
Once you receive approval notice from AMT, you can schedule your 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 Professional Assessments testing center location, you will schedule your own exam.