How to Become a Dental Assistant in Connecticut

Who can apply

• Connecticut does not license, certify or register dental assistants. A dental assistant has completed on-the-job training under direct supervision, a CODA-accredited program, or a program accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency.
• A dentist may not delegate procedures to you unless you have passed DANB's Infection Control (ICE) exam or an infection control competency assessment from a CODA-accredited Connecticut program. You may get up to 15 months of on-the-job training by a dentist to prepare for it.
• To take x-rays you must pass DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or a radiation health and safety competency assessment from a CODA-accredited Connecticut dental program.
• An Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) must first pass DANB's CDA or COA exam, then complete a CODA-accredited EFDA program and DANB's written exam on preventive and restorative functions.

Step by step

1. Get hired by a licensed Connecticut dentist and train on the job, or complete a CODA-accredited (or other recognized) dental assisting program.
2. Pass DANB's Infection Control (ICE) exam, or a CODA-accredited Connecticut program's infection control competency assessment, within 15 months of on-the-job training. Give your dentist the records; the dentist keeps them for DPH inspection.
3. Pass DANB's RHS exam or a CODA-accredited Connecticut program's radiation competency assessment before taking any x-rays.
4. Complete at least 1 hour of infection control training or education every two years after passing the infection control exam.
5. For expanded functions, pass DANB's CDA or COA exam, complete a CODA-accredited EFDA program (with at least 4 hours of ethics and a clinical exam), and pass DANB's written exam on certified preventive and restorative functions.

Training and exam

Training: No specific course is required for a basic dental assistant: on-the-job training under a dentist's direct supervision qualifies. Infection control and x-rays require exams or competency assessments (see exams). The EFDA route requires a CODA-accredited EFDA program at a college, with preclinical didactic and lab skills that must be demonstrated before clinical practice, at least 4 hours of ethics and professional standards, and a comprehensive clinical exam.

Exam: Infection control: DANB's Infection Control (ICE) exam or a CODA-accredited Connecticut program's infection control competency assessment, required before a dentist may delegate procedures to you (up to 15 months of on-the-job training allowed to prepare). X-rays: DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or a CODA-accredited Connecticut program's radiation competency assessment. EFDA: DANB's CDA or COA exam first, then DANB's comprehensive written exam on certified preventive and restorative functions.

What it costs in Connecticut

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Keeping your credential

Renewal: No state renewal, because Connecticut issues no credential. After passing the infection control exam or assessment, every dental assistant and EFDA must complete at least 1 hour of infection control training or education in a dental setting every two years. EFDAs must keep their DANB CDA or COA certification current.

Good to know in Connecticut

Supervision: Dental assistant procedures, including x-rays, impressions for study models and fluoride varnish, are done under direct supervision: the dentist stays on site and reviews and approves the work before the patient leaves. EFDAs may work under direct or indirect supervision for most expanded tasks.

What an EFDA may do: Place, finish and adjust temporary restorations and fillings, capping materials and cement bases; give oral health education; place sealants; do coronal polishing (not billed as a prophylaxis); apply topical anesthetic before the dentist or hygienist gives local anesthetic; and take alginate impressions for study models, orthodontic appliances, whitening trays, mouth guards or temporary crowns.

What assistants may never do: Diagnose; cut or remove hard or soft tissue or suture; prescribe; give local, parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic agents; take final impressions for any appliance or prosthesis; or practice dental hygiene.

EFDA rules for dentists: Before hiring an EFDA, the dentist must verify the EFDA's credentials and insurance and keep the documents on site. A dentist may supervise no more than two EFDAs at a time (four in an orthodontics-only practice). EFDAs must display their DANB certificate at work.

15 months, not 9: The DPH dental assistant page still says new assistants get nine months of on-the-job training to pass the infection control exam. The statute was changed to fifteen months effective July 1, 2019 (P.A. 19-56).

2026 bill did not pass: HB 5399 (2026), a dentistry bill that would have revised dental assistant supervision rules, passed the House in April 2026 but was left on the Senate calendar and did not become law.

Sources

• Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-112a - Dental assistants and expanded function dental assistants (Connecticut General Assembly, current)
• Connecticut DPH - Dental Assistant Requirements
• Connecticut General Assembly - HB 5399 (2026) bill status