How to Become a Dental Assistant in Iowa

Checked against Iowa Dental Board (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) · Verified 2026-10-16

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: Radiography qualification (XDA) $40; registration only (RDA) $40; combined registration and radiography qualification (QDA) $60. Fees can be waived for a first application if household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Regulated by: Iowa Dental Board (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)

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Who can apply

Since July 1, 2025, Iowa no longer requires registration to work as a dental assistant if you complete a term of practical training under a licensed dentist (Iowa Code 153.39(5)). Registration is now optional.
To take dental x-rays you must hold a dental radiography qualification from the Iowa Dental Board (Iowa Code 136C.3). Neither registration nor a nursing license allows x-rays by itself.
You must be at least 18 to train in or take dental x-rays.
There is no minimum age or high school requirement for the optional registration.

Step by step

Get hired and train on the job under personal supervision (a licensee or registered assistant is in the room) until the dentist judges you competent.
If you will take x-rays: once you are 18, train in dental radiography on the job until your dentist attests to your competency, or graduate from an accredited program, or hold DANB certification that includes radiography issued in the last 5 years.
Pass a board-approved dental radiography exam: the Iowa Dental Board exam at an Iowa community college testing site, or DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) or NELDA radiation safety exam taken in the previous five years. If you want to register, also pass the Iowa jurisprudence and infection control/hazardous materials exams.
Apply online in the Iowa Dental Board portal: XDA (x-ray qualification only), QDA (registration plus x-ray qualification) or RDA (registration only), and pay the fee.
Do not take x-rays on your own until the qualification is issued.
Renew by August 31 of every odd-numbered year.

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Training and exam

Training: Iowa requires a term of practical training under the supervision of a licensed dentist to practice as an unregistered dental assistant; there is no set number of hours. For the x-ray qualification, training must be completed within 5 years before you apply, through on-the-job training until the dentist attests to competency, an accredited dental assisting program, recent x-ray work in another state, or DANB certification that includes radiography. Board rules set no minimum radiography training time.

Exam: A board-approved dental radiography exam is required to take x-rays. You can take the Iowa Dental Board radiography exam (50 true/false and multiple-choice questions on legal requirements, infection control and clinical competencies; 75% or 38 correct to pass; retakes allowed but only once per day), scheduled with an Iowa community college testing site at least 10 days ahead with a proctor fee paid to the college. The board also accepts a passing score on DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) or the NELDA exam taken in the previous five years. The optional registration also requires exams in Iowa jurisprudence and infection control/hazardous materials; the board accepts DANB's Infection Control Exam (ICE) or an accredited program's exams.

Practice for the dental assistant exam free — radiation safety, infection control, chairside skills and dental materials →

What it costs in Iowa

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

Iowa Dental Board radiography qualification (XDA)$40
Optional registration plus radiography qualification (QDA)$60
Optional registration only (RDA)$40
Community college exam proctor fee$

Estimated total in Iowa$40Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Proctor fee paid directly to the community college testing site (amount set by the college).
Current CPR certification is required for registration.
Board-approved expanded function courses (tuition set by the provider).

Keeping your credential

Renewal: Dental assistant registrations and radiography qualifications expire August 31 of every odd-numbered year. Renewal fees: RDA $75, QDA $115, XDA $40; late fees $20 (September) or $40 (October). Registered assistants need 20 hours of continuing education per renewal period, and anyone with a radiography qualification needs at least 2 hours in dental radiography. Mandatory reporter training for child and dependent adult abuse is also required.

Good to know in Iowa

Categories: XDA = x-ray qualification without registration (can take x-rays). RDA = registered, no x-ray qualification (cannot take x-rays). QDA = registered with x-ray qualification (can take x-rays). An unregistered assistant without a qualification cannot take x-rays.

Supervision: A dentist may delegate extraoral duties, suctioning, curing light use, x-rays (if qualified) and most intraoral imaging under general supervision. Other delegated duties need direct supervision. Assistants in training must work under personal supervision.

Expanded functions: You must finish a board-approved course and get a certificate for each expanded function before doing it. To start training you need to be an accredited-program graduate, DANB certified, or have at least 3 months of clinical practice. Level 2 functions must be trained at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry or another accredited school. Registration is not required for expanded functions.

Not allowed: Assistants may not give local anesthesia, place sealants (unless allowed as an expanded function), remove calculus, or remove plaque or stain except by toothbrush, floss or rubber-cup coronal polish.

DANB exams accepted: Instead of the board's radiography exam, Iowa accepts DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam at DANB's passing standard, and DANB's Infection Control Exam for the registration exam requirement (481-572.16). A person with prior board discipline may not work as an unregistered assistant without board approval (481-575.3).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Iowa Dental Board (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) before you apply.