How to Become a Dental Assistant in New Jersey

Checked against New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (Division of Consumer Affairs); dental x-ray licenses are issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of X-Ray Compliance · Verified 2026-10-16

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: RDA: $35 application fee plus $90 initial registration fee ($45 if paid in the second year of the biennial period); $90 biennial renewal. DEP limited license in dental radiologic technology: $60.
Regulated by: New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (Division of Consumer Affairs); dental x-ray licenses are issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of X-Ray Compliance

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Who can apply

You can work as an unregistered dental assistant, but only for the duties listed in N.J.A.C. 13:30-2.6, under a dentist's direct supervision.
To become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), you must pass DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam within 10 years before applying and complete the online New Jersey Jurisprudence orientation within 6 months before applying.
RDA applicants also need either graduation within the past 10 years from a Board- and CODA-approved dental assisting program, or a high school diploma (or equivalent) plus 2 years of dental assisting work in the past 5 years and either DANB's New Jersey Expanded Functions exam or a Board-approved expanded functions program.
Taking x-rays requires a limited license in dental radiologic technology from the Department of Environmental Protection. Applicants must be at least 18 with a high school education or equivalent.

Step by step

Graduate from a Board- and CODA-approved dental assisting program, or work at least 2 years as a dental assistant (within a 5-year period) after finishing high school or its equivalent.
Pass DANB's CDA exam. Experience-route applicants also pass DANB's New Jersey Expanded Functions exam or a Board-approved expanded functions program.
Complete the online New Jersey Jurisprudence orientation no more than 6 months before you apply.
Submit the RDA application to the Board of Dentistry with the $35 application fee, a New Jersey criminal history background check, and verifications from any state where you are registered.
Pay the initial registration fee ($90, or $45 if paid in the second year of the biennial period).
To take x-rays, complete an approved dental radiography program and pass DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam (or hold DANB certification), then apply to the DEP for a limited license in dental radiologic technology ($60).
Renew your RDA registration every two years ($90).

Training and exam

Training: The RDA route requires either a Board- and CODA-approved dental assisting program or, for experienced assistants, a Board-approved expanded functions program (or DANB's NJ Expanded Functions exam instead). Board-approved expanded functions programs give at least 15 hours of didactic training and 30 hours of clinical instruction, are taught by a NJ-licensed dentist, hygienist or RDA, and end with a written exam and a competency demonstration. A DEP dental radiography license requires completion of a New Jersey approved dental radiography program or its equivalent.

Exam: RDA applicants must pass DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam within 10 years before applying. Experience-route applicants must also pass DANB's New Jersey Expanded Functions exam (or a Board-approved expanded functions program with a final written exam). DANB administers this as its New Jersey Expanded Duties General exam: 106 questions in 80 minutes. For the DEP dental x-ray license, the application options are based on current DANB certification or passing DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam within the last 5 years.

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What it costs in New Jersey

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

RDA application fee$35
RDA initial registration fee ($45 if paid in second year of the biennial period)$90
RDA biennial renewal$90
DEP limited license in dental radiologic technology (to take x-rays)(optional)$60
DANB CDA exam$
Criminal history background check$

Estimated total in New Jersey$215Plus 2 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

DANB CDA exam, and DANB's NJ Expanded Functions or RHS exam as applicable.
New Jersey criminal history background check.
Dental radiography program tuition.
Notarization of the DEP x-ray license application.
Late fee $100 and reinstatement fee $100 for RDAs who let registration lapse.

Keeping your credential

Renewal: RDA registration renews every two years; the active registration renewal fee is $90, with a $100 late fee. At each renewal you certify 10 hours of continuing education, including 6 mandatory hours: 3 hours of hands-on CPR for healthcare providers, 1 hour of infection control, 1 hour of ethics and New Jersey dental assisting law, and 1 hour on prescription opioids. No more than half the hours may come from written or recorded distance-learning courses (live, interactive webinars do not count against this limit). Keep CE records for two full renewal periods. The DEP dental radiologic technology license is renewed separately with the DEP (its initial application form cannot be used for renewal).

Good to know in New Jersey

What unregistered assistants may do: Under direct supervision, an unregistered assistant may take x-rays (only with the DEP license), give oral health education, apply topical anesthetic, take vital signs, retract tissue, suction, isolate the field (not rubber dams), pre-select bands and crowns on a model, use a curing light, take photos, select shades, apply hot or cold packs, and assist with nitrous oxide while the dentist is in the operatory.

What RDAs add: RDAs may also, under direct supervision, place rubber dams, matrices and temporary restorations, fabricate and cement temporary crowns, etch teeth, take alginate impressions, place and remove retraction cords, place arch wires, and do other expanded functions listed in N.J.A.C. 13:30-2.4.

Military credit: Education, training and experience from service in the Armed Forces can count toward RDA registration under N.J.A.C. 13:30-2.7.

Older x-ray training: If you finished your radiography program more than 5 years ago, DEP's form requires a recent RHS pass plus documented x-ray work experience from the last 5 years, or a conditional license arranged through a NJ dentist with the Bureau's permission.

Orthodontic assistants: New Jersey also registers Limited Registered Dental Assistants in orthodontics, with their own application rule (N.J.A.C. 13:30-2.3) and the same registration fees. That route requires passing DANB's Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA), Topical Fluoride and Coronal Polish exams within 10 years before applying.

Monitoring nitrous oxide: An RDA may monitor a patient the dentist has given nitrous oxide only after a Board-approved course of at least 14 hours (7 didactic, 7 clinical, with at least 10 monitored administrations), while holding current BLS or ACLS, and must take a 3-hour nitrous refresher every other renewal period (N.J.A.C. 13:30-2.4).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (Division of Consumer Affairs); dental x-ray licenses are issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of X-Ray Compliance before you apply.