How to Become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota

Who can apply

• Unregistered dental assistants may do only the basic duties in NDAC 20-03-01-01(1), such as taking vital signs and histories, applying topical fluoride and desensitizing agents, taking impressions for study casts, and holding a curing light, under a dentist's direct supervision.
• Taking x-rays requires board registration: Qualified Dental Assistant-Limited Radiology Registrant (QDA-LRR), Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) or Registered Dental Assistant (RDA).
• Every registration requires a CPR course completed within two years of applying, passing the North Dakota jurisprudence (laws and rules) exam within one year (not required for QDA-LRR), and no grounds for denial under N.D.C.C. 43-20-05.
• A DANB CDA must still register with the board before doing anything beyond the duties of an unregistered assistant.

Step by step

1. Choose your level: QDA-LRR (x-rays only), QDA, or RDA.
2. Complete the training or exam for that level (DANB RHS or a board-approved radiation course for QDA-LRR; DANB NELDA or a board-approved QDA program plus 300 hours of on-the-job training for QDA; a CODA-accredited or board-approved dental assisting program or the DANB CDA for RDA).
3. Complete a CPR course with a hands-on portion.
4. Send the board the application with the nonrefundable fee, by email or mail as the current (07-01-2026) form allows. Board rule NDAC 20-03-01-05 says the application must be notarized; the current forms have no notary block, so confirm with the board.
5. After the board has your application, log in and take the free online jurisprudence exam (QDA and RDA).
6. Send transcripts, exam scores and any CE proof. Track missing items on the board's application status page.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: QDA-LRR: DANB Radiation Health and Safety certificate or a board-approved radiation health and safety course within two years (older credentials need a dentist's letter that you took x-rays within the last five years). QDA: DANB National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA: RHS, ICE and AMP) or a board-approved QDA program (the board lists DA Prep and Bismarck State College), plus 300 hours of on-the-job clinical training. RDA: a dental assisting program accredited by CODA or approved by the board, or the DANB CDA. Students in a board-approved QDA program may perform QDA duties under direct supervision while enrolled.

Exam: QDA and RDA applicants must pass the board's North Dakota jurisprudence exam within one year of applying. It is online and free, earns 2 CE hours, and can only be taken after the board receives your application. Depending on your route you also need DANB exams (RHS for QDA-LRR; NELDA for QDA; CDA for the CDA route to RDA).

What it costs in North Dakota

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: Registrations renew every two years and expire December 31 of even-numbered years. You need 16 CE hours per two-year cycle, including 2 hours of ethics or jurisprudence (passing the jurisprudence exam counts), 2 hours of infection control and a hands-on CPR course; no more than 8 hours may be self-study. QDA-LRR CE must include 2 hours of infection control and CPR. If you miss the deadline you can late-renew until March 1 with the application fee, a late fee and CE proof; after that you must apply again.

Good to know in North Dakota

What each level can do: QDA-LRR: unregistered duties plus x-rays under general supervision. QDA: adds duties such as acid etch, matrix bands and x-rays. RDA: adds more duties under indirect and general supervision, including pit and fissure sealants with the required training, and may apply for restorative care and dental anesthesia assistant permits.

Nitrous oxide monitoring: Unregistered assistants, QDA-LRRs and QDAs may monitor a patient on nitrous oxide under direct supervision if the dentist trained them after January 1, 2024 and keeps records of that training. An RDA may do it under indirect supervision.

Moving from another state: You can register as a QDA or RDA if you practiced under substantially equivalent laws elsewhere, with at least one year of relevant employment and 16 hours of CE. Military members and spouses can use N.D.C.C. 43-51-11.1.

Address changes: Registered assistants must notify the board of a new address within 30 days, by certified mail.

Sources

• NDAC 20-03-01 - Dental Assistants, Duties (ND Legislative Branch)
• ND Board of Dental Examiners - Dental Assistant Overview
• ND Board of Dental Examiners - Applying to be a Qualified Dental Assistant
• ND Board of Dental Examiners - Overview of the Registered Dental Assistant
• ND Board - QDA Application (07-01-2026)
• ND Board - RDA Application (07-01-2026)
• ND Board - QDA-LRR Application (07-01-2026)