How to Become a Dental Assistant in West Virginia

Who can apply

• West Virginia does not license or register basic dental assistants. A licensed dentist assigns duties and must first be sure the assistant is fully competent.
• All intraoral tasks by a dental assistant must be under the direct supervision of the employer dentist (the dentist is in the office).
• A dentist may assign placing, exposing, developing and mounting dental radiographs to a dental assistant. The Board's rule lists no separate x-ray course or permit.
• Duties that require a Board-approved course and exam (such as sealants, topical anticariogenic agents, tooth conditioning, rubber-cup handpiece use, retraction cord, some orthodontic tasks, and nitrous oxide monitoring) need a Board certificate before you do them.
• No dental assistant may diagnose, plan treatment, prescribe, or do surgery or any procedure that permanently changes the oral anatomy.

Step by step

1. Start work under a West Virginia dentist. No state registration is needed for basic duties.
2. Learn the basic delegable duties in W. Va. Code R. 5-13-4 under your dentist's direct supervision.
3. For an expanded duty, finish a Board-approved course and pass a Board-approved exam.
4. Apply to the Board for the restorative and/or orthodontic expanded duties certificate ($23), attaching proof of the course and exam.
5. For nitrous oxide monitoring, finish a Board-approved course and exam, keep current CPR, and apply for the certificate ($23) with a copy of your healthcare provider BLS/CPR card.
6. After two years and 3,000 clinical hours with an expanded duties certificate, you may take a Board-approved coronal polishing course and apply to polish teeth for children under 21.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: No training is required for basic duties, including radiographs. Expanded duties that require a Board-approved course and exam include applying topical anticariogenic agents, pit and fissure sealants, chemical conditioning of teeth, using a handpiece with rubber cup or brush to prepare a tooth for a restoration or appliance, placing retraction cord, placing or removing temporary space maintainers and some orthodontic items, and visually monitoring nitrous oxide.

Exam: There is no state exam to work as a basic dental assistant. Each expanded duty requires passing a Board-approved exam. Exam results can be attached to the application or sent directly to the Board by the examining entity.

What it costs in West Virginia

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

Good to know in West Virginia

Coronal polishing for children: A dental assistant with two years and at least 3,000 hours of clinical experience (attested by the supervising dentist), a restorative or orthodontic expanded duties certificate, and a Board-approved coronal polishing course may apply for a certificate to polish teeth of children under 21 with a slow-speed handpiece and rubber cup. The application also needs five patient experiences signed by the supervising dentist and a $10 wall-certificate fee.

Power instruments: A dental assistant may never use a power-driven instrument in the mouth except as the rule specifically allows, such as a rubber cup or brush to prepare a tooth for a restoration or appliance (not presented to the patient as a cleaning).

Nitrous oxide: To visually monitor a nitrous oxide unit, you must pass a Board-approved course and exam and keep current CPR certification from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

Rule update in progress: An emergency version of the expanded duties rule (5CSR13) took effect March 17, 2026 while the permanent rule goes through the legislative process. Its dental assistant duty list matches the version described here.

Sources

• WV Secretary of State - 5CSR13 Expanded Duties of Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants (emergency rule effective 3/17/2026)
• WV Secretary of State - Board of Dentistry rules list
• W. Va. Code R. 5-13-3 - General Assignment of Duties (Cornell LII)
• W. Va. Code R. 5-13-4 - Expanded duties of Dental Assistants (Cornell LII)
• W. Va. Code R. 5-13-2 - Definitions (Cornell LII)
• W. Va. Code R. 5-9-12 - Certificate to Perform Expanded Duties (Cornell LII)
• W. Va. Code R. 5-3-5 - Schedule of Fees for Dental Assistants (Cornell LII)
• DANB - West Virginia radiography requirements
• West Virginia Board of Dentistry - Applications
• West Virginia Board of Dentistry
• WV Board of Dentistry - Application for Coronal Polishing Certificate