How to Become a Dental Assistant in Wisconsin

Who can apply

• Wisconsin does not license basic dental assistants. A dentist or dental therapist may delegate only remediable (reversible) procedures to an unlicensed person (Wis. Stat. 447.065).
• For delegated procedures, the dentist must be on the premises, the work must follow a treatment plan the dentist approved, and the dentist may inspect it.
• The optional Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) certification lets an assistant do more, such as placing and finishing restorations, sealants and coronal polishing.
• To enroll in an EFDA program you need either 1,000 hours of dental assisting plus DANB CDA, or 2,000 hours of dental assisting verified by a supervising dentist.
• EFDA applicants must finish an accredited EFDA program with at least 70 hours of classroom instruction and show current CPR/AED proficiency.

Step by step

1. Start work as a dental assistant under a Wisconsin dentist. No state credential is needed for basic duties.
2. For EFDA: build at least 1,000 hours of dental assisting and earn DANB CDA, or build 2,000 hours verified by your supervising dentist.
3. Enroll in and finish an accredited EFDA program with at least 70 classroom hours.
4. Get a CPR certificate that includes AED use from a provider approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
5. Apply for EFDA certification on LicensE (license.wi.gov), upload your CPR certificate, and have your school complete and upload form EFDA001. Pay the $30 fee.
6. Check your application's Due Diligence list in LicensE until it is approved.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: No training is required for basic dental assistant work. EFDA certification requires an accredited (CODA) EFDA program with at least 70 hours of classroom instruction. Before enrolling you need 1,000 hours of dental assisting plus DANB CDA, or 2,000 hours verified by your supervising dentist (DE 16.04).

Exam: Wisconsin has no state exam for dental assistants or for EFDA certification. One EFDA entry path requires DANB's Certified Dental Assistant credential.

What it costs in Wisconsin

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

How long it takes

DSPS says application materials are reviewed within about 10 days by the credentialing team; some take longer.

Keeping your credential

Renewal: EFDA certification is permanent unless revoked and is not subject to periodic renewal (DE 16.03(2)). DSPS says an EFDA must complete 12 hours of continuing education related to EFDA practice or medicine, with at least 2 hours in infection control and no more than 2 hours of BLS/CPR. EFDAs must keep current CPR/AED proficiency.

Good to know in Wisconsin

What an EFDA may do: Place and finish restorations after the dentist prepares the tooth, apply sealants, coronal polish, take impressions, make temporaries, pack cord, remove cement from crowns, adjust dentures and removable appliances, remove sutures and dressings, and apply fluoride or similar topical agents (Wis. Stat. 447.035(2)).

Dentist must stay on site: When an EFDA does a delegated procedure, the dentist must stay on the premises until it is done and verify it was done successfully.

Never allowed: An EFDA may not cut hard or soft tissue, diagnose, or plan treatment.

Criminal record: If you have a conviction, you can ask DSPS for an optional predetermination through LicensE before you apply.

Sources

• DSPS - Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary
• DSPS - EFDA Initial Certification
• DSPS - Credential Fees and Renewal Dates
• Wis. Admin. Code ch. DE 16 - Expanded Function Dental Auxiliaries
• Wis. Stat. ch. 447 (447.035 EFDA certification; 447.065 delegation)