How to Become a Dental Assistant in Wyoming

Who can apply

• Dental assistants do not need a Wyoming license to work as a dental assistant.
• No dental assistant may take and expose radiographs or place pit and fissure sealants without first getting a permit from the Board.
• Radiograph permit: show competency through a qualifying radiography course or exam finished within one year before applying, or show you were authorized to expose dental radiographs in another jurisdiction within the last five years.
• Pit and fissure sealant permit: finish a qualifying didactic and clinical sealant course within one year before applying and submit a signed competency checklist.
• Permit applicants must prove lawful presence in the U.S.

Step by step

1. Start work as a dental assistant. No Wyoming license is needed for basic duties.
2. To take x-rays, finish a qualifying radiography course or the DANB RHS exam (see the training details) within one year before you apply.
3. Print the Radiograph Permit application (Board forms are print-only, not fillable online) and mail it with the $30 check or money order (no cash), proof of lawful presence, and proof of training. If you held a radiograph credential in another state within the last five years, request a verification letter from each state where you were registered, even if it has expired.
4. To place sealants, finish a qualifying sealant course within one year, complete the competency checklist, and mail the separate Pit and Fissure Permit application with $30.
5. The Board queries the National Practitioner Data Bank and an Application Review Committee reviews your file.
6. Renew each permit separately every two years by December 31 of odd-numbered years ($20 each).

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: No training is required for basic duties. Radiograph permit training must be finished within one year before you apply and be one of: a CODA-accredited radiography course, the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, a radiography course run by a state dental association, or a curriculum of at least 8 hours with a competency assessment covering dental nomenclature, machine operation and exposure factors, operator and patient safety, and practical film handling and record keeping. Sealant training must include didactic topics (infection control, microbiology, chemistry, dental anatomy, ethics and jurisprudence) and supervised clinical application, through a CODA-accredited dental hygiene or dental assisting program or a qualifying course. Since May 29, 2024, the Board no longer pre-approves radiograph or sealant courses; you must make sure your course meets Chapter 7 of the Board rules.

Exam: Wyoming has no state exam for dental assistants. Passing the DANB RHS exam is one way to qualify for the radiograph permit. The 8-hour curriculum option must include a competency assessment or exam.

What it costs in Wyoming

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

The Board says application processing takes about 3-4 weeks after all materials are received, and Application Review Committee review generally takes 1-3 weeks.

Keeping your credential

Renewal: Radiograph and pit and fissure permits expire December 31 of every second (odd-numbered) year and must be renewed separately ($20 each, $35 after December 31). A permit not renewed can be renewed late within five years. After five years you must reapply and show a new course completed within one year before applying.

Good to know in Wyoming

Supervision for x-rays: A permit holder may expose dental radiographs under the general supervision of a dentist (Wyo. Board Rules Ch. 7, Sec. 8).

Board does not train: The Board does not provide training and will not recommend a course or exam. The Wyoming Dental Association, which offers radiograph training, is a separate organization from the Board.

Processing time: After your file is complete, the Board says processing takes about 3-4 weeks, and committee review generally takes 1-3 weeks. The Board asks applicants to check status no more than once a week by email.

Sources

• Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners - Dental Assistant Permits
• Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners - Renewal & Relicensure
• Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners - Radiograph Permit Application (linked from Board site)
• Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners - Pit and Fissure Permit Application (linked from Board site)
• Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners - Radiograph Permit Renewal (linked from Board site)
• 034-7 Wyo. Code R. 7-8 - Exposure of Radiographic Images by Dental Assistants (Cornell LII)
• 034-7 Wyo. Code R. 7-9 - Pit and fissure sealant permit (Cornell LII)
• Wyoming Board Rules Chapter 7 (Secretary of State)