Can you take the dental assistant exam without going to school?
Can you take the dental assistant exam without going to school?
Yes — in many cases, you can take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exams without first completing a formal dental assisting school, but it depends on the specific exam and your background. Here’s how it works in Connecticut and nationally:
1. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam
The CDA exam is the main credential for dental assistants.
To be eligible, you usually need either:
Graduation from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program, or
On-the-job work experience: typically 3,500 hours (about two years) of verified work as a dental assistant.
So yes, you can qualify without school if you meet the work experience requirement.
2. Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam
This exam is often taken by dental assistants who want to legally take X-rays in states like Connecticut.
There is no formal education requirement for the RHS exam. You can register and take it without going through a dental assisting program.
3. Infection Control (ICE) Exam
Same as the RHS exam — you don’t need formal schooling. Anyone can sit for it.
Connecticut Specifics
Connecticut does not license dental assistants, but it does require the Dental Radiography Certificate if you want to take X-rays. That certificate can be earned by passing the DANB RHS exam — no schooling required.
If you want the full CDA credential, you either need to graduate from an accredited program or work enough hours as a dental assistant.
Summary
You don’t always need to go to school to take dental assisting exams. In Connecticut, you can take the RHS exam (for radiography) and the ICE exam without formal schooling. For the full CDA certification, you can skip school if you’ve gained enough on-the-job experience to qualify.
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