What Is the RHS Exam for Dental Assistants? 2025 Guide to Radiation Health and Safety Certification

What Is the RHS Exam for Dental Assistants? 2025 Guide to Radiation Health and Safety Certification

The Radiation Health and Safety exam is one of the most important credentials for dental assistants. The test comes from the Dental Assisting National Board. Many states use it to approve dental assistants to take dental X rays. Employers also prefer candidates who already hold the RHS certificate because it shows you know how to protect patients, follow safety rules, and use imaging equipment the right way.

The RHS exam measures your knowledge of radiation safety. You study how to protect patients from unnecessary exposure. You learn how to protect yourself while taking X rays. You learn the legal rules that control dental X ray use. The exam also covers how to position patients, how to take digital and film images, how to check for errors, and how to fix poor images.

RHS skills help keep patients safe. You learn how to use equipment carefully. You learn how to set up barriers and shields. You learn how to handle sensors and films. You learn how to store images properly. This knowledge makes you more valuable in a dental office.

Many dental assistants take the RHS as their first professional step. It improves job prospects. It allows you to work more independently. Schools like NYSMDA prepare students for the test by teaching the material and giving hands on practice with X ray equipment.

High value source links
https://www.danb.org
https://www.danb.org/exams/rhs-exam
https://www.ada.org/resources/careers-and-education
https://www.nysmda.com