Texas Dental Assistant Requirements
Each state has different requirements for dental assistants. This page includes links to all the information you need to understand the requirements for dental assistants in this state. View the different dental assisting levels, along with the requirements for each. You can also view the allowable duties at each level.
Dental Assistant Levels and Requirements
Registered Dental Assistant Requirement
A dental assistant in the state of Texas can earn status as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) by formally registering with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). To qualify, one must:
1. Graduate from an accredited high school or hold a GED, AND
2. Successfully complete a current hands-on course in basic life support, AND
3a. Successfully complete a mandatory course of training specified by the TSBDE that includes procedures for positioning and exposing dental x-rays, jurisprudence, and infection control, or
3b. Earn the national DANB CDA certification and complete the Texas Jurisprudence Assessment, AND
4. Complete a course in human trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission AND
5. Apply to the TSBDE for registration AND
6. Submit fingerprints for the retrieval of criminal record information.
To qualify to monitor the administration of nitrous oxide, an RDA must:
1. Complete a minimum of 8 hours of didactic education and testing in monitoring the administration of nitrous oxide taken through a CODA-accredited dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting program approved by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) AND
2. Complete a current course in Basic Life Support, AND
3. Apply to the TSBDE for a nitrous oxide monitoring designation
Learn more about DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification.
