West Virginia Dental Assistant Requirements

To qualify to perform specified restorative and/or orthodontic expanded duties in West Virginia, a dental assistant must:

1. Complete a West Virginia Board of Dentistry (WVBD)-approved course and exam in each of the desired expanded duties, AND

2. Complete required clinical experiences under the observation of the supervising dentist, who attests to the dental assistant’s competent performance of the function, AND

3. Apply to WVBD for a certificate

To qualify to perform visual monitoring of nitrous oxide analgesia units in West Virginia, a dental assistant must:

1. Complete a WVBD-approved course and exam in monitoring nitrous oxide, AND

2. Be currently certified in health care provider CPR through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, AND

3. Apply to WVBD for a certificate

To qualify to perform coronal polishing on children under age 21 in West Virginia, a dental assistant must:

1. Complete two years, at least 3,000 hours, of clinical experience in a dental office, as attested to by the supervising dentist, AND

2. Hold the expanded duties certificate issued by the WVBD, AND

3. Complete a WVBD-approved coronal polishing course, AND

4. Complete required clinical experiences under the observation of the supervising dentist, who attests to the dental assistant’s competent performance of the function, AND

5. Apply to WVBD for a certificate