Dental Assistant in Colorado
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CO
How to Become a Dental Assistant in Colorado
In Colorado, dental assistants are not required to be state-licensed or certified for most duties. The Colorado Dental Board oversees dentists and dental hygienists, but not dental assistants directly. However, to perform radiography (take x-rays), dental assistants must be at least 18 years old and complete specific training, such as an 8.5-hour course approved by the Colorado Dental Board or passing the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. Additionally, all dental assistants must possess current CPR certification.
Dental Assistant Requirements in Colorado
| Detail | Colorado |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Colorado Dental Board |
| State License Required | No |
| Education | High school diploma or GED equivalent; CPR certification. For radiography, specific training or DANB RHS exam is required. |
| Exam | DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam (for radiography only) |
| Notes | Colorado does not license, certify, or register dental assistants for most duties. The supervising dentist is responsible for ensuring the assistant is competent. To expose x-rays, dental assistants must be at least 18 years old and meet specific education/training requirements in radiography, which can include an 8.5-hour course (3.5 hours lecture, 5 hours clinical) or passing the DANB RHS exam. CPR certification is also a state mandate for dental assistants. The EDDA (Expanded Duties Dental Assistant) designation is not recognized by the Colorado Dental Board. |
Source: Colorado Dental Board
Dental Assistant Salary in Colorado
The median dental assistant salary in Colorado is $47,770 per year, which is 1.0% above the national median of $47,300.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $36,750 |
| 25th | $44,570 |
| 50th (median) | $47,770 |
| 75th | $59,480 |
| 90th (experienced) | $63,230 |
Colorado employs approximately 7,720 dental assistants.
Dental Assistant Job Outlook
AI Impact on Dental Assistants
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.53/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming a Dental Assistant in Colorado Worth It?
Factors to consider: Colorado's cost of living, the lack of a state license requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.