Dental Assistant in Illinois
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL
How to Become a Dental Assistant in Illinois
In Illinois, there is no state license required for basic dental assisting duties. However, to perform expanded functions such as coronal polishing, applying pit and fissure sealants, or monitoring nitrous oxide, dental assistants must complete specific board-approved courses and meet age and experience/education prerequisites. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) oversees the regulations for these expanded functions, and dental assistants must ensure they meet the specific training and certification requirements for each advanced procedure they wish to perform.
Dental Assistant Requirements in Illinois
| Detail | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation |
| State License Required | No |
| Education | No statewide education requirements for basic dental assisting duties. Specific board-approved courses are required for expanded functions like coronal polishing, sealant placement, and monitoring nitrous oxide. For these expanded functions, dental assistants must also be at least 18 years old and have 1000 hours of clinical dental assisting experience OR have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program OR be a DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). |
| Exam | No state exam for basic dental assisting. DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or an approved course is required for performing x-rays. Specific course examinations are required for expanded functions. |
| Notes | Illinois does not license dental assistants for basic duties. To perform expanded functions such as coronal polishing, applying pit and fissure sealants, or monitoring nitrous oxide, dental assistants must meet specific age, experience/education, and training requirements. For monitoring nitrous oxide, minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia, dental assistants must maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for healthcare providers. All intraoral procedures performed by a dental assistant must be examined by the supervising dentist prior to patient dismissal. |
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Dental Assistant Salary in Illinois
The median dental assistant salary in Illinois is $47,430 per year, which is 0.3% above the national median of $47,300.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $33,510 |
| 25th | $38,540 |
| 50th (median) | $47,430 |
| 75th | $55,820 |
| 90th (experienced) | $58,620 |
Illinois employs approximately 15,620 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 Illinois Worth It?
Factors to consider: Illinois's cost of living, the lack of a state license requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.