Dental Assistant in New York
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NY
How to Become a Dental Assistant in New York
To become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in New York, individuals must be at least 17 years old to apply and 18 to be licensed. They need to complete a New York-approved dental assisting program or an equivalent program with 1,000 hours of relevant work experience, or graduate from a CODA-accredited program. Candidates must pass either the New York Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA) exam along with DANB's Infection Control (ICE) and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exams, or the full DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam. The application fee is $103, and the license must be renewed every three years, though continuing education is not required at the state-board level for RDAs.
Dental Assistant Requirements in New York
| Detail | New York |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | New York State Office of the Professions |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Graduation from a New York-approved dental assisting program (24 semester hours including 200 hours clinical experience) OR an equivalent program with 1,000 hours of relevant work experience. Alternatively, graduation from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program. |
| Experience Required | 3,500.0 hours |
| Exam | New York Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA) exam AND DANB's Infection Control (ICE) and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exams OR DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam (which includes RHS, ICE, and General Chairside Assisting (GC) exams). ($450) |
| Application Fee | $103 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Notes | Minimum age is 17 to apply for licensure, but 18 to become a Registered Dental Assistant. Unlicensed individuals may only perform basic supportive tasks. A limited permit is available for one year and can be renewed once. CPR certification is required for the DANB CDA exam. |
License Tiers
New York offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Licensed Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) | N/A |
Dental Assistant Salary in New York
The median dental assistant salary in New York is $47,020 per year, which is 0.6% below the national median of $47,300.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $37,180 |
| 25th | $44,580 |
| 50th (median) | $47,020 |
| 75th | $57,320 |
| 90th (experienced) | $61,170 |
New York employs approximately 19,700 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 New York Worth It?
Factors to consider: New York's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.