Dental Assistant in North Dakota
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for ND
How to Become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota
To become a registered dental assistant in North Dakota, individuals must register with the North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners. There are different levels of dental assistant registration, including Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) and Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), each with specific education and examination requirements. Generally, this involves completing a Board-approved dental assisting program or obtaining DANB certification, passing the ND State Jurisprudence Exam, and completing a criminal background check. North Dakota also offers reciprocity for dental assistants licensed in other states with similar requirements. All dental assistants must maintain a current CPR certification.
Dental Assistant Requirements in North Dakota
| Detail | North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Graduation from a CODA-accredited program OR DANB's National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification OR DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification. For Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) registration, completion of a Board-approved QDA program or DANB NELDA certification is required, along with 300 hours of on-the-job training. For Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) registration, completion of a CODA-accredited dental assisting program or a Board-approved program is required. |
| Experience Required | 300.0 hours |
| Exam | ND State Jurisprudence Exam, DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam (for radiography functions), DANB Infection Control Exam (ICE), and DANB Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP) exam (for NELDA certification) |
| Application Fee | $155 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 16.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | All dental assistants must be registered with the board. Radiography requires completing a Board-approved radiography course and passing the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. A current CPR card is also required. Applicants must pass a state and national criminal background study. Minimum age is not specified. |
License Tiers
North Dakota offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) | N/A |
| Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) | N/A |
Dental Assistant Salary in North Dakota
The median dental assistant salary in North Dakota is $51,310 per year, which is 8.5% above the national median of $47,300.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $38,260 |
| 25th | $47,040 |
| 50th (median) | $51,310 |
| 75th | $60,770 |
| 90th (experienced) | $71,630 |
North Dakota employs approximately 920 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 North Dakota Worth It?
Factors to consider: North Dakota's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.