Dental Assistant in Arkansas

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for AR. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$37,680

trending_down -20.3% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Arkansas.

engineering

3,020

Jobs (AR)

monitoring Strong

+6.4%

10-yr job growth

route How to become a dental assistant in Arkansas

To become a Registered Dental Assistant in Arkansas, individuals must obtain specific permits from the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners for any expanded duties they wish to perform, such as radiography or administering nitrous oxide. While a basic dental assistant does not require a state license, expanded functions necessitate completing board-approved courses, passing a jurisprudence exam, and potentially the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or an Arkansas state exam for radiography. Registered Dental Assistants must complete 2 hours of continuing education in infection control every two years to renew their permits.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $32,930

25th percentile $35,670

50th (median) $37,680

75th percentile $44,860

90th (experienced) $47,230

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Arkansas. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Arkansas requirements

Licensing body	Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners
State license	Not required
Education	High school diploma or equivalent; CPR certification; OSHA safety training; Infection control training. For expanded functions, board-approved courses are required.
Exam	Jurisprudence exam for all permits; DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Arkansas state exam for radiography permit.
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	2.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Basic dental assistants do not require a state license, but those performing expanded duties (radiography, coronal polishing, nitrous oxide administration, sedation monitoring) must obtain specific permits from the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners and are then considered Registered Dental Assistants. All dental assistants must be registered if performing expanded functions. CPR certification is required for all expanded function permits. A background check may be required for registration. Permits must be displayed in the dental office.

Source: Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners

workspace_premium Arkansas license tiers

Arkansas offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)	N/A
RDA with Permits	N/A

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+6.4%

Faster than average

Annual openings

52,900

Nationwide per year

Total employment

381,900

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -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.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+6.4%)
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a dental assistant career is the right fit?

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Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming a dental assistant in Arkansas? expand_more

Arkansas requires dental assistants to complete the required education (High school diploma or equivalent; CPR certification; OSHA safety training; Infection control training. For expanded functions, board-approved courses are required.), and pass the Jurisprudence exam for all permits; DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Arkansas state exam for radiography permit..

Is a state license required for dental assistants in Arkansas? expand_more

Arkansas does not require a state license for dental assistants. Note: Basic dental assistants do not require a state license, but those performing expanded duties (radiography, coronal polishing, nitrous oxide administration, sedation monitoring) must obtain specific permits from the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners and are then considered Registered Dental Assistants. All dental assistants must be registered if performing expanded functions. CPR certification is required for all expanded function permits. A background check may be required for registration. Permits must be displayed in the dental office.

How much does a dental assistant make in Arkansas? expand_more

dental assistants in Arkansas earn a median of $37,680 annually. This trails the $47,300 national median by 20%. The range spans from $32,930 at the entry level to $47,230 for top earners.

Does Arkansas require continuing education for dental assistants? expand_more

To keep your license active, Arkansas mandates 2.0 CE hours every 2.0 years.