Dental Assistant in Connecticut

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

Median annual salary

$50,820

trending_up +7.4% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Connecticut.

engineering

3,740

Jobs (CT)

monitoring Strong

+6.4%

10-yr job growth

payments

$220

Licensing fees

schedule

Varies

Time to complete

route How to become a dental assistant in Connecticut

To become a dental assistant in Connecticut, a state license is not required for basic duties. However, to perform radiography, you must pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or a CODA-accredited assessment, and all dental assistants must pass the DANB Infection Control Examination (ICE) or a CODA-accredited assessment. For those aspiring to become an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), the process involves obtaining DANB CDA or COA certification, completing an EFDA program at a CODA-accredited institution, and passing the DANB CPFDA and CRFDA exams. The Connecticut State Dental Commission oversees these requirements.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $37,290

25th percentile $47,730

50th (median) $50,820

75th percentile $57,850

90th (experienced) $60,160

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

checklist Connecticut requirements

Licensing body	Connecticut State Dental Commission
State license	Not required
Education	For basic dental assisting, a high school diploma or GED is typically required, with on-the-job training being common. For Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) status, candidates must first pass the DANB CDA or COA exam, then successfully complete an EFDA program at a CODA-accredited institution, which includes didactic and laboratory coursework, at least four hours of ethics and professional standards education, and a comprehensive clinical examination. EFDAs must also pass DANB's Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) and Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA) certification exams.
Exam	For radiography: DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or a CODA-accredited Radiation Health and Safety Competency Assessment. For infection control: DANB Infection Control Examination (ICE) or a CODA-accredited Infection Control Competency Assessment. For EFDA: DANB CDA or COA, and DANB CPFDA and CRFDA exams. ($220)
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	1.0 hours per cycle
Notes	While a state license is not required for basic dental assisting, performing radiography requires passing the DANB RHS exam or a CODA-accredited assessment. All dental assistants must pass the DANB ICE exam or a CODA-accredited assessment. New dental assistants hired after July 1, 2019, have fifteen months from the start of employment to pass the ICE exam or assessment. EFDAs must maintain DANB CDA or COA certification and complete 1 hour of infection control training every two years. Employers typically require CPR/BLS certification. Minimum age is not specified for dental assistants, but for limited permits in other states, it can be 17 or older with a high school diploma.

Source: Connecticut State Dental Commission

workspace_premium Connecticut license tiers

Connecticut offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Dental Assistant	N/A
Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA)	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?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

arrow_forward

Frequently asked questions

How do you get certified as a dental assistant in Connecticut? expand_more

To become a dental assistant in Connecticut, you need to complete the required education (For basic dental assisting, a high school diploma or GED is typically required, with on-the-job training being common. For Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) status, candidates must first pass the DANB CDA or COA exam, then successfully complete an EFDA program at a CODA-accredited institution, which includes didactic and laboratory coursework, at least four hours of ethics and professional standards education, and a comprehensive clinical examination. EFDAs must also pass DANB's Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) and Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA) certification exams.), and pass the For radiography: DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or a CODA-accredited Radiation Health and Safety Competency Assessment. For infection control: DANB Infection Control Examination (ICE) or a CODA-accredited Infection Control Competency Assessment. For EFDA: DANB CDA or COA, and DANB CPFDA and CRFDA exams..

Can I work as a dental assistant in Connecticut without a license? expand_more

No state license is needed to work as a dental assistant in Connecticut. Note: While a state license is not required for basic dental assisting, performing radiography requires passing the DANB RHS exam or a CODA-accredited assessment. All dental assistants must pass the DANB ICE exam or a CODA-accredited assessment. New dental assistants hired after July 1, 2019, have fifteen months from the start of employment to pass the ICE exam or assessment. EFDAs must maintain DANB CDA or COA certification and complete 1 hour of infection control training every two years. Employers typically require CPR/BLS certification. Minimum age is not specified for dental assistants, but for limited permits in other states, it can be 17 or older with a high school diploma.

How much does a dental assistant make in Connecticut? expand_more

dental assistants in Connecticut earn a median of $50,820 annually. This exceeds the $47,300 national median by 7%. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $37,290, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $60,160.

How expensive is dental assistant licensing in Connecticut? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about varies, factoring in exam fee ($220) and required training.

How many months or years does dental assistant certification take in Connecticut? expand_more

The typical timeline in Connecticut is Varies. This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

What's required to renew a dental assistant license in Connecticut? expand_more

To keep your license active, Connecticut mandates 1.0 CE hours every 2.0 years.