Dental Assistant in Louisiana

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

Median annual salary

$38,150

trending_down -19.3% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Louisiana.

engineering

4,420

Jobs (LA)

monitoring Strong

+6.4%

10-yr job growth

payments

$700

Licensing fees

schedule

3-6 months

Time to complete

route How to become a dental assistant in Louisiana

To become an Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA) in Louisiana, you must obtain a certificate confirmation from the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. This involves successfully completing a board-approved EDDA course, a board-approved radiology course, and holding a current CPR certification. Additionally, applicants need six months of full-time dental assisting experience, though this can be waived with completion of a clinical practice semester from an approved high school Dental Assistant Program. The EDDA course includes both clinical and written exams, and there is a $100 application fee for the certificate confirmation.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $28,580

25th percentile $34,200

50th (median) $38,150

75th percentile $46,330

90th (experienced) $55,800

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

checklist Louisiana requirements

Licensing body	Louisiana State Board of Dentistry
State license	Not required
Education	Board-approved Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA) course.
Experience	6.0 hours
Exam	Clinical and written exams administered by the EDDA course provider, plus a board-approved radiology course exam. ($600)
Application fee	$100
Renewal	Every 3.0 years
Notes	Basic chairside assisting does not require certification. However, to perform expanded duties, which encompass most common assistant tasks, an EDDA certificate confirmation is practically mandatory. EDDA certification requires a board-approved EDDA course, a board-approved radiology course, and a current CPR card. Six months of full-time dental assisting experience is required for EDDA application, but this can be waived if the applicant completed a semester of clinical practice associated with an approved high school Dental Assistant Program. EDDAs must maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Source: Louisiana State Board of Dentistry

workspace_premium Louisiana license tiers

Louisiana offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA)	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.

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Frequently asked questions

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

To become a dental assistant in Louisiana, you need to complete the required education (Board-approved Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA) course.), gain 6.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Clinical and written exams administered by the EDDA course provider, plus a board-approved radiology course exam., and submit your application ($100 fee).

Do I need a license to work as a dental assistant in Louisiana? expand_more

No state license is needed to work as a dental assistant in Louisiana. Note: Basic chairside assisting does not require certification. However, to perform expanded duties, which encompass most common assistant tasks, an EDDA certificate confirmation is practically mandatory. EDDA certification requires a board-approved EDDA course, a board-approved radiology course, and a current CPR card. Six months of full-time dental assisting experience is required for EDDA application, but this can be waived if the applicant completed a semester of clinical practice associated with an approved high school Dental Assistant Program. EDDAs must maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

How much do dental assistants make in Louisiana? expand_more

dental assistants in Louisiana earn a median of $38,150 annually. This trails the $47,300 national median by 19%. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $28,580, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $55,800.

What are the fees to become a dental assistant in Louisiana? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about varies, factoring in exam fee ($600) and application fee ($100) and required training.

How long does it take to become a dental assistant in Louisiana? expand_more

In Louisiana, becoming a dental assistant generally takes 3-6 months, accounting for education requirements, hands-on training, and the exam process.