Dental Assistant in New York

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

Median annual salary

$47,020

trending_down -0.6% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, New York.

engineering

19,700

Jobs (NY)

monitoring Strong

+6.4%

10-yr job growth

payments

$553

Licensing fees

schedule

10-24 months (for approved program)

Time to complete

route 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.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $37,180

25th percentile $44,580

50th (median) $47,020

75th percentile $57,320

90th (experienced) $61,170

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

checklist New York requirements

Licensing body	New York State Office of the Professions
State license	Required
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	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.

Source: New York State Office of the Professions

workspace_premium New York license tiers

New York offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Licensed Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)	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?

check_circleNew York license required — clearer credential signal to employers
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 I become a dental assistant in New York? expand_more

In New York, becoming a dental assistant requires you to complete the required 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.), gain 3,500.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the 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)., and submit your application ($103 fee).

Does New York require dental assistant licensure? expand_more

You cannot practice as a dental assistant in New York without a state license from New York State Office of the Professions. The required exam is the 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)..

What do dental assistants earn in New York? expand_more

dental assistants in New York earn a median of $47,020 annually. This is close to the national median of $47,300. Wages range from $37,180 (10th percentile) up to $61,170 (90th percentile).

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

Costs include exam fee ($450) and application fee ($103). The estimated total investment is varies, including education and training.

What's the timeline to become a dental assistant in New York? expand_more

Most candidates in New York complete the process in 10-24 months (for approved program), from enrollment in a training program through licensure.