Dental Assistant in North Dakota

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

Median annual salary

$51,310

trending_up +8.5% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, North Dakota.

engineering

920

Jobs (ND)

monitoring Strong

+6.4%

10-yr job growth

payments

$155

Licensing fees

schedule

Varies

Time to complete

route 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.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $38,260

25th percentile $47,040

50th (median) $51,310

75th percentile $60,770

90th (experienced) $71,630

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

checklist North Dakota requirements

Licensing body	North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners
State license	Required
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	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.

Source: North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners

workspace_premium North Dakota 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

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_circleNorth Dakota 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?

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Frequently asked questions

What's required to work as a dental assistant in North Dakota? expand_more

The path to dental assistant licensure in North Dakota: complete the required 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.), gain 300.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the 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), and submit your application ($155 fee).

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

You cannot practice as a dental assistant in North Dakota without a state license from North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners. The required exam is the 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).

How much do dental assistants make in North Dakota? expand_more

North Dakota dental assistants bring home a median salary of $51,310. — 8% higher than the $47,300 national figure. Wages range from $38,260 (10th percentile) up to $71,630 (90th percentile).

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

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

How many CE hours do dental assistants need in North Dakota? expand_more

To keep your license active, North Dakota mandates 16.0 CE hours every 2.0 years.