Dental Assistant in Virginia
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for VA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Virginia.
Jobs (VA)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a dental assistant in Virginia
To become a Dental Assistant in Virginia, individuals can pursue two paths: Dental Assistant I or Dental Assistant II. Dental Assistant I roles have no specific education requirements, but those performing X-rays must complete a board-approved radiation safety course. To become a registered Dental Assistant II, applicants need current DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification or equivalent, and must complete a CODA-accredited expanded function dental assisting training program. Renewal for Dental Assistant IIs is annual and requires maintaining DANB certification (12 CE hours) and current hands-on CPR certification. Reciprocity for DA IIs is possible with substantially equivalent qualifications or documented experience in expanded duties from another state. The Virginia Board of Dentistry oversees these requirements.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Virginia. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Virginia requirements
| Licensing body | Virginia Board of Dentistry |
| State license | Not required |
| Education | For Dental Assistant I: No specific education or training requirements, but must complete a board-approved radiation safety course to take x-rays. For Dental Assistant II: Current DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification or certification from another ADA-recognized national credentialing organization, AND completion of a CODA-accredited expanded function dental assisting training program. |
| Exam | For Dental Assistant II: DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam or other ADA-recognized national credentialing exam. For radiation certification: DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, ARRT certification, or a CODA-accredited radiation safety course and exam. |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Continuing education | 12.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | Virginia offers Dental Assistant II registration by endorsement for those with equivalent qualifications or experience.Reciprocal states: Applicants for Dental Assistant II registration by endorsement must have current CDA certification or equivalent, current authorization to perform expanded duties in another U.S. jurisdiction, and qualifications substantially equivalent to Virginia's or 24 of the past 48 months of documented experience in restorative and prosthetic expanded duties. |
| Notes | Virginia recognizes two levels of dental assistants: Dental Assistant I (DA I) and Dental Assistant II (DA II). DA I has no specific education or training requirements, but must complete a board-approved radiation safety course to take x-rays. DA IIs are registered and can perform reversible, intraoral procedures under direct supervision. To renew registration, DA IIs must maintain DANB certification (which requires 12 CE credits annually) and current hands-on CPR certification. All dental assistants who place dental restorations must be registered as either a DA I or DA II. Registration as a DA I is required to take x-rays. |
Source: Virginia Board of Dentistry
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Virginia? See whether Virginia recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Dental Assistant license reciprocity guide.
workspace_premium Virginia license tiers
Virginia offers multiple tiers of dental assistant licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| Dental Assistant I (DA I) | N/A |
| Dental Assistant II (DA II) | N/A |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
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
Compare Dental Assistant head-to-head
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