Dental Assisting Schools in Georgia

Dental Assisting licensing in Georgia: No license — certification expected

Georgia does not license dental assistants — you can be hired with no credential and trained on the job. To take x-rays, assistants must complete at least 6 hours of instruction meeting state x-ray content rules, begun within 30 days of hire and finished within 90 days; expanded duties require a high school diploma or GED, current CPR, one of three prerequisites (DANB CDA certification, a one-year accredited dental assisting program, or six months of continuous chairside employment within the past three years), and a certificate — including a competency exam — from a Georgia Board of Dentistry-approved expanded duties (EDDA) course under Rule 150-9. The voluntary DANB CDA remains the credential most employers value.

Official source: Georgia Board of Dentistry · Exam: No state-administered exam for entry or x-rays; Georgia Board-approved expanded duties courses must include a competency examination administered by a licensed dentist on behalf of the sponsoring program (Rule 150-9-.02). DANB CDA (voluntary) is the recognized industry credential. · Typical requirement: No state license or registration for dental assistants. X-rays: minimum 6 hours of instruction meeting Georgia Department of Community Health x-ray content requirements (Rule 111-8-90-.04), starting within 30 days of hire and finished within 90 days. Expanded duties (Board Rule 150-9-.02): high school diploma or GED, current CPR, PLUS one of — current DANB CDA certification, graduation from a one-year accredited dental assisting program (or Board-approved equivalent), or six months of continuous chairside employment within the previous three years — then completion of a Georgia Board-approved expanded duties course (minimum 4 hours per duty) with a competency examination; only duties listed on the certificate may be performed.