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Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam
The Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam is the national certification examination of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB): a single 245-question, 195-minute computer-adaptive appointment combining three component exams — Radiation Health and Safety (RHS, 75 questions/60 minutes), Infection Control (ICE, 75 questions/60 minutes), and General Chairside Assisting (GC, 95 questions/75 minutes) — delivered by Pearson VUE at test centers or through online proctoring. Passing all three components within a five-year period earns the CDA certification.
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Questions245 multiple-choice questions (GC 95, RHS 75, ICE 75), computer-adaptive
Testing time195 minutes total testing time (GC 75 minutes, RHS 60 minutes, ICE 60 minutes)
ScoringCriterion-referenced: a minimum passing scaled score of 400 must be obtained to pass, with scores ranging from 100 to 900 points; exams use computer adaptive testing (CAT) scored on the difficulty of questions answered correctly
Exam feeUSD 450 traditional candidate (USD 425 active military personnel); the exam fee includes a USD 75 nonrefundable application fee; fees are for the 2026 application cycle, accepted through Dec. 31, 2026
Prep options
Study resources for CDA Exam
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- DANB
- Category
- Dental Professions
- Current version
- Current specification; no overall public version label (the CDA exam is built from the current component exam outlines: RHS and ICE outlines effective 03/12/2025; GC outline effective 07/01/2022)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 100–900 (passing scaled score 400)
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE
- Format
- Computer-based (computer adaptive testing) at Pearson VUE test centers or through remote online proctoring; the candidate may choose the method they prefer for the component exams, while the CDA exam page lists a test center option
- Availability
- Year-round by appointment within a 60-day testing window issued after application approval (2026 applications accepted through Dec. 31, 2026)
- Results
- Candidates are notified by email within 1-3 business days after the exam that results are available in their online DANB account
- Remote testing
- Varies by jurisdiction
Exam structure
One appointment combining three multiple-choice component exams taken together: Radiation Health and Safety (RHS, 75 questions/60 minutes), Infection Control (ICE, 75 questions/60 minutes), and General Chairside Assisting (GC, 95 questions/75 minutes); delivered by computer adaptive testing
Where rules vary
A single uniform national exam; DANB is described by its delivery vendor as 'the nationally-recognized premier certification and credentialing agency for dental assistants', and state dental boards separately decide whether to recognize the exam ('Passing one or more of the DANB component exams or earning DANB certification only conveys authority to perform these duties in those states that recognize these exams or this certification as meeting state dental assisting requirements.').
Eligibility
No eligibility requirements for the RHS and ICE components; the GC component requires one of three pathways — Pathway I: graduation from a CODA-accredited dental assisting or hygiene program (or current RDH license); Pathway II: minimum 3,500 hours of verified work experience plus high school graduation or equivalent; Pathway III: former DANB CDA status or graduation from/enrollment in a CODA-accredited DDS/DMD program (or qualifying dental degree or post-baccalaureate program) — and all pathways require current DANB-accepted hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS
Retake policy
A missed exam may be rescheduled one time at a reduced fee by submitting the Missed Exam Form and payment within 60 days of the missed exam date; otherwise the candidate must reapply with full fees; a new 60-day testing window may be requested one time within 60 days after the original window ends