To qualify as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in Iowa, one must:
1a. Work in a dental office for six months as a Dental Assistant Trainee (see requirements above), or
1b. If licensed out of state, have had at least six months of prior dental assisting experience under a licensed dentist within the past two years, or
1c. Graduate from an accredited dental assisting program approved by the Iowa Dental Board, AND
2. Successfully complete an Iowa Board-approved course of study in the areas of infection control, hazardous materials and jurisprudence; the course of study may be taken at an Iowa Board-approved, accredited dental assisting program or on the job using a curriculum approved by the board, AND
3. Successfully pass required examinations in infection control/hazardous materials and jurisprudence; examinations approved by the board are those administered by the board or the board's approved testing centers, or the DANB Infection Control Exam (ICE), if taken after June 1, 1991 (the Iowa Dental Board may require applicants with exam scores older than five years to retest), AND
4. Hold a valid CPR card, AND
5. Apply to the Iowa Dental Board (IDB) for registration as a dental assistant using IDB application forms, or apply online and receive a Certificate of Registration.
Learn more about DANB's Infection Control (ICE) exam