Source: Rules of the Tennessee Board of Dentistry 0460-4
IMPORTANT: You must have a registration issued by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry in your possession before you
may lawfully practice as a Registered Dental Assistant in Tennessee. (Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board, as a
Certified Dental Assistant, without a Tennessee registration does not permit you to perform the duties of a registered dental
assistant in Tennessee.)You must qualify by ONE (1) of the following categories to apply as a registered dental assistant
Category A Current certification as a dental assistant by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). If you are being
registered by this method, you must request the Dental Assisting National Board to send verification of current certification
directly to the Board’s Office.
Category B Registration, or it’s equivalent, as a dental assistant in another state for a period of at least one (1) year. If
you are applying by this method, you must request that verification from every state in which you have ever been registered be
sent directly to this Office. You must have completed a dental assisting course which was comprised of at least 116 clock hours
of lecture and didactic training with a minimum of 24 clock hours of radiological instruction. You must successfully complete the
Board examination to become registered.
Category C Completion of a 116-hour Board-approved course sponsored by a local dental society. This method is only if
you have attended a course sponsored by a local dental society in Tennessee. A verification letter from the course instructor
must be submitted directly to our Office upon successful completion of the course; You must successfully complete the Board
examination to become registered.
Category D Completion of a Tennessee-based dental assisting program through an educational institution accredited by
the American Dental Association (ADA). If you are being registered by this method, an official transcript must be sent directly
from the institution to the Board’s Office. (These programs are full-time, day programs.) You must successfully complete the
Board examination to become registered.
Category E Challenge; as a dental assistant in the U.S. whose state of practice does not require
registration/licensure/certification. You must have completed a dental assisting course which was comprised of at least 116 clock
hours of lecture and didactic training with a minimum of 24 clock hours of radiological instruction. In addition, you must have
been employed as a dental assistant in the other state. You must successfully complete the Board examination to become
registered.
Category F Challenge; as a dental assistant (or dentist or dental hygienist) from another province, territory, or country.;
You must have completed a dental assisting, dental hygiene of dental school whose curriculum was comprised of at least 116
hours of clinical and didactic training in subject areas which are equivalent to, or exceeding the requirements of the Board-
approved course with a minimum of 24 clock hours of radiological instruction.; You must also have been employed in you dental
profession and able to submit verification of licensure/certification/registration, if one was required by your province, territory, or
country. (All documentation must be translated in English.) ; You must successfully complete the Board examination to become
registered
| Tennessee Dental Assistants' Association Become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) |
| TN RDA exam resources How to study for the TN RDA exam TN RDA Exam Outline |
