Do dental assistants need a license in Montana?

Yes. Montana requires state-level licensing or registration for dental assistants, administered by the Board of Dentistry. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in Montana (2026)

Q: How long does dental assistant training take in Montana?

Most people become a Dental Assistant in Montana through a short dental assisting program or on-the-job training where allowed, then DANB CDA and any state RDA or radiography permit the board requires.

Q: How much do dental assistants earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), dental assistants in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,680. Employment concentration in Montana is about 1.14 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for dental assistants in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 1,450 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana employs about 1,450 dental assistants earning a median $46,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Dental Assistant here means completing a short dental assisting program or on-the-job training where allowed, then DANB CDA and any state RDA or radiography permit the board requires, then applying through Board of Dentistry.

Compare Dental Assistant Schools in Montana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Carrington College-Boise	76.4	Contact school for pricing	$57,082	59%	Yes*	343 mi
2	Spokane Community College	68.4	Contact school for pricing	$52,567	35%	Yes*	304 mi
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3	College of Southern Idaho	68.2	Contact school for pricing	$46,129	34%	Yes*	344 mi
4	College of Eastern Idaho	66.6	Contact school for pricing	$55,123	37%	Yes*	243 mi
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5	Northern Wyoming Community College District	60.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,958	Not reported	Yes*	243 mi
6	Salish Kootenai College	53.5	$4,311 - $13,047	$52,164	32%	—	154 mi
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7	Carrington College-Spokane	51.2	Contact school for pricing	$39,064	44%	Yes*	299 mi
8	College of Western Idaho	50.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,903	29%	Yes*	352 mi
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9	North Idaho College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$50,312	37%	Yes*	277 mi
10	Great Falls College Montana State University	45.7	$4,028 - $16,664	$48,830	33%	Yes*	42 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Montana employs approximately 1,450 dental assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,680 ¹. Nationally, dental assistant employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 52,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Dental Assistant in Montana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: dental assisting program or on-the-job training where the state allows it (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short dental assisting program or on-the-job training where allowed, then DANB CDA and any state RDA or radiography permit the board requires
Licensing authority: Board of Dentistry
Exam: DANB CDA and/or state RDA or radiography permit
Median wage (Montana): $46,680 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Dental Assistant in Montana

How to become a Dental Assistant in Montana? Complete a short dental assisting program or on-the-job training where allowed, then DANB CDA and any state RDA or radiography permit the board requires. Apply through Board of Dentistry.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short dental assisting program or on-the-job training where allowed, then DANB CDA and any state RDA or radiography permit the board requires. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Board of Dentistry.

Do I need a license in Montana? Yes. Montana credentials this role through Board of Dentistry ³. See the licensing section below.

What do dental assistants earn in Montana? The median annual wage for dental assistants in Montana is $46,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,340 and experienced professionals can earn $57,900 or more ¹.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in Montana

Meet basic requirements. Most Montana dental assisting programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm age and background rules with Board of Dentistry.
Complete a dental assisting program or on-the-job training if the state allows it. Finish a certificate (often under a year) or associate program in Montana. Prefer a CODA-accredited program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CDA and any state assistant credential. DANB CDA is the national exam. Some states also require RDA, a radiography permit, or expanded-functions (EFDA). Confirm current permits with Board of Dentistry.
Apply to the state dental board when registration is required. Some states register assistants; others only permit X-ray or expanded duties; some allow OJT with no statewide license. Do not treat a hygienist or dentist license as the assistant path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Dental Assistant License Requirements in Montana

Dental assistants in Montana typically complete a short program or on-the-job training where allowed, then earn DANB CDA and any RDA or radiography permit Board of Dentistry requires. See Board of Dentistry ³.

Typical path

Meet the program’s entry rules.
Complete a dental assisting program or OJT if the state allows it.
Earn DANB CDA and any state RDA or radiography permit.
Apply to Board of Dentistry when registration or licensure is required.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Board of Dentistry before you enroll.

Dental Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Dental Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), dental assistants wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	330	$47,550	$48,310	$38,290	$61,090
Missoula	210	$46,550	$47,500	$38,910	$56,200
Bozeman	190	$49,160	$50,500	$44,490	$56,840
Helena	130	$46,870	$46,910	$38,860	$56,420
Great Falls	120	$46,360	$45,700	$38,100	$55,700

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for dental assistants in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 1,450 dental assistants ¹. Nationally, dental assistant employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a dental assistant in Montana with an out-of-state license? Contact the Board of Dentistry for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Montana.

How much do dental assistants earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for dental assistants in Montana is $46,680, which is $620 below the national median of $47,300 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Board of Dentistry - Licensing Information: http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/den ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)