"How long does it take to become a dental assistant in New Hampshire?"

"The primary New Hampshire license requires approximately 3,200 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 1.6 years of full-time work."

"Do dental assistants need a license in New Hampshire?"

"Yes. New Hampshire requires state-level licensing or registration for dental assistants, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for dental assistants in New Hampshire?"

"In New Hampshire, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Hampshire Department of Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Dental Assistant in New Hampshire

Q: "How much do dental assistants earn in New Hampshire?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), dental assistants in New Hampshire earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,530."

Q: "What is the job outlook for dental assistants in New Hampshire?"

"New Hampshire currently employs approximately 1,600 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

New Hampshire employs approximately 1,600 dental assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,530 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 New Hampshire, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Dental Assistant in New Hampshire

How do I become a dental assistant in New Hampshire? New Hampshire requires credentials such as Dental Hygienist, Dental Auxiliary, Expanded Function (EFDA). The licensing authority is the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 3,200 hours of experience (roughly 1.6 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in New Hampshire? Yes. New Hampshire has licensing or registration requirements for dental assistants. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do dental assistants earn in New Hampshire? The median annual wage for dental assistants in New Hampshire is $59,530 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,820 and experienced professionals can earn $64,360 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
Median wage (New Hampshire): $59,530 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Dental Assistant License Requirements in New Hampshire

The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification oversees dental assistant licensing in New Hampshire ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Dental Hygienist	Dental Hygienists provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimal oral health.
Dental Auxiliary, Expanded Function (EFDA)	An Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Current employment in field required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Dental Assistant Wages by Metro Area in New Hampshire

Dental Assistants Wages by Metro Area in New Hampshire

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), dental assistants wages in New Hampshire vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	7,190	$58,160	$57,520	$47,780	$72,780
Manchester-Nashua	600	$59,700	$56,520	$47,720	$61,400

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 2025.

Top Metros for Dental assistants in New Hampshire

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest dental assistant employment within New Hampshire according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Manchester-Nashua	600	$59,700

Explore More Trades in New Hampshire

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for dental assistants in New Hampshire? New Hampshire currently employs approximately 1,600 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 New Hampshire with an out-of-state license? Contact the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in New Hampshire? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Hampshire.

How much do dental assistants earn in New Hampshire compared to the national average? The median annual wage for dental assistants in New Hampshire is $59,530, which is $12,230 above the national median of $47,300 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Office of Professional Licensure and Certification - Licensing Information: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examiners ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)