Do dental assistants need a license in New York?

Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for dental assistants, administered by the NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in New York (2026)

Q: How long does dental assistant training take in New York?

Most people become a Dental Assistant in New York 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 New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), dental assistants in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,110. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.82 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

New York currently employs approximately 19,800 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 York employs about 19,800 dental assistants earning a median $48,110 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 NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry.

Compare Dental Assistant Schools in New York

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	Westchester School for Medical & Dental Assistants	73.3	Contact school for pricing	$36,310	100%	—	26 mi
2	County College of Morris	72.1	$6,210 - $15,033	$52,838	35%	Yes*	38 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Bergen Community College	63.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,761	Not reported	Yes*	25 mi
4	CUNY Hostos Community College	56.5	Contact school for pricing	$45,126	17%	Yes*	36 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	New York School for Medical and Dental Assistants	50.5	Contact school for pricing	$38,878	64%	—	41 mi
6	Orange County Community College	48.4	Contact school for pricing	$53,257	24%	—	16 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Fortis Institute-Wayne	43.6	Contact school for pricing	$39,605	Not reported	—	30 mi
8	Mandl School-The College of Allied Health	35.1	$21,700 - $43,113	$48,793	40%	—	39 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	American Institute-Clifton	31.8	Contact school for pricing	$36,918	56%	—	30 mi

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.

New York employs approximately 19,800 dental assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,110 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 York, 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: NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry
Exam: DANB CDA and/or state RDA or radiography permit
Median wage (New York): $48,110 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Dental Assistant in New York

How to become a Dental Assistant in New York? 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 NYS Education Department - State Board for 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 NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry.

Do I need a license in New York? Yes. New York credentials this role through NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry ³. See the licensing section below.

What do dental assistants earn in New York? The median annual wage for dental assistants in New York is $48,110 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,410 and experienced professionals can earn $60,490 or more ¹.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in New York

Meet basic requirements. Most New York dental assisting programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm age and background rules with NYS Education Department - State Board for 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 New York. 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 NYS Education Department - State Board for 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 New York

Dental assistants in New York typically complete a short program or on-the-job training where allowed, then earn DANB CDA and any RDA or radiography permit NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry requires. See NYS Education Department - State Board for 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 NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry when registration or licensure is required.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry before you enroll.

Dental Assistant Wages by Metro Area in New York

Dental Assistants Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	20,870	$48,430	$51,560	$36,410	$62,780
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	1,230	$47,610	$48,380	$40,690	$56,410
Rochester	1,020	$48,780	$49,200	$39,170	$59,870
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	970	$48,220	$48,180	$37,990	$58,260
Syracuse	690	$47,370	$47,940	$37,060	$58,060
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	620	$49,120	$49,760	$37,960	$58,910
Binghamton	270	$44,840	$43,380	$37,500	$54,230
Utica-Rome	250	$46,560	$46,010	$38,480	$54,610
Kingston	130	$47,940	$48,340	$37,930	$57,210
Glens Falls	110	$47,070	$46,150	$37,340	$56,760
Watertown-Fort Drum	110	$43,010	$43,150	$36,920	$49,440
Ithaca	100	$48,170	$49,110	$38,570	$58,130
Elmira	40	$49,450	$48,010	$38,890	$57,960

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 New York? New York currently employs approximately 19,800 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 York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do dental assistants earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for dental assistants in New York is $48,110, which is $810 above the national median of $47,300 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

Best Trade Schools in New York (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in New York

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Education Department - State Board for Dentistry - Licensing Information: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)