Do dental assistants need a license in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for dental assistants, administered by the ND State Board of Dental Examiners. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota (2026)

Q: How long does dental assistant training take in North Dakota?

Most people become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), dental assistants in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,770. Employment concentration in North Dakota is roughly 0.80 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 North Dakota?

North Dakota currently employs approximately 860 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

North Dakota employs about 860 dental assistants earning a median $57,770 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 ND State Board of Dental Examiners.

Key Facts

Median wage (North Dakota): $57,770/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in North Dakota: 860 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.80x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 6.4% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
Licensing/credentialing body: ND State Board of Dental Examiners (Source: State licensing agency, 2025)

Compare Dental Assistant Schools in North Dakota

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	Lake Area Technical College	74.7	Contact school for pricing	$49,488	69%	Yes*	216 mi
2	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	Contact school for pricing	$60,587	52%	Yes*	171 mi
3	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650 - $20,272	$53,289	56%	Yes*	302 mi
4	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908 - $17,194	$54,581	47%	Yes*	192 mi
5	Minnesota North College	63.9	$6,022 - $16,346	$54,100	42%	Yes*	323 mi
6	St Cloud Technical and Community College	63.7	Contact school for pricing	$58,691	44%	Yes*	297 mi
7	Central Lakes College-Brainerd	60.4	$6,249 - $19,543	$50,357	51%	Yes*	275 mi
8	Western Dakota Technical College	60.4	$8,294 - $18,845	$49,930	54%	Yes*	280 mi
9	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940 - $16,032	$59,906	43%	Yes*	346 mi
10	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491 - $17,408	$52,390	49%	Yes*	271 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.

North Dakota employs approximately 860 dental assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,770 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 North Dakota, 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: ND State Board of Dental Examiners
Exam: DANB CDA and/or state RDA or radiography permit
Median wage (North Dakota): $57,770 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota

How to become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota? 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 ND State Board of Dental Examiners.

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 ND State Board of Dental Examiners.

Do I need a license in North Dakota? Yes. North Dakota credentials this role through ND State Board of Dental Examiners ³. See the licensing section below.

What do dental assistants earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for dental assistants in North Dakota is $57,770 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,680 and experienced professionals can earn $72,710 or more ¹.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in North Dakota

Meet basic requirements. Most North Dakota dental assisting programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm age and background rules with ND State Board of Dental Examiners.
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 North Dakota. 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 ND State Board of Dental Examiners.
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 North Dakota

Dental assistants in North Dakota typically complete a short program or on-the-job training where allowed, then earn DANB CDA and any RDA or radiography permit ND State Board of Dental Examiners requires. See ND State Board of Dental Examiners 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 ND State Board of Dental Examiners when registration or licensure is required.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with ND State Board of Dental Examiners before you enroll.

Dental Assistant Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

Dental Assistants Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	330	$56,940	$55,220	$45,300	$70,450
Bismarck	210	$58,960	$58,950	$46,130	$74,680
Grand Forks	110	$57,770	$56,190	$45,300	$70,170
Minot	70	$57,770	$57,000	$45,010	$73,730

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 North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 860 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 North Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the ND State Board of Dental Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do dental assistants earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for dental assistants in North Dakota is $57,770, which is $10,470 above the national median of $47,300 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Dakota

Best Trade Schools in North Dakota (2026)

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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
ND State Board of Dental Examiners - Licensing Information: http://www.nddentalboard.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)