Florida Dental Assistant Requirements

Requirements for Dental Assistants in Florida

Florida Board of Dentistry FAQs on Dental Assistants in Florida

You can find the FAQS on Florida not accepting any other states Dental Assistant Certifications nor accepting DANB Certification on the Florida Board of Dentistry Website.

Florida Board of Dentistry » Dental Assistant/Expanded Duties FAQs- Licensing, Renewals & Information (floridasdentistry.gov)

Please Note: Florida REQUIRES dental assistants to have their Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) and Dental Radiology Certification from a Florida Board of Dentistry Approved School, (which Academy for Dental Assistants is, Approved Providers of the Florida Board of Dentistry) .

Florida does not accept or require DANB Certification (CDA’s) from the Dental Assistant National Board unless you had your DANB – CDA prior to 2009, you will be grandfathered in.

Note: The Board of Dentistry does not issue licenses to Dental Assistants; however, for a list of Board Approved Expanded Functions/Dental Radiography Programs please visit the Helpful Links section of the Florida Board of Dentistry Resources Page

Dental Assistants in the state of Florida must have formal training to perform the Expanded Functions listed in the Dental Practice Act and have their EFDA and Dental Radiology Certification from a Florida Board of Dentistry Approved Provider, which Academy for Dental Assistants is an Approved Provider for the Fl Board of Dentistry.

To earn status to perform Expanded Functions, one must:

(1) Complete a course or program administered by or developed as part of the regular curriculum at a dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting educational program accredited by CODA that provided training in the expanded functions
OR
(2) Successfully complete a Florida Board-approved expanded duties training program (Academy for Dental Assistants)

Note: The DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification was removed as a pathway to the Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) in Florida effective May 2009. Dental Assistants who were employed in Florida and had earned their CDA from DANB prior to the effective date of this rule change are “grandfathered in” and qualify as EFDAs in Florida. Contact the Florida Board of Dentistry for specific information about this rule change.

The Florida Board of Dentistry does not issue licenses to Dental Assistants; however, for a list of Board Approved Expanded Duty/Dental Radiography Programs please visit the FL BOD Helpful Links section of their Resources Page.

Florida Dental Radiographer Requirements

For the purpose of positioning and exposing radiographs by dental assistants, formal training may consist of having received certification as a dental radiographer pursuant to Rule Chapter 64B5-9.011, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). The requirements for certification include:

Completion of at least 3 months of continuous on-the-job training through assisting in the positioning and exposing of dental radiographic film under the direct supervision of a Florida licensed dentist

AND

Proof of successful completion of a Board-approved course which meets the requirements of subsection 64B5-9.011(5), F.A.C. within 12 months of completion of the on-the-job training

Expanded Functions Dental Assistant – Florida Statutes

Section 466.024: Delegation of duties; expanded functions

Florida Administrative Code

Rule 64B5-9: Prescriptions for Dental Hygiene Services and Certification of Dental Radiographers

Rule 64B5-16: Remediable Tasks Delegable to Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants

Florida Department of Health Board of Dentistry

Florida Board of Dentistry » Dental Assistant/Expanded Duties FAQs- Licensing, Renewals & Information (floridasdentistry.gov)

Rule 64B5-16.005(2)(i) states that dental assistants who received formal training may position and expose dental radiographic film and sensors under the indirect supervision of a Florida licensed dentist after completing the following.

Step 1

Completion of at least 3 months of continuous on-the-job training through assisting in the positioning and exposing of dental radiographic film under the direct supervision of a Florida licensed dentist

Step 2

Formal training which is required for the performance of certain remediable tasks consists of a dental hygienist or dental assistant’s successful completion of an Expanded Duty Course that includes Dental Radiology Certification as part of the Expanded Functions Course or a Dental Radiology Certification Course or program which meets one of the following requirements:

The course or program has been approved by the Board for the purpose of providing expanded-duties training for dental hygienists and dental assistants, Academy for Dental Assistants Courses are Approved by the Fl Board of Dentistry: or

The course or program is administered or was developed as part of a curriculum at a school of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental assisting accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), its successor agency or any other nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Step 3

Applicants who wish to obtain the dental radiographer certification must submit a completed application, pay the application fee, and send a COPY of the Dental Radiology Certificate and provide proof working under a Florida licensed dentist for a minimum of 3 months.

Applications are sent directly to the FL Department of Health AFTER working for a FLORIDA LICENSED DENTIST FOR 3 MONTHS.

Dental Radiography Certification Application

If additional information is needed by the Florida Board of Dentistry, the applicant will be notified in writing or email by the Board of Dentistry.

If the application is complete the certification will be issued and the applicant will be notified in writing. The certification card should be received within 10-14 days from the date it is issued.

The Florida Board of Dentistry does not issue licenses to Dental Assistants. In Florida Dental Assistants are only required to have 2 Certifications; EFDA and Dental Radiology.

A list of Florida Board of Dentistry Approved Expanded Functions/Dental Radiography Programs can be found on the Florida Board of Dentistry Website Resources Page.

Please Note: Academy for Dental Assistants is NOT involved with any portion of the Board of Dentistry Dental Radiology Certification Application. Please contact the Board of Dentistry with any questions pertaining to your Dental Assistant Radiology Certification Application status at tel:850-488-0595 or 850-558-9606 or check the status at https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/HealthCareProviders

POTENTIAL NEW LAW FOR DENTAL RADIOGRAPHERS Effective July 1, 2025 (not passed into law yet under 64B5-9.011)