Florida Dental Assistant Requirements

Requirements for Dental Assistants in Florida

Florida Board of Dentistry FAQs on Dental Assistants

For official information and updates, please visit the Florida Board of Dentistry’s website:
Florida Board of Dentistry » Dental Assistant/Expanded Duties FAQs – Licensing, Renewals & Information

Florida Certification Requirements

The Florida Board of Dentistry does not accept dental assistant certifications issued by other states, nor does it recognize DANB (Dental Assisting National Board) certifications for Expanded Functions or Dental Radiology in Florida.

To legally perform Expanded Functions (EFDA) and Dental Radiology procedures in the State of Florida, dental assistants are required to complete training and earn certifications from a Florida Board of Dentistry–approved school.

Academy for Dental Assistants is an Approved Provider through the Florida Board of Dentistry for both the Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) and Dental Radiology Certification courses.

DANB Certification Notice

Florida does not require or accept DANB CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) credentials for state certification purposes.
However, dental assistants who earned their DANB–CDA prior to 2009 are grandfathered in and may continue to work under that credential.

Licensing Clarification

The Florida Board of Dentistry does not issue licenses to dental assistants. Instead, dental assistants must hold valid EFDA and Dental Radiology Certifications from a Board-approved training program.

For a current list of Board-Approved Expanded Functions and Dental Radiography Programs, visit the Helpful Links section of the Florida Board of Dentistry’s 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 Florida 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 provides 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)

Radiography Rule: 64B5-16.005(2)(i), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.)

According to Rule 64B5-16.005(2)(i), dental assistants who have received formal training are permitted to position and expose dental radiographic film and sensors under the indirect supervision of a Florida-licensed dentist after meeting the required qualifications.

For this purpose, formal training may consist of obtaining Dental Radiographer Certification as outlined in Rule 64B5-9.011, F.A.C.

Step 1: Complete On-the-Job Training

The first requirement for certification is:

✅ Completion of at least three (3) months of continuous on-the-job training, during which the dental assistant assists in the positioning and exposing of dental radiographic film under the direct supervision of a Florida-licensed dentist.

Step 2: Complete Required Formal Training

Formal training is required for dental assistants and dental hygienists to perform certain remediable tasks, such as taking dental radiographs. This training must include successful completion of either:

An Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) Course that includes Dental Radiology Certification, or
A standalone Dental Radiology Certification Course or program that meets one of the following criteria:

Acceptable Courses Must Meet One of the Following Standards:

Board-Approved Programs
The course or program has been approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry for the purpose of providing expanded duties training.
✅ All courses offered by the Academy for Dental Assistants are approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry.

Accredited Educational Institutions
The course or program is administered by—or was developed as part of—a curriculum at a school of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting that is accredited by:
- The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association,
- Its successor agency, or
- Any other nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Step 3: Submitting Your Dental Radiography Certification Application

To obtain your Dental Radiographer Certification Number, you must complete all steps outlined in the application before submitting it to the Florida Board of Dentistry.

Important:
Applications must be submitted AFTER you have worked for a Florida-licensed dentist for at least 3 months. Once this requirement is met and all required steps have been completed on the application, you will send your completed application and required documents directly to the Florida Department of Health.

Application Process:

Carefully follow all instructions on the Dental Radiography Certification Application.
Incomplete applications may result in delays or rejection.
If additional information is required, the Florida Board of Dentistry will contact you via email or in writing.
Once your application is approved, your certification number will be issued. You will be notified in writing.
Your certification card will typically arrive within 2–4 weeks of issuance.

Please note:
The Florida Board of Dentistry does not issue licenses to Dental Assistants. In Florida, Dental Assistants are only required to hold the following two certifications:

Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) Certification
Dental Radiography Certification

A list of approved Expanded Functions and Dental Radiography programs is available on the Florida Board of Dentistry Website Resources Page.

Important Disclaimer:
The Academy for Dental Assistants is not responsible for any applications returned by the Florida Board of Dentistry due to: