What is the DANB exam?
There isn’t just one. DANB, founded in 1948 and recognized by the American Dental Association as the national certification board for dental assistants, gives national exams that lead to certifications. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) takes RHS, ICE and GC. National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) takes ICE, RHS and Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP), and Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) takes ICE and Orthodontic Assisting (OA). Some single exams, such as RHS and ICE, earn a certificate on their own. DANB also runs state-specific exams for Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington.
How is a DANB exam scored?
You get a scaled score from 100 to 900, and you need 400 to pass the RHS, ICE or GC exam. It isn’t a number or percent correct. Because these exams are adaptive, your score depends on the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly, and DANB says the average candidate answers around 50% of them correctly. You’re measured against a standard set by DANB’s Board, not against other candidates.
Can I retake a DANB exam if I fail?
Yes. There’s no limit on retakes, but each one means a new application and the full exam fee. DANB doesn’t publish a waiting period between attempts. State laws may require more education after failed attempts, so check with your state dental board. Once you’ve passed an exam, DANB lets you take it again only in specific circumstances.
Do I need DANB certification to work as a dental assistant?
That depends on your state. Each state’s dental board sets the rules for what dental assistants may do, and DANB says passing its exams or earning its certification gives you authority to perform those duties only in states that recognize them. DANB’s state requirements pages list each state’s job titles, exam and education pathways and allowed duties.
Can I take DANB exams in Spanish?
Some of them. DANB offers the RHS, ICE, RHS/ICE and Coronal Polishing exams in Modern Spanish, with the same outline, question bank and pass point as the English versions, and you can also see each question in English. The online application, results, certificate and Pearson VUE emails stay in English, and so does all talk with the Pearson VUE greeter and proctor.
How do I contact the Dental Assisting National Board?
Call 1-800-367-3262, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time, email danbmail@danb.org or use the contact form on danb.org. DANB says it answers within three business days. To cancel or reschedule an appointment, contact Pearson VUE at 1-800-525-2586 or online. DANB’s address is 444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611.
Is DANB changing who can take the CDA exam?
Yes. On September 23, 2026, DANB announced a new CDA pathway for graduates of approved dental assisting programs that aren’t accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) but are in schools accredited by an agency the US Department of Education approves. DANB says the pathway will be officially available in early 2027, alongside the current routes.
United States · Certification exam