DANB CDA Complete Exam Guide
Eligibility, registration, format, and current policies
The DANB CDA exam is administered by Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Use this guide as an orientation, then confirm every time-sensitive requirement in the official candidate materials linked below.
Key Facts
| Credential | Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) |
|---|---|
| Components | General Chairside Assisting (GC), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) |
| Combined Format | 245 questions in 195 minutes when the three components are taken together |
| Component Format | GC: 95 questions/75 minutes; ICE: 75 questions/60 minutes; RHS: 75 questions/60 minutes |
| Eligibility | GC/CDA require an accepted education, experience, or alternate pathway and current hands-on CPR/BLS/ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider |
| Separate Components | DANB states no eligibility requirements for taking RHS and ICE separately; passing these alone does not establish CDA certification |
| Completion | Pass all three component exams within DANB’s five-year period |
| Testing Window | Current CDA page lists a 60-day testing window; follow the actual authorization dates |
| Fee | Current combined CDA page lists $450; confirm the application, component combination, and current fee schedule |
| Scope | CDA is a certification, not automatic permission to perform every dental duty; state requirements remain applicable |
Eligibility and Application
The current CDA page lists three GC/CDA pathways involving accepted education, verified work experience, or specified alternate qualifications, together with hands-on CPR/BLS/ACLS. RHS and ICE may be taken separately without the same eligibility requirements. Use the current packet to determine your pathway; passing two components is not the same as earning CDA certification.
Registration, Testing, and Cost
Use the official registration portal for the current application process, fees, testing windows, scheduling rules, accommodations, and identification requirements. These details can change, so the official source controls.
Scoring, Retakes, and Renewal
Consult the current candidate handbook for score reporting, passing standards, retake waiting periods, renewal cycles, and continuing-education requirements. Do not rely on an older third-party summary for a current policy decision.
An Application Checklist
- Identify the GC/CDA pathway that matches your education or verified work experience
- Check hands-on CPR/BLS/ACLS and the DANB-accepted provider requirements
- Decide whether the application is for all CDA components together or a specific component
- Complete the official application and schedule within the authorization dates
- Retain component pass dates and verify the five-year completion rule
Interpret Scores Using the Sponsor’s Rules
DANB’s component outlines describe adaptive testing and scoring based on question difficulty. A session feeling harder or easier is not a reliable pass/fail prediction. Follow the official result instructions rather than estimating a raw passing percentage.
Renewal and Ongoing Requirements
Certification maintenance includes continuing education and applicable current CPR requirements. Confirm the annual requirements and fees using DANB’s maintenance guidance; certification and state duty authorization remain separate.
Official Sources
- DANB: CDA examination, current eligibility, fees, and format
- DANB: 2026 CDA application packet
- DANB: current candidate handbook
- DANB: General Chairside Assisting outline
- DANB: Infection Control outline
- DANB: Radiation Health and Safety outline
- DANB: National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA)
- DANB: state dental assisting requirements