Dental Assistant Classes

Yes. North Carolina requires all dental assistants to complete state-approved certification courses for nitrous oxide monitoring and coronal polishing — even if you hold credentials from another state. All dental assistants must also hold a valid CPR certification for healthcare providers. Assistants who are DANB certified or graduated from an accredited program may take x-rays without any additional training. Assistants with experience taking radiographs on live patients and proof of a radiography certification from another state are eligible for the single day NC Challenge Exam. Anyone who does not meet the challenge exam prerequisites — meaning they lack out-of-state certification or don’t have documented hands-on radiography experience. This includes:

• Newly trained assistants with no prior radiography certification
• Out-of-state assistants whose prior state did not require radiography certification
• Assistants who have taken X-rays informally but cannot prove certification

The full course requires 7 hours of didactic/lecture instruction and 14 hours of laboratory/clinical instruction, totaling 21 hours. Students must pass a written exam with at least 80% before advancing to clinical work, and then pass a final laboratory examination on a manikin completing a full-mouth series. DSI specializes in helping out-of-state dental professionals meet NC requirements quickly.