Requirements
Is DANB Certification Required in Colorado?
DANB certification isn't required to work as a dental assistant in Colorado, but the RHS exam is one way to qualify for x-rays. How RHS, ICE, NELDA and CDA fit together.
You don't need any DANB credential to work as a dental assistant in Colorado. One DANB exam still matters here, though, because it's one of the ways to meet the only rule Colorado enforces closely for assistants: the x-ray requirement.
DANB in a nutshell
The Dental Assisting National Board is a nonprofit that writes and administers exams for dental assistants. Plenty of states build those exams into their regulations. Colorado mostly doesn't. It lists DANB as one of several acceptable ways to show you're qualified to take radiographs, and that's about it.
DANB has a lot of acronyms. These are the ones you'll run into:
| Exam | What it tests |
|---|---|
| RHS (Radiation Health and Safety) | X-ray safety, technique, image quality |
| ICE (Infection Control) | Sterilization, disinfection, OSHA and CDC practices |
| AMP (Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology) | Oral anatomy and terminology |
| NELDA | RHS, ICE and AMP together; an entry-level credential |
| CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) | RHS, ICE and General Chairside; DANB's main certification, with eligibility rules |
Fees and eligibility pathways change, so check danb.org for current numbers instead of trusting a blog post, including this one.
Where RHS comes in
Before you take x-rays on a patient in Colorado, you need to qualify through an accepted route. According to DANB's Colorado page, you can pass RHS (or the full CDA), complete a radiography module approved by the Colorado Dental Board, or complete the radiography course in an accredited program.
Many Colorado schools include the Board-approved module in tuition, which takes care of it. If yours doesn't, or you were trained on the job, sitting for RHS is the usual workaround. Our requirements page covers the rest of the state rules.
So is it worth getting certified anyway?
It depends on your plans. A few situations where it clearly pays off:
If there's any chance you'll move, get certified. Many other states tie assistant duties to DANB exams, and families stationed at Fort Carson or Peterson move often. Showing up with a CDA saves a lot of scrambling.
If you learned on the job, a national exam proves what you know without a diploma to point to.
If you're aiming for orthodontics, oral surgery or an expanded-duty role, credentialed assistants tend to get the first look. There's more on that in the highest-paying dental assistant jobs.
And when you ask for a raise, "I passed the ICE exam" lands better than "I'm careful about sterilization." It gives you something concrete in a pay conversation.
Studying for it
Most people take the exams after they've finished a program or spent some months chairside, when the material is familiar. Download DANB's content outline for your exam and study from it directly. Infection control and radiography show up across several exams, so time spent there pays off twice. Take timed practice tests until you're passing them consistently, then book the real one.
If you're still choosing a school, ask whether its radiography training meets Colorado's rule. It's the quickest way to avoid needing RHS just to do your job. You can compare schools on our Colorado programs page.
Checked against the Colorado Dental Board and DANB websites on September 17, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
FAQ
Do I need DANB certification to work as a dental assistant in Colorado?
No. Colorado doesn't require DANB certification to work as a dental assistant. It's optional, though many employers value it.
Does passing the DANB RHS exam let me take x-rays in Colorado?
Passing DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, or the full CDA exam, is one of the routes Colorado accepts for radiography qualification. Other routes include a Colorado Dental Board–approved radiography module. Confirm current rules with the Colorado Dental Board.
What is the difference between NELDA and CDA?
NELDA (National Entry Level Dental Assistant) is made up of three exams: RHS, ICE and Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP). CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) is DANB's full certification, made up of RHS, ICE and General Chairside Assisting (GC), and it has eligibility requirements.
Is DANB certification worth it if Colorado doesn't require it?
Often, yes. It can help you qualify for x-rays, stand out to employers, negotiate pay, and move to a state that does require DANB exams.