What is the Texas State Licensing Process?

State Testing: Registered Dental Assistant Course administered through the University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio (UTHSCSA). 

• This will be a minimum 3-hour online course
• Once the online course is complete, students will take a 3-part exam covering Jurisprudence, Infection Control, & Radiology.
• A student may pause in between each section but MUST complete a section once they start it in order to receive full credit.
• Students must print out the certificate of completion generated at the end. They will need this certificate to apply for their state license.

State Licensing/Certification: Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) X-Ray Certification

1. What: X-Ray Certification - Upon completing the online course, students will need to apply for their RDA License through the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE).
2. When: Upon completion of the program and within one (1) year of employment.
3. What does the processing look like & when do they get/hear back:

• • Within 1 year of employment, the students must apply for their RDA License.
  • To apply the students must gather the following items along with the application:
    • Beginning October 1, 2021 applicants applying for licensure or registration with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) must complete a course in human trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and submit proof of completion with their application. This will be in addition to all required documentation that needs to be submitted to the TSBDE. For information on where to find approved courses please visit this site.
      • We recommend taking the UNBOUNDNOW "Dental: Identifying & Responding to Victims of Human Trafficking in a Clinical Setting" course, you must first enroll in the course online. This course is FREE and all you need to do is enroll through this link. You will be asked to create an account and then you will be logged in to start and complete the course. 
    • National Practitioner Data Bank’s Self Query - This can take up to 10 business days to be mailed to the student in a sealed envelope. If the envelope is opened, the results are considered invalid and they must apply for another one. The cost is $4 and is only valid for 60 days.
    • A copy of their BLS CPR certification
    • A copy of a valid Driver's License, passport, or naturalization papers
    • A copy of their RDA Course Certificate of Completion
    • A 2x2 sized headshot
    • Proof of Graduation from an accredited high school or proof of GED.
    • The application does have a fee and must be paid by check or money order made out to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. You can find the associated cost at the top of the 
  • The license application will be mailed to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners- 1801 Congress Ave. Suite 8.600, Austin, TX 78701
  • Once the application is processed with the state, TSBDE will email the students directions to get their fingerprints taken and submitted back to the state (price varies by location).
  • The application will take 6-8 weeks to be processed and for the license to be mailed to the student.

Any other info: Students must renew their license every two years on the last day of the month they were born in. After their first year of licensure, students must complete 6 hours of Continuing Education. We do not provide Continuing Education.

If a student fails their RDA test, they will have to pay an additional $95 fee to the UTHSCSA. 

Source: DANB