What education or experience is required to become an RDA in Iowa?

• A. 6 months experience within 2 years OR graduation from a CODA approved program
• B. 2 years experience in any health field
• C. Bachelor’s degree in dentistry
• D. On-the-job training only

Answer: (A)

In Iowa, you can become an RDA by meeting one of two paths: you either complete a dental assisting program that is accredited by CODA, or you show six months of dental assisting experience within the last two years. This setup ensures you have either formal, standardized training or recent hands-on experience in typical RDA duties, such as chairside assisting, infection control, and radiography under supervision. A bachelor’s degree in dentistry isn’t required, and simply having two years in any health field doesn’t provide the dental-specific qualification Iowa expects. On-the-job training alone isn’t considered sufficient because the state requires verifiable dental-specific education or recent dental experience to demonstrate competence. After meeting these education/experience requirements, you would move on to the registration process, which may include exams and other steps beyond this scope.