Guides · Careers · 5 min read
How to Become a Dental Assistant in Indiana
By Elizabeth Carr, DHA · 5 min read
Indiana requires a Dental Radiographer license to take X-rays, and it is issued by the Indiana Department of Health, not by the dental board. The Indiana State Board of Dentistry issues no license, certificate or permit to dental assistants. Common duties for assistants include chairside assisting and taking radiographs (with the Dental Radiographer license). Verify radiography requirements with the Indiana Department of Health and duty requirements with the Indiana State Board of Dentistry before enrolling in any course.
Indiana requires a Dental Radiographer license to take X-rays, issued by the Indiana Department of Health rather than the dental board. Expanded duties such as coronal polishing require documented training but no permit. This guide comes from DentalReady's fifty-state requirements research: what you can do from day one in Indiana, the certifications that expand your duties, and the realistic path in. Rules change, so the Indiana State Board of Dentistry link at the bottom is always the final word.
What you can do from day one
Indiana practices hire entry-level assistants and grow their duties with training. The table below lists duties the state allows dental assistants to perform, with training or certification requirements noted where they apply.
| Allowed duty |
|---|
| Chairside assisting |
| Taking radiographs (with license) |
| Coronal polishing (after required training) |
| Applying sealants (expanded function) |
| Taking impressions |
| Placing temporary restorations (expanded) |
Certifications and X-rays in Indiana
Dental Radiographer license required, issued by the Indiana Department of Health. There is no expanded functions permit. Duties such as coronal polishing and applying caries-prevention medicaments require documented course hours and a certificate of completion displayed in the dental office.
CPR certification required.
The fastest realistic path
Step 1: Build real preparation first: instruments, procedure flow, infection control, and patient communication, so a hiring dentist sees you as useful in week one.
Step 2: Apply to entry-level and willing-to-train postings across Indiana, and ask each practice which certifications they sponsor.
Step 3: Complete the certifications above as your duties grow, starting with radiography, and confirm every requirement with the Indiana State Board of Dentistry.
Common questions
Do dental assistants need a license in Indiana?
Not from the dental board, which issues no license, certificate or permit to dental assistants. You do need a Dental Radiographer license to take X-rays, and that comes from the Indiana Department of Health, Division of Radiology and Weights and Measures.
Can dental assistants take X-rays in Indiana?
You need a Dental Radiographer license from the Indiana Department of Health. Graduate from a CODA-accredited or state-approved radiography program, complete clinical training under a student or provisional permit, pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety or Certified Dental Assistant examination, then apply by mail. Indiana accepts no radiography license from another state.
Where do I verify Indiana's rules?
The Indiana State Board of Dentistry publishes the current duty lists and certification requirements for dental assistants. Check it before enrolling in any course.
Walk into your first interview already knowing the room.
Start your preparationSources
Written by Elizabeth Carr, DHA, Program Director, DentalReady; former Dental Hygiene Department Chair, UMMC School of Dentistry
Keep reading
Dental Assistant Salary in Indiana: What It Pays and What Raises ItHow to Become a Dental Assistant Without Going to SchoolDental Assistant Certification vs. Training: What Is the Difference?