Pathway lookup
Medical and Dental Assisting in Arizona
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Arizona students can earn CCMA or RMA, which a high school completer must pass before working as a medical assistant, and DANB RHS before dental radiography.
State program: Medical Assisting Services 51.0801.00; Dental Assisting 51.0600.00 (state code; NCES 51.0601)
What a high school can deliver
CCMA or RMA, which an Arizona high school completer must pass before working as an MA, plus DANB RHS and the Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate.
Credentials students can earn
CCMA, RMA, CPT, CET, AMT RPT, BLS, Bloodborne Pathogens, HIPAA (51.0801); DANB RHS, Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate, BLS (51.0600); NCMA, NELDA and CDA not listed (list updates yearly: Changing)
Age and hour requirements
No age stated. A high school MA completer must pass an NCCA- or ANSI-accredited exam before MA work (R4-16-401); radiography and coronal polishing each require a Board-approved exam (A.R.S. 32-1291).
Other agencies involved
Arizona Medical Board sets medical assistant training rules (A.R.S. 32-1456; R4-16-401, -402); State Board of Dental Examiners sets radiography and coronal polishing exams (A.R.S. 32-1291).
Who can teach it
Health Careers certificate SCTHC or SSCTEHC (Option C: 6,000 hours, no degree); Cooperative Education Endorsement for DCE and co-op; whether a radiography instructor needs the Arizona certificate: Confirm with the agency.
Child labor rules for work placements
No permit; no state hour limits at 16-17; A.R.S. 23-235 exempts career education students from the state list, federal rules still apply. Clinical sites may ask for a DPS fingerprint card (under-18 issuance: Confirm with the agency).
College credit after high school
No statewide agreement; the 2026-27 list counts certificates from Eastern Arizona, Mohave, Arizona Western and Yavapai (MA) and Eastern Arizona and Mohave (DA) as CTED eligible; IGAs by CTED.
Where to go next
- The full Medical and Dental Assisting guide, showing Arizona
- The Arizona state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Medical and Dental Assisting in other states
Other pathways in Arizona
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
Changes to this page
No changes since this page was published.
See something out of date? Tell us.