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Medical and Dental Assisting in Pennsylvania
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
Pennsylvania CTC students can earn national medical assisting credentials and DANB exams; dental radiography requires the Board-adopted DANB RHS exam first.
State program: CIP 51.0801 and 51.0899 medical assisting (SOAR POS 21 and 6 per inventory: Confirm with the agency); 51.0601 dental assisting
What a high school can deliver
National medical assisting certifications and DANB NELDA and RHS; RHS comes before any radiography, with the dentist on the premises.
Credentials students can earn
NHA medical assisting credentials (PDE list not checked: Confirm with the agency); DANB NELDA and RHS (Board-adopted radiography exam)
Age and hour requirements
No age gate found. Auxiliaries perform radiologic procedures only after DANB RHS, with the dentist on the premises (49 Pa. Code 33.302); EFDA needs a 200-hour Board-approved program, post-high school.
Other agencies involved
State Board of Dentistry: radiography exam for auxiliaries (DANB RHS since Dec 12, 2009) and EFDA certification. None for medical assisting.
Who can teach it
Career and Technical Instructional I (8,000 hours, or 4,000 plus a bachelor's; competency assessment; 18 credits) or Experience-Based certificate; no license required for DA or MA instructors per inventory ().
Child labor rules for work placements
Work permit for every minor; 8 hours a day and 28 a school week at 16-17; co-op needs a training agreement and training plan.
College credit after high school
SOAR for 51.0801 and 51.0899 per inventory (Confirm with PDE): 2.75 technical GPA, task list, Competent/Advanced score, 16-month window; dental assisting by local agreement only.
Where to go next
- The full Medical and Dental Assisting guide, showing Pennsylvania
- The Pennsylvania state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Medical and Dental Assisting in other states
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