Pathway lookup
Medical and Dental Assisting in Virginia
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
Virginia offers Medical Assistant I and II and Dental Careers I and II; dental students cannot expose radiographs before earning the Board's radiation safety credential.
State program: Medical Assistant I/II 8345/8346; Dental Careers I/II 8328/8329 (I: coming soon); CIP not published by VDOE
What a high school can deliver
CCMA and other national MA certifications, and DANB NELDA or AMT RDA; exposing radiographs needs the 18VAC60-21-170 credential first.
Credentials students can earn
CCMA, CPT, RMA, CET, CMAA, NCMOA, Workplace Readiness Skills (MA course pages); DANB NELDA and AMT Registered Dental Assistant (Dental Careers); DANB RHS course and exam route for radiographs
Age and hour requirements
No age gate found. Exposing dental radiographs requires a radiation safety course and exam, ARRT certification, or the DANB RHS course plus exam (18VAC60-21-170); Dental Assistant II registration is post-high school.
Other agencies involved
Virginia Board of Dentistry: who may place or expose dental radiographs (18VAC60-21-170; no student exemption in the rule or Va. Code 54.1-2701). None for medical assisting.
Who can teach it
Health and Medical Sciences endorsement (bachelor's plus a current professional license or certification) or Technical Professional License (that credential, 2 years in the last 5, health certificate or associate degree, 9 semester hours); whether CCMA, RMA or CDA qualifies is open.
Child labor rules for work placements
No permit and no state hour limits at 16-17 (Va. Code 40.1-84, 40.1-80.1).
College credit after high school
No statewide MA or DA agreement checked (Confirm locally); CCRV Passport and UCGS are general education only.
Where to go next
- The full Medical and Dental Assisting guide, showing Virginia
- The Virginia state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Medical and Dental Assisting in other states
Other pathways in Virginia
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