Career Pathways in Dentistry
Your Path in
Dental Care
From chairside assistant to specialist — explore what it takes to build a career in dentistry.
★ Texas RDA & RDH Requirements
🇺🇸 National Dentist & Specialist Data
Registered Dental Assistant
RDA TEXAS
Texas: Basic assistants may work on-the-job, but an RDA registration (TSBDE) is required to take or expose dental X-rays — the essential career upgrade in Texas.
Texas RDA Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Hands-on BLS/CPR — online-only NOT accepted
- Path A: TSBDE-approved RDA course + state exam
- Path B: DANB CDA certification + TX Jurisprudence
- Human Trafficking Prevention course (HHSC)
- Fingerprints via IdentoGO — background check
- License renewable every 2 years
Add-Ons & Growth
- RDA X-Ray Certificate — required to take radiographs
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certificate
- Expanded Functions (EFDA) certification
- Lead or Senior Assistant roles
- Dental Office Manager / Coordinator
- Pathway into dental hygiene programs
Continuing Ed
- 12 CE hrs biennially — 6 must be clinical
- Human Trafficking CE each renewal cycle
Income Brackets — Texas
Entry (0–2 yrs)
$30–$36k
Mid (3–6 yrs)
$38–$47k
Senior / RDA+
$48–$58k
Registered Dental Hygienist
RDH TEXAS
Texas: All hygienists licensed through the TSBDE. Requires both national written boards and a regional clinical exam. License renews biennially with 24 CE hours.
Education & Licensure
- 2–3 yr AS in Dental Hygiene from CODA-accredited program
- Bachelor's (BSDH) improves earning potential
- Pass NBDHE national written boards
- Pass regional clinical exam (ADEX, CDCA, CRDTS, or SRTA)
- Texas Jurisprudence Assessment
- Hands-on BLS/CPR certification
- Human Trafficking Prevention course (HHSC)
- Fingerprints via IdentoGO
Continuing Ed & Growth
- 24 CE hrs biennially — 16 clinical, up to 8 self-study
- Jurisprudence Assessment every 4 years
- Human Trafficking CE each renewal
- Periodontal therapy specialist in-practice
- Public health / school-based oral health programs
- Dental hygiene educator at accredited program
- Corporate trainer or product consultant
- Pathway into dental school
Income Brackets — Texas
Entry (0–2 yrs)
$60–$72k
Mid (3–7 yrs)
$76–$92k
Senior / Spec.
$95–$120k
General Dentist
DDS / DMD NATIONAL
Education Path
- 4-yr bachelor's — pre-dental sciences
- Pass the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
- 4-yr dental school — DDS or DMD degree (CODA-accredited)
- Pass INBDE written boards
- Pass regional clinical board exam for state licensure
- Optional: GPR or AEGD residency (1–2 yrs)
- Total: 8–10 years post-high school
CE & Career Growth
- Typically 15–30 CE hrs biennially by state
- DEA registration if prescribing controlled substances
- Associate → equity partner → practice owner
- Multi-location / DSO leadership
- Dental school faculty or program director
- Dental director — insurance, hospital, or public health
- Entry into 2–4 yr specialty residency at any stage
Income Brackets — National
New Associate
$130–$155k
Established
$165–$210k
Owner / Senior
$220–$300k+
Dental Specialist
Post-Doctoral Residency NATIONAL
Education Path
- Complete full dental school — DDS/DMD first
- Apply to ADA-recognized specialty residency
- 2–4 yr residency for most specialties
- 4–6 yrs for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
- Board certification through specialty national board
- Total: 10–16 years post-high school
ADA-Recognized Specialties
- Orthodontics — braces, aligners (2–3 yrs)
- OMFS — surgery, implants (4–6 yrs)
- Endodontics — root canals (2 yrs)
- Periodontics — gum & implants (3 yrs)
- Prosthodontics — crowns, dentures (3 yrs)
- Pediatric Dentistry (2 yrs)
Specialty Salaries
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon: $280k–$400k+
- Orthodontist: $220k–$330k
- Endodontist: $195k–$270k
- Periodontist: $185k–$250k
- Prosthodontist: $175k–$240k
- Pediatric Dentist: $165k–$230k
Career Growth
- Solo or group specialty practice ownership
- Hospital-based dental practice (especially OMFS)
- Academic faculty at dental school
- Consulting for implant & device companies
Income Brackets — National
Residency
$50–$80k
New Specialist
$180–$230k
Established
$250–$400k+