Free Dental Assistant Practice Test
Questions for all three DANB CDA exams, Radiation Health and Safety, Infection Control and General Chairside Assisting, each answer explained.
A triangular radiopacity superimposed over or below the maxillary tuberosity on a maxillary molar periapical image is usually the:
555 original questions · 3 timed mocks at the real length · 14 free ten-question drills
The three DANB CDA exams
DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification needs a pass on three exams within five years, taken together or one at a time. Each exam below has its own practice test, a study page for every outline domain, free ten-question drills and a full timed mock at the real question count and time.
DANB CDA exam at a glance
- Exams
- Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE) and General Chairside Assisting (GC)
- Together
- 245 questions in 195 minutes when all three are taken in one sitting
- Separately
- RHS 75 questions in 60 minutes; ICE 75 in 60; GC 95 in 75
- Time limit to finish
- Pass all three within a five-year period, together or separately
- Fees
- $450 for all three together; $270 for one exam; $375 for any two (each includes DANB’s $75 nonrefundable application fee)
- Eligibility
- None for RHS and ICE; the GC exam needs one of DANB’s three pathways plus current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS
- Passing score
- Scaled score of 400 on a 100–900 scale on each exam
- Renewal
- Every year: continuing dental education credits, background questions, current CPR, BLS or ACLS, and a renewal fee
In 2025, 69% of 14,272 RHS exams, 75% of 6,395 ICE exams and 75% of 3,687 GC exams were passes. RHS is taken most often because many states recognize or require it for radiography duties.
Common questions
What is on the DANB CDA exam?
The CDA exam is three exams: Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE) and General Chairside Assisting (GC). Taken together they are 245 questions in 195 minutes. You can also take them separately, as long as you pass all three within five years.
How much does the CDA exam cost?
$450 for all three exams together, including DANB’s $75 nonrefundable application fee. A single component exam is $270 and any two together are $375.
What score do you need to pass the CDA?
A scaled score of 400 on a 100–900 scale on each of the three exams. DANB exams are computer adaptive, so the score is based on the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly, not on a percent correct.
Which CDA exam should I study for first?
Many candidates start with RHS or ICE, which have no eligibility requirements and are often required by states on their own. The GC exam needs one of DANB’s eligibility pathways and current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS.
Is the NELDA the same as the CDA?
No. NELDA (National Entry Level Dental Assistant) is a separate DANB certification made of the RHS, ICE and Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP) exams. The RHS and ICE practice here serves both; we do not cover AMP.
Are these the official DANB practice tests?
No. Every question here is original, written for practice from DANB’s public exam outlines. DANB’s official practice tests are sold by the DALE Foundation.
Start with a free drill
Ten radiation health and safety questions, with an explanation after each answer. Each RHS, ICE and GC drill has one free attempt.
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Exam format, fees, eligibility and pass rates are from DANB, checked November 2026: DANB: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam · DANB CDA 2026 Application Packet (updated 05/13/26) · DANB 2026 Candidate Handbook (updated 6/22/2026) · DANB RHS Exam Outline and References (effective 03/12/2025) · DANB ICE Exam Outline and References (effective 03/12/2025) · DANB GC Exam Outline and References (effective 07/01/2022) · DANB 2025 exam pass rates.
Original independent practice, written from DANB’s public exam outlines. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). DANB, RHS, ICE, CDA and Certified Dental Assistant are marks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.