Format and scoringDANB
The DANB CDA exam: length, adaptive scoring and retakes
Facts read in DANB's 2026 CDA application packet and 10 other documents listed under Sources
Taken in one appointment, the DANB CDA exam is 245 questions (GC 95, RHS 75, ICE 75), with 195 min of testing time. Each part gets its own score and its own pass decision, and a failed part is retaken without the other two.
GC, RHS and ICE: length, scores and retakes
| Item | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exams in the credential | Three exams: General Chairside Assisting (GC), Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) and Infection Control (ICE) They can be taken together as the CDA exam, in pairs or one at a time. | DANB: 2026 CDA application packet [1][2][3] |
| Question format | Multiple choice: 245 questions when GC, RHS and ICE are taken in one sitting | DANB: Certified Dental Assistant exam page [2][4][5][6] |
| Questions | 245 questions (GC 95, RHS 75, ICE 75) | DANB: Certified Dental Assistant exam page [2][4][5][6] |
| Exam time | 195 minutes for all three exams (GC 75, RHS 60, ICE 60) | DANB: Certified Dental Assistant exam page [2][4][5][6] |
| Answer options | Three or four answer options per question | Clearing up 5 common misconceptions about DANB exams [7] |
| How it is scored | Computer adaptive testing: the score depends on the difficulty of the questions answered correctly Every candidate gets the same share of questions from each domain. DANB says the average candidate answers about half of the questions correctly. | DANB: GC Exam Outline, effective July 1, 2022 [4] |
| Score report | Scaled scores from 100 to 900 | 4 important details to know about DANB exams [8] |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 400 The score is scaled, not a percent correct. | 4 important details to know about DANB exams [8] |
| Languages | English; RHS and ICE are also offered in Spanish | DANB: Infection Control exam page [9][10] |
| Results | In your DANB account within 1 to 3 business days; passing results and certificates are mailed in 2 to 4 weeks Hand scoring can be requested within 7 calendar days of the posted result. | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [11] |
| Wait before a retake | No waiting period is stated: reapply and pay the full fee Confirm when you reapply (read Nov 6, 2026). | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [11] |
| Retake limit | No limit on retakes Some states require more education after failed attempts. | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [11] |
| Retake fee | The full fee of the exam you retake: $270 for a single exam | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [1][11] |
| Content outline in force | GC outline effective July 1, 2022; ICE and RHS outlines effective March 12, 2025 | DANB: GC Exam Outline, effective July 1, 2022 [4][5][6] |
| Next change | None announced Check DANB's exam page before you study (read Nov 6, 2026). | DANB: GC Exam Outline, effective July 1, 2022 [4] |
Each row read on Nov 6, 2026. Fees, the testing window and where to sit: CDA registration.
The length, part by part
The total is the three exams added together.
- GC: 95 questions in 75 minutes
- RHS: 75 questions in 60 minutes
- ICE: 75 questions in 60 minutes
Every question is multiple choice, with three or four answer options per question. GC is the longest part and the only one with entry requirements, so candidates still completing a pathway can sit it last. RHS and ICE can also be taken in Spanish; GC is offered in English.
Adaptive scoring and the scaled 400
The exams use computer adaptive testing: the questions you get depend on how you answer, and the score depends on the difficulty of the ones you answer correctly. The result is reported on a 100–900 scale, and 400 passes.
The pass mark applies to each exam separately. A high GC score does not carry a low ICE score, and a score report tells you which part you passed. Expect to finish unsure about many answers: an adaptive exam keeps choosing questions close to the limit of your knowledge, so a stretch of hard items is no sign of failing.
Score reports and hand scoring
Watch your DANB account rather than the mailbox: the result appears there first, and only a pass is followed by a certificate in the mail. If a result looks wrong, the table above gives the deadline for requesting hand scoring.
Retaking a single part
Only the failed exam is retaken; passes already earned stay on record. As of November 2026 the handbook sets no attempt limit and states no waiting period, and a retake requires a fresh application and the single-exam fee in the table.
The retake still has to fall inside the window for all three parts (5 years, how it works). Some states add education requirements after repeated failures, so check with your board if you have failed more than once.
GC outline effective July 1, 2022; ICE and RHS outlines effective March 12, 2025. As of November 6, 2026, no newer edition had been announced. ICE or RHS prep published before the current outlines took effect should be checked against them.
Before your CDA appointment
- DANB CDAHow the three DANB exams add up to the CDA, who may sit GC, and yearly renewal
- DANB CDA practice testFree practice questions for DANB's GC and ICE exams, every option explained
- DANB CDA registrationWhat the CDA exams cost in 2026, how to apply to DANB and book Pearson VUE
- DANB CDA study guideThe GC and ICE sections of the CDA with weights, typical questions and pitfalls
Sources
- [1]DANB: 2026 CDA application packet (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [2]DANB: Certified Dental Assistant exam page danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [3]DANB: General Chairside Assisting exam page danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [4]DANB: GC Exam Outline, effective July 1, 2022 (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [5]DANB: ICE Exam Outline, effective March 12, 2025 (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [6]DANB: RHS Exam Outline, effective March 12, 2025 (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [7]DANB blog: Clearing up 5 common misconceptions about DANB exams (June 12, 2025) danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [8]DANB blog: 4 important details to know about DANB exams (Jan. 10, 2024) danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [9]DANB: Infection Control exam page danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [10]DANB: Radiation Health and Safety exam page danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [11]DANB: Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
CDA exam format questions
Is the full CDA one long exam or three separate ones?
Three separate exams that can be booked as one appointment. Each has its own length, its own score and its own pass.
What score passes each CDA part?
A scaled 400 on the 100–900 scale. It is not a percent correct.
If I fail GC, do I lose my RHS and ICE passes?
No. You retake GC alone, as long as you pass it within the window that started with your first pass.
How long is the wait for a score?
Results post in your account within 1–3 business days; the printed certificate comes by mail later.