Booking and feesDANB
DANB CDA cost in 2026 and the booking sequence
Facts read in DANB's 2026 CDA application packet and 7 other documents listed under Sources
As of the 2026 application packet, the price is $450 for the full CDA exam, including a $75 nonrefundable application fee. Payment and the application both go through your DANB account; Pearson VUE schedules the seat only after the authorization email arrives.
CDA fees, application and booking
| Item | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $450 for the full CDA exam, including a $75 nonrefundable application fee Active military personnel pay $425. | DANB: 2026 CDA application packet [1] |
| Two exams together | $375 for any two exams: ICE/GC, RHS/GC or RHS/ICE ($365 for active military) Each fee includes a $75 nonrefundable application fee. | DANB: 2026 CDA application packet [1] |
| One exam on its own | $270 for GC, RHS or ICE on its own ($265 for active military) Each fee includes a $75 nonrefundable application fee. | DANB: 2026 CDA application packet [1] |
| Retake fee | The full fee of the exam you retake: $270 for a single exam | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [1][2] |
| How to book | Apply and pay through your DANB account with your eligibility documents; after the authorization email, schedule with Pearson VUE | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [1][2] |
| Who can sit | GC (and so the full CDA) requires one of three education or work pathways plus current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS; RHS and ICE have no requirements Pathway I: graduate of a CODA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program, or hold an RDH license; students may apply within 90 days of graduation with an Intent to Graduate form. Pathway II: high school diploma or equivalent and at least 3,500 hours of dental assisting work, accrued over two to four years and verified by a licensed dentist. Pathway III: former DANB CDA; graduate or student of a CODA-accredited DDS or DMD program; graduate of a dental degree program outside the US or Canada; or graduate or student of an accepted post-baccalaureate program. Every application also asks three background questions. | DANB: 2026 CDA application packet [1][3] |
| Test provider | Pearson VUE | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [2] |
| Where you test | Pearson VUE test centers for the full CDA exam; GC, RHS and ICE taken separately can also be taken online (OnVUE) DANB's CDA page lists only the test center option; confirm when you apply (read Nov 6, 2026). | DANB: Certified Dental Assistant exam page [3][4][5][6] |
| Window to test | 60 days from the authorization email; a new 60-day window can be requested once If the window runs out, one new 60-day window can be requested within 60 days after it ends; after that you reapply with full fees. A missed appointment can be rebooked once at a reduced fee. Canceling a window is a separate refund request, minus the $75 and, once authorized, $40 charges. | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [2] |
| Changes and cancellations | Change a test center appointment up to 24 hours ahead and an online one up to its start time A canceled exam is refunded minus the $75 processing fee, and minus $40 more once the exam is authorized. | Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 [2] |
| Renewal fee | $75 a year for one certification; $20 more after the expiration date | 2026 Recertification Requirements [7] |
Each row read on Nov 6, 2026.
Which fee fits your situation
The CDA is priced three ways, and the 2026 schedule makes the single appointment the cheapest path to all three exams. Check the current packet before paying.
- Nothing passed yet and your GC pathway is complete: the full sitting.
- RHS already passed for a state x-ray rule: the ICE and GC pair.
- GC pathway not complete: RHS and ICE as a pair now, GC alone later. That costs more in total, but you start sooner.
- A part failed: that exam alone, at the single-exam price.
Active military candidates pay less for every option (see the table). Part of each fee is a nonrefundable application charge, and canceling after authorization adds a cancellation fee (see the table), so choose the bundle before you pay.
Application, authorization, appointment
- Gather the proof your GC pathway asks for: a program diploma or an Intent to Graduate form, a work-hours statement verified by a licensed dentist, or proof of dental training. Add a current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS card. RHS and ICE alone need none of this.
- In your DANB account, choose the exams, answer the background questions, upload the documents and pay.
- Wait for the authorization email. The testing window opens with it.
- Schedule the appointment through Pearson VUE; the next section covers center versus online.
- Check your account for results after the exam.
Test center or online
As of November 2026, DANB's CDA page lists only Pearson VUE test centers for the combined appointment. The GC, RHS and ICE exam pages list an online option through OnVUE for each exam booked on its own. Confirm the setting in the authorization email before you plan a home sitting.
The testing window and changing a date
The testing window opens with the authorization email and lasts 60 days. If it runs out before you test, one new window can be requested; after that you reapply at the full fee.
Moving a booked appointment is not a cancellation. Test center and online sittings have different cutoffs for a change of date (see the table). Canceling an exam is a separate request, and that is when the processing and cancellation fees apply.
Around CDA registration
- 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 exam factsCDA exam length by part, adaptive scoring, the scaled pass mark, results and retakes
- 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: Candidate Handbook, updated June 22, 2026 (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [3]DANB: Certified Dental Assistant 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: 2026 Recertification Requirements, updated May 15, 2026 (PDF) danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [8]DANB blog: 4 important details to know about DANB exams (Jan. 10, 2024) danb.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
Paying for and booking the CDA
Is the Pearson VUE seat paid for separately?
No. Everything is charged when you apply; Pearson VUE only handles the scheduling.
What do I get back if I cancel a CDA exam?
The fee minus a processing charge, and minus a cancellation charge as well once the exam is authorized. The table above lists both.
Is the full three-part appointment available online?
As of November 2026 only test centers are listed for it. The parts booked separately can be taken online.
What happens if the testing window runs out?
One request for a new window is allowed. After that you reapply and pay again.