How Much Does the DANB CDA Exam Cost? 2026 Fees by Exam

The full Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam costs $450 as of October 2026 for traditional candidates, or $425 for active military personnel, according to DANB’s 2026 CDA Application Packet (updated May 13, 2026). That single fee covers all three component exams, General Chairside Assisting (GC), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), taken in the same administration, and it already includes DANB’s $75 nonrefundable application fee. Taking the exams one at a time costs more: GC, ICE, and RHS are each $270 ($265 for military), and any two together are $375 ($365 for military). Three separate single applications would total $810. Test center and online proctored pricing are identical. If you fail a component, you retake it by reapplying and paying that exam’s full fee again; the Candidate Handbook lists no discounted retake rate. After you certify, CDA renewal is $75 per year as of the 2026 recertification requirements, with a $20 late fee inside the three month grace period.

CDA Exam Fees at a Glance

This table reproduces the payment section of DANB’s 2026 CDA Application Packet. DANB states that every exam fee below includes the $75 nonrefundable application fee, so the $75 is not an extra charge on top. DANB accepts 2026 applications through December 31, 2026, so check the current packet for any 2027 pricing before you apply in the new year. For the exam blueprint, see our guide to what is on the DANB CDA exam, and for pass rate data, see how hard the DANB CDA exam is.

What the Fee Covers: Three Component Exams

The CDA is not one test. DANB certifies you once you pass all three component exams within a five year period, and the exams may be taken together or separately. As of October 2026, DANB lists these formats on its exam pages: GC has 95 questions in 75 minutes, ICE has 75 questions in 60 minutes, and RHS has 75 questions in 60 minutes. Taken together, that is 245 questions and 195 minutes. DANB reports results as a scaled score from 100 to 900, and a score of at least 400 is required to pass. Each fee buys one scheduled exam appointment at a Pearson VUE test center or through online proctoring, with a 60 day window to schedule and take the exam once DANB approves your application.

Is the Full CDA Bundle Cheaper Than Separate Exams?

Yes, on price alone. The full CDA application at $450 costs $360 less than three single applications at $810 in total, and $195 less than the cheapest two exam combination plus the remaining single exam ($375 plus $270, or $645). There is one catch on timing: the RHS and ICE exams have no eligibility requirements, but the GC exam requires one of three eligibility pathways, which is covered in the next section. If you are not yet eligible for GC, you can still apply for RHS/ICE at $375 and add GC later at $270, for a $645 total. Either way, the bundle is a pricing choice, not a pass strategy, because a failed component still has to be retaken at that exam’s own fee.

Eligibility Requirements That Affect What You Pay

As of October 2026, the GC exam, and therefore the full CDA application, requires current hands-on CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB accepted provider plus one of three pathways. Pathway I is graduation from a CODA accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program, or a current RDH license. Pathway II is high school graduation or equivalent plus at least 3,500 hours of work experience, accrued over at least two years and verified by a licensed dentist on DANB’s Work Experience Statement. Pathway III covers former CDA certificants, dental school graduates or enrolled students, and graduates of certain other dental degree or post-baccalaureate programs that DANB accepts. Your CPR, BLS, or ACLS course is paid to the course provider, not to DANB, so budget for it separately, and it must stay current through the entire 60 day testing window.

Retake Costs After a Fail

DANB’s Candidate Handbook (updated June 22, 2026) states that there is no limit on how many times a candidate may retake a failed exam, and that candidates must reapply and pay the full exam fee to do so. In practice, retaking one failed component costs that component’s single exam fee: $270 for GC, ICE, or RHS, or $265 for active military. DANB did announce on its news page on January 14, 2025 a one time 33 percent discount for candidates who reapply for the RHS exam after not passing on the first try, with eligible candidates contacted directly by DANB. The current Candidate Handbook does not list that discount, so treat it as something to confirm with DANB rather than something to budget around. Wait rules, score timing, and the reapplication steps are covered in our guide to what happens if you fail the DANB CDA exam.

Other Fees and Refund Rules

These are the incidentals DANB documents as of October 2026. DANB states that the $75 application fee is not refundable under any circumstances, and that a further $40 is retained if an application is canceled after the exam has been authorized. Online and in person candidates can reschedule through Pearson VUE: a test center appointment up to 24 hours before the appointment time, and an online proctored appointment up until the time of the exam. A missed exam, for any reason other than a documented emergency, can be rescheduled once at a reduced fee if the Missed Exam Form and payment are submitted within 60 days; after that you must reapply at the full fee. DANB does not publish the reduced amount in the Handbook or packet, so confirm it on the form. A documented emergency can earn a new 60 day window at no additional fee, at DANB’s discretion. A returned or reversed payment adds a $25 fee, and hand scoring, duplicate certificates, and notarized certificates carry their own fees listed on DANB’s forms.

Renewal Costs After You Certify

DANB certification is valid for one year, so the cost of holding a CDA recurs. As of DANB’s 2026 Recertification Requirements (updated May 15, 2026), a certificant with one DANB certification pays a $75 annual fee and must earn 12 continuing dental education (CDE) credits, including 2 credits in infection control and 1 in bloodborne pathogens, while keeping a current DANB accepted CPR, BLS, or ACLS credential. Holding two certifications raises the fee to $90 and the requirement to 18 credits. A $20 late fee applies after your expiration date, and DANB allows a three month grace period. If you do not finish renewal inside that grace period, you are no longer DANB certified, and an additional reinstatement fee, proof of CDE and CPR, and in some cases retesting of some or all components may be required. DANB does not list the reinstatement fee in the recertification document, and renewal fees are nonrefundable. The $75 covers DANB’s fee only; the cost of the CDE courses themselves is not part of it.

The cheapest exam is the one you pass once. Start practicing now with GC, ICE, and RHS questions organized the way DANB’s outlines are, or try a free DANB CDA practice test first to see which component needs the most work before you pay for an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the DANB CDA exam cost?

As of October 2026, the full CDA exam application is $450 for traditional candidates and $425 for active military personnel. It covers the GC, ICE, and RHS exams taken in the same administration and includes DANB’s $75 nonrefundable application fee.

How much does it cost to take one CDA component exam?

Each single component exam (GC, ICE, or RHS) is $270 as of October 2026, or $265 for active military personnel. Any two components together are $375 ($365 military).

How much does a DANB CDA retake cost?

DANB requires candidates to reapply and pay the full exam fee to retake a failed exam, with no limit on attempts. Retaking one failed component therefore costs that component’s fee, $270 for a traditional candidate as of October 2026.

How much does it cost to keep a CDA certification?

As of DANB’s 2026 recertification requirements, the annual renewal fee is $75 for one certification, plus 12 CDE credits and current CPR, BLS, or ACLS. A $20 late fee applies inside the three month grace period.

Sources

• DANB, Forms and Policies (hosts the 2026 CDA Application Packet, Candidate Handbook, and Recertification Requirements cited above)
• DANB, Certified Dental Assistant exam page
• DANB, General Chairside Assisting (GC) exam page
• DANB, Infection Control (ICE) exam page
• DANB, Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam page
• DANB News, RHS study guide plans and retake discount (January 14, 2025)
• DANB Blog, 4 important details to know about DANB exams
• danb.org

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For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.