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Your FREE DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Practice Test 2026 – 320+ Q&A

Prepare with realistic, DANB CDA exam-style questions — take the full test or focused General Chairside, Infection Control, and Radiation Health & Safety drills, each with answer explanations.

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Click Start Test above to launch a full-length DANB CDA practice test, or drill a single component — General Chairside, Infection Control, or Radiation Health and Safety. Every question includes a clear explanation so you learn the reasoning, not just the answer.

The CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) is awarded by DANB — the Dental Assisting National Board. You earn it by passing three component exams that can be taken separately or together.[1]

Because the CDA is three independently scored components, the best preparation is realistic, component-by-component practice. That is exactly what these free DANB CDA practice tests are built for.[5]

DANB CDA at a Glance

The CDA is earned by passing the GC, ICE, and RHS component exams. Here are the key facts your practice should mirror:

DANB CDA at a glance
DetailDANB CDA
Certifying BodyDANB (Dental Assisting National Board)
ComponentsGeneral Chairside (GC), Infection Control (ICE), Radiation Health & Safety (RHS)
Questions245 total — GC 95, ICE 75, RHS 75 (all scored)
Time Limit195 minutes total — GC 75 min, ICE 60 min, RHS 60 min
FormatComputer-adaptive (CAT), fixed length, at Pearson VUE
Score Scale100–900 per component
Passing Score400+ scaled score on each component
SequenceComponents can be taken separately
RecertificationAnnually with continuing education (CE)

What Is on the DANB CDA Exam?

The DANB CDA exam has three components delivering 245 questions in total: General Chairside Assisting (GC, 95 questions / 75 minutes), Infection Control (ICE, 75 questions / 60 minutes), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS, 75 questions / 60 minutes).[1]

Each component is scored separately on the same 100–900 scale, and you must pass all three to earn the credential.[5] The full practice test below pulls across all three components.

DANB CDA components
ComponentQuestionsTimeWhat it covers
General Chairside (GC)9575 minEvaluation, patient management, chairside dentistry, dental materials
Infection Control (ICE)7560 minDisease transmission, cross-contamination, instrument processing, OSHA safety
Radiation Health & Safety (RHS)7560 minPurpose and technique, radiation characteristics and protection, infection control

Each component has its own published content domains and weights. The full DANB CDA practice test mirrors these official blueprints so your prep matches the real exam.[2]

General Chairside Assisting (GC) domains — 95 questions
Chairside Dentistry50% · ~48 questions
Evaluation17% · ~16 questions
Patient Management and Administration17% · ~16 questions
Dental Materials16% · ~15 questions
Infection Control (ICE) domains — 75 questions
Prevention of Cross-contamination34% · ~26 questions
Process Instruments and Devices26% · ~20 questions
Prevention of Disease Transmission20% · ~15 questions
Occupational Safety and Administration Protocols20% · ~15 questions
Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) domains — 75 questions
Purpose and Technique50% · ~38 questions
Radiation Characteristics and Protection25% · ~19 questions
Infection Prevention and Control25% · ~19 questions

Practice the DANB CDA by Component

Take the full test from the Start Test button above, or target one component at a time with the drills below. Each drill pulls from a deep bank of realistic, explained questions.

DANB CDA General Chairside Assisting Practice Test

The General Chairside Assisting (GC) component covers four domains: Evaluation (17%), Patient Management and Administration (17%), Chairside Dentistry (50%), and Dental Materials (16%).[2] It is the largest component, with 95 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes.

Use the General Chairside drill to practice instrument identification, vitals, procedure steps, and chairside support under exam conditions. Read every explanation to lock in the clinical reasoning.

DANB CDA Infection Control Practice Test

The Infection Control (ICE) component covers four domains: Prevention of Disease Transmission (20%), Prevention of Cross-contamination (34%), Process Instruments and Devices (26%), and Occupational Safety and Administration Protocols (20%).[3] It has 75 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes.

Use the Infection Control drill to master standard precautions, sterilization monitoring, and PPE protocols. These recurring topics decide your ICE score.

DANB CDA Radiation Health and Safety Practice Test

The Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) component covers three domains: Purpose and Technique (50%), Radiation Characteristics and Protection (25%), and Infection Prevention and Control (25%).[4] It has 75 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, and tests digital radiography.

Use the Radiation Health and Safety drill to build accuracy on exposure factors, error correction, and dose-reduction safety. Practicing these patterns makes the real RHS component feel routine.

How Is the DANB CDA Scored?

The DANB CDA is scored as three separate components, each on a 100–900 scale, with a scaled score of 400 or higher required to pass each one.[5] DANB uses computer-adaptive testing, so your score reflects the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly, not a raw percent; there is no penalty for guessing.

Because the components are independent, you can pass one and retake another. You earn the CDA only once all three components are passed.

What Score Do You Need on the DANB CDA?

The passing standard is set by DANB: a scaled score of 400+ on each of the three components.[5] The scale runs from 100 to 900, so 400 sits below the midpoint.

Aim well above 400 so you pass with a buffer and avoid a retake. Drilling your weakest component moves your overall result the most.

245
Total questions
GC 95 / ICE 75 / RHS 75
400+
Passing score
each component
3
Components to pass
GC, ICE, RHS

The takeaway: treat each component as its own exam. Practice GC, ICE, and RHS until you are consistently clearing 400 with room to spare, then earn the CDA.

What to Expect on Test Day

DANB CDA components are computer-delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. Bring valid photo identification and arrive early; personal items are stored away from your station.

You can schedule all three components in one appointment or on separate days. Each component is multiple-choice and timed independently, so plan your pacing per component.

Simulating each component with the practice tests below makes the real format feel routine.

How to Use This DANB CDA Practice Test

The CDA rewards broad review plus targeted component work. Get the most from these practice tests with these tips:

  • Diagnose, then drill. Take a full test first to find your weakest component, then drill it until it clears 400.
  • Treat each component separately. GC, ICE, and RHS are scored independently, so study each on its own terms.
  • Read every explanation. Understanding why an answer is right transfers to new questions on test day.
  • Aim above the 400 cut. Build a buffer so you pass with room to spare and avoid a retake.
  • Master infection control cold. Standard precautions and sterilization recur across the exam and on the job.

Conclusion

Passing the DANB CDA comes down to realistic, component-by-component practice. Take the full test to find your weak spots, drill General Chairside, Infection Control, and Radiation Health and Safety until each clears 400, and build a comfortable buffer.

These free DANB CDA practice tests are how you get there.

DANB CDA Practice Test FAQ

You earn the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential by passing three component exams: General Chairside Assisting (GC), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS). You can take the components separately or in one appointment. Once all three are passed, DANB awards the CDA.

References

  1. 1.DANB. “General Chairside Assisting (GC) Exam — 95 questions, 75 minutes.” danb.org, 2026. ↑
  2. 2.DANB. “General Chairside (GC) Exam Outline and References (eff. 07/01/2022).” danb.org. ↑
  3. 3.DANB. “Infection Control (ICE) Exam Outline and References (eff. 03/12/2025) — 75 questions, 60 minutes.” danb.org. ↑
  4. 4.DANB. “Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam Outline and References (eff. 03/12/2025) — 75 questions, 60 minutes.” danb.org. ↑
  5. 5.DANB. “4 Important Details to Know About DANB Exams (scoring 100–900, 400 to pass, computer-adaptive).” danb.org. ↑
  6. 6.DANB. “Infection Control (ICE) Exam.” danb.org. ↑
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