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Medical and Dental Assisting in Michigan
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Michigan runs medical and dental assisting inside Health Sciences 51.0000; students earn national certifications, and dental X-ray work needs a radiography course equivalent to a Board-approved one.
State program: Inside 51.0000 Health Sciences (no standalone MA or DA CIP)
What a high school can deliver
A national medical assisting certification such as CCMA; dental assisting content and DANB exams where DANB accepts the program; X-ray work only after an equivalent radiography course.
Credentials students can earn
CCMA and other national MA certifications (CTEIS list for 51.0000: Confirm with the agency); DANB NELDA (if DANB accepts the program) and RHS; RDA license requires a CODA-standard program
Age and hour requirements
No state age or hour gate found. An unlicensed dental assistant may expose X-rays only after a radiography course substantially equivalent to one in a Board-approved program (R 338.11411).
Other agencies involved
LARA Board of Dentistry: duties of unlicensed dental assistants (R 338.11411) and RDA licensure (R 338.11307). None for medical assisting.
Who can teach it
Standard CTE certification for 51.0000 or Annual Career Authorization (4,000 hours in 10 years); no occupational license for MA content; who may teach a qualifying dental radiography course: Confirm with the agency.
Child labor rules for work placements
Paid work: LEO Youth Employment Permit Portal permit since Oct 2, 2026; 24 hours a school week at 16-17. A written school-employer agreement (MCL 409.118) exempts paid placements from the state act; credit-bearing WBL needs a training agreement and plan (R 340.15).
College credit after high school
Mott 51.0000 agreement: AHLT 102 and HEAL 125 (1 credit each, 3.0 grade, within 3 years), no MA or DA courses, expires Nov 1, 2026 (); no statewide DA agreement.
Where to go next
- The full Medical and Dental Assisting guide, showing Michigan
- The Michigan state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Medical and Dental Assisting in other states
Other pathways in Michigan
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