Objectives of a Pennsylvania study were (1) to investigate the ways in which the vocational technical schools of the state have met the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources for classroom structural design and dental x-ray machines in dental assistant training programs and (2) to collect data on the methods by which these recommendations have been met in order to provide information for the planning of new dental assistant programs. A questionnaire was prepared to gather data on the programs and on the structural materials, protective devices and techniques, and the design of the classrooms currently in use to safeguard students against possible unnecessary exposure to radiation in the dental assistant classroom. Of the nineteen dental assistant and sixty health assistant programs in the state, about half in each category responded. Results showed that the majority of programs offering dental assisting have been in existence five years or more and have one- to two-year course offerings. The majority of respondents did not know the structural materials of the room in which dental x-ray machines were located. Most programs satisfied safety requirements for the machine itself and protective lead shielding for the operator; however, the classroom design in most cases would necessitate a protective shielding of other areas of instruction and such was not provided. Some programs did not have dental x-ray machines and some had non-operable ones for mock demonstration only. Recommendations were made regarding provision of safe equipment but also for further study on the need for x-ray equipment and the effectiveness of its use in training. (The questionnaire is appended.) (JT)