Dental Assistant Certification

Dental assistant certification is a critical component of being a successful dental assistant. If you are considering becoming a dental assistant, you should know that you need to successfully pass a program in order to become a certified dental assistant.

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As a dental assistant, your job is to offer support to the dentist. This support can range from handing over tools during regular checkups to assisting the dentist during surgical procedures like dental fillings, crowns, braces, dental implants, and more. You may read more about dental implant surgery, if interested. Other duties include lab testing, caring for patients, and administrative duties such as scheduling appointments. In the United States, you must earn your qualification by passing through the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) certification program. All programs are certified by the DANB. In this article, we will cover three dental assistant certification programs, ranging from entry-level to specialty care.

Dental Assistant Certification
Dental Assistant Certification

Dental Assistant Certification Programs

Completing any of the listed programs proves that you have demonstrated mastery of knowledge, and passed the necessary exam to perform your job. 

Most of the dental assistant certification programs listed below require the exams to take place in person at specific venues. There is no one way to earn these certifications; you can earn them through a few pathways, which you will learn in detail below. You may also find some dental assistant certification online programs where you can take an exam online.

Below is a list of the programs for dental assistant certifications:

National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA)

This national program is for dental assistants who don’t have the necessary background to qualify for DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification. The program prepares you to become an entry-level dental assistant. NEDLA requires you to take three exams, which you must pass together or separately within three years. These exams are:

  1. Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)—100 multiple-choice questions
  2. Infection Control (ICE)—100 multiple-choice questions
  3. Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP)—105 multiple-choice questions

As a beginner, you can be eligible to take the NELDA exam through one of four pathways:

For Post-Secondary Grads

  1. You must have high school graduation or equivalent.
  2. You must have graduated from an accredited dental assisting program in a post-secondary institution. The institution can’t be CODA-accredited; it must be accredited by an organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  3. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, basic life support (BLS), or advanced cardio life support (ACLS) from a DANB-accepted provider.

For US Department of Labor Graduates

  1. You must have graduated from a U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps dental assisting program.
  2. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

DANB Recognized Dental Assisting High School Graduates

  1. You must have successfully completed a DANB-accepted dental assisting program in high school. The school must be recognized by a state or federal agency in the U.S. education system.
  2. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

For High School Graduates With Work Experience

  1. You must have high school graduation or equivalent.
  2. You must have accumulated 300 to 3,000 hours of work experience as a dental assistant over at least two months, but no more than three years. Your employment must be verified by a licensed dentist.
  3. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

You may take the exams in person at Pearson VUE testing centers or through an online exam.

The exam fee is $400 for the three exams taken together. If you wish to take them separately, then each exam will cost you the following:

$245 for AMP exam

$270 for RHS exam

$270 for ICE exam

dental assistant certification programs
Dental Assistant Certification Programs

Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)

This national program is for dental assistants who want to demonstrate their competence. The CDA program prepares you to be a general dental assistant. The program requires you to take three exams, which you must pass together or separately within five years. These exams are:

  1. General Chairside Assisting (GC)—120 multiple-choice questions
  2. Infection Control (ICE)—100 multiple-choice questions
  3. Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)—100 multiple-choice questions

If you decide to take the exams separately, you must be eligible to take the CDA exam or the GC exam through one of three pathways:

CODA-Accredited Dental Program Graduates

  1. You must have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program.
  2. You must have current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

High School Graduates With Work Experience

  1. You must have high school graduation or equivalent.
  2. You must have a minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience, and
  3. You must have current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

For Graduates with Dental Degree Programs

  1. You must have a former DANB CDA status, or
  • You must have graduated from or enrolled in a CODA-accredited program, 
  • You must have graduated from a dental degree program outside the U.S. or Canada, 
  • You must have graduated from or enrolled in a DANB-approved post-baccalaureate program, which is affiliated with a U.S. or Canadian dental school.
  1. You must have current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

You may take the CDA exams in person at Pearson VUE testing centers or through an online exam.

The exam fee is $450 for the three exams taken together. If you wish to take the exams separately, then each exam will cost you the following:

$270 for GC exam

$375 for RHS/GC exam

$375 for ICE/GC exam

Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA)

This national program prepares you for a specialty role. It is designed for a dental assistant who wants to specialize in orthodontics. To earn the COA qualification, you must pass two exams together or separately within five years. These exams are:

  1. Orthodontic Assisting (OA)—120 multiple-choice question
  2. Infection Control (ICE)—100 multiple-choice questions

If you decide to take the exams separately, you must be eligible to take the COA exam or the OA exam through one of four pathways:

CDA Status With Work Experience

  1. You must have a minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience.
  2. You must have a current or former CDA certification.
  3. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

For High School Graduates With Work Experience

  1. You must have high school graduation or equivalent.
  2. You must have a minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience.
  3. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

CDA With Orthodontic Assisting Knowledge

  1. You must have completed an orthodontic assisting preparation course from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program.
  2. You must have current CDA certification.
  3. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

Graduates With Dental Degree Programs

  1. You must have a former DANB COA status, or
  • You must have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental or medical program in the U.S. or Canada,
  • You must have graduated from a dental degree program outside the U.S. or Canada.
  1. You must have a current hands-on experience in CPR, BLS, or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

You may take the COA exams in person at Pearson VUE testing centers, but you can choose to take the ICE exam online.

The exam fee is $450 for the two exams taken together. If you wish to take the exams separately, then each exam will cost you the following:

$320 for OA exam

$270 for ICE exam

Earn Your Dental Assistant Certification 

Your future is in your hands. You don’t need to attend a dental assistant certification school. Check out the main programs and enjoy the benefits of a rewarding career.

Dental Implants For Seniors

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Dental Implants Near Me

Affordable Dental Implants

References

[1] How to Become a Certified Dental Assistant. “How To Become a DANB-Certified Dental Assistant.” MTS.

[2] Certified Dental Assistant Exam. “Certified Dental Assistant.” Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

[3] Certification Guide for Dental Assistants. “Dental Assistant Certification Guide.” All Allied Health Schools.

[4] Getting Certified as a Dental Assistant in Texas. “How to Get Certified as a Dental Assistant in the State of Texas.” Chron, 2020.