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Dental Assistant Certificate
By allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 12th, 2010
Is national certification a requirement for dental assistants?
The choice to pursue national certification through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is, in many cases, completely elective. However, the licensing bodies of certain states do include national dental assistant certification among their list of requirements for issuing a license. It is wise to reach out to the state licensing board within the sate you intend to practice to determine if DANB certification is a prerequisite to state licensure. This may impact the educational path you choose, as the DANB recognizes the clinical rotations offered by certain programs in lieu of working experience.Why should I pursue national certification?
Becoming a certified dental assistant grants recipients the well-recognized CDA credential, (Certified Dental Assistant). Through
this certification process dental assistants demonstrate their personal and professional commitment to excellence within the field and the highest quality level of patient care. Even if national certification isn’t counted among your state’s licensing requirements, it is still worth considering as it denotes a respectable level of competence to prospective employers and patients alike.
What’s involved in achieving dental assistant certification?
There’s essentially two ways in which to pursue dental assistant certification through the DANB. Although there are two equally viable means by which to achieve the same end, the final step for both is to pass a DANB administered exam. The requirements to sit for the national exam are quite easily met. In fact, these prerequisites typically occur in the normal course of pursuing an academic and professional career in dental assisting. It is also worth noting that both avenues will require exam applicants to hold a current CPR card.Option one is to simply attend a dental assistant program that is CODA (Commission of Dental Accreditation) approved. CODA is the accrediting arm of the American Dental Association responsible for recognizing educational platforms that meet specific requirements for teaching safety standards in practice meant to protect both the patient and the dental staff.
Students who have participated in dental assistant programs that are not counted among the hundreds currently accredited by CODA are still in a position to qualify to take the DANB exam and receive the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential. By gaining two years of full time experience, or four years of working experience if employed in a part-time position, graduates will have met the experiential requirements for sitting for the DANB exam.
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