A Dental Assistant Certification Can Take Your

Career Farther

Top Two Dental Assisting Certifications

1. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

2. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)

According to Jennifer Prather, Dental Assistant Program Supervisor at IntelliTec College in Grand Junction, Colorado:“Anytime a student furthers themselves with a

certification or any type of class it looks really good for them. For past students they really need to take their Registered Dental Assisting exam, if they move to another state they can show that they completed it and again it looks better. Some offices will pay a higher rate if someone gets certified or registered.”

1. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Certification Exam

This examination is given through the

American Medical Technologists (AMT)

.

1st Avenue of Eligibility•Applicants must have graduated or be scheduled to graduate from an accredited dental assisting program.

•Training programs must have included content in office skills, dental sciences, clinical procedures and dental radiography.

•Applicants must have graduated within the past four years. (Those who have graduated more than four years prior to the date of application must provide evidence of relevant work experience for at least three of the last five years.)

2nd Avenue of Eligibility•Applicant must have completed a military dental assisting program.

•Have completed a minimum of one year of work experience in the dental assisting profession.

•Training programs must have included content in office skills, dental sciences, clinical procedures and dental radiography.

•Applicants must have graduated within the past four years. (Those who have graduated more than four years prior to the date of application must provide evidence of relevant work experience for at least three of the last five years.)

3rd Avenue of Eligibility

•Applicant must have been employed as a dental assistant for a minimum of three years.

•Applicant must have a recommendation from a current or former employer who is a dentist.

•They must also have their high school diploma or GED.

2. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Certification Exam

This examination is given through the

Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB)

.

Eligibility Requirements•Have completed a minimum of 3,500 hours of work experience

•Have a high school diploma or GED•Be certified in CPR•Have completed a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

•“Individuals who have been trained on the job or have graduated from non-accredited programs are eligible to take the national certification examination after they have completed two years of full-time work experience as dental assistants.” – American Dental Association

Continuing education is required once an individual has been certified by the Dental Assisting National

Board in order to maintain that certification.

In Summary Obtaining a dental assisting certification,

especially one of the two mentioned in this article, is a vital component in

getting and maintaining a lasting career in the dental assisting field.

Learn more about hands-on career training at Programs at www.IntelliTec.edu

or call 1-800-724-9636.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the programs and other important info, visit www.intelliteccollege.com/consumer-information.php

Sources• Jennifer Prather, C.D.A, E.F.D.A – Dental Assistant Program Supervisor at

IntelliTec College in Grand Junction, Colorado.

• “Dental Assistant Education and Training Requirements.” Education/Careers. American Dental Association, 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/dental-team-careers/dental-assistant/education-training-requirements-dental-assistant

• “Exams & Certifications.” Dental Assisting National Board: Measuring Dental Assisting Excellence. Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://www.danb.org/Become-Certified/Exams-and-Certifications.aspx

• “How to Become a Certified Dental Assistant.” Everest College. Corinthian Colleges, n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014. http://dentalassistant.everestcollege.edu/certified-dental-assistant

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Dental Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-4

• “Dental Assistant Certification.” American Medical Technologists. American Medical Technologists (AMT), n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014. http://www.americanmedtech.org/GetCertified/RDAEligibility.aspx