It's great that you've decided to pursue a career as a dental assistant. With over 332,000 dental assistants in the United States (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), there is a high demand for more professionals in this field. To become a certified dental assistant, you must pass the DANB CDA exam. Here are some effective strategies to help you prepare for and pass the DANB CDA exam.
Before graduating from high school, there are many ways students can prepare for a career as a certified dental assistant. Courses should focus on biology, anatomy, and physiology, which will help prepare for specialized medical work. The DANB accepts dental assistance programs from high schools to obtain its national entry-level dental assistant certification, or NELDA, provided that the program includes at least one semester of dental assistance courses or curricula. There are many valuable and informative resources available to prospective dental care students, from non-profit organizations to representative organizations and job boards. As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as introduction to dental care; dental health education; preclinical procedures; the basic sciences of dental care; the anatomy and physiology of dental care; dental materials; applied psychology in dentistry; procedures in dental offices; and dental radiology. The most commonly obtained certification through the DANB is the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification.
This complete package includes all practice tests and refresher courses to prepare for the DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification exam. This article covers the three pathways to eligibility for dental assistant certification described by DANB, and details the additional requirements below. The dental assistance program (DAP) offered by the University of Alabama's Birmingham School of Dentistry provides students with the unique academic background and clinical experiences that are essential to mastering the delivery of dental health care. The university also offers an alternative dental assistance program (ADAP) for those currently working in the field and have more than 3,500 hours of work experience and a CPR certification. The ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association that helps dental professionals identify quality continuing dental education providers. The ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it involve the acceptance of credit hours by dental boards.
This helps students hone their CDA skills and gain valuable teaching experience in oral anatomy, dental pathology, oral hygiene, radiology, dental pharmacology, and oral hygiene. The Indiana University School of Dentistry offers a CODA-accredited dental care certificate on campus that requires successful completion of 30 credits. The dental assistance program offered by the University of Houston-Downtown prepares students for entry-level positions in the field of dental care. Many professional schools, technical and vocational colleges, and community colleges have recently started offering remote and online dental care degrees. In the case of certificate programs, courses are typically completed within 12 months, while an associate degree in dental care lasts two years. By following these strategies and taking advantage of available resources, you can be well on your way to becoming a certified dental assistant!.
