Dental Assistants

Certification or Licensing

Dental assistants may wish to obtain one or more certification credentials from the Dental Assisting National Board, but this is only required for employment in some states. Certification shows that an assistant has met certain standards of professional competence. The following credentials are available from the board: national entry level dental assistant, certified dental assistant (CDA), certified orthodontic assistant, certified preventive functions dental assistant, and certified restorative functions dental assistant. Eligibility requirement vary by credential. Visit http://www.danb.org/Become-Certified/Exams-and-Certifications.aspx for more information. To keep their credentials, assistants must either prove their skills through retesting or acquire further education.