DANB updates state resources for dental assistants

As a dental assistant, there are a number of different paths you can take to expand your career. With all the different possibilities — from earning national Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) certification to pursuing state credentials — you have many options to weigh. As you do so, it’s important to keep in mind your state’s requirements and available designations.

Navigating dental assisting requirements can be difficult, since they vary state by state. The “Meet State Requirements” section of DANB’s website has a wealth of up-to-date information about the dental assisting requirements for each state, all in a convenient search-by-state map.

Recently updated with 2015 information, these pages contain state-specific:
• Dental assisting job titles and requirements for each level
• Downloadable charts with allowable and prohibited duties
• Contact information for each state dental board

Earning DANB certification is one way you can increase your career mobility. DANB offers five national certifications that give you the opportunity to climb the certification ladder and advance in your career:
• National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA^TM)
• Certified Dental Assistant ^TM (CDA®) certification
• Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA®)
• Certified Preventative Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA®)
• Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA®)

Although each state has different dental assisting requirements, DANB exams and certifications are recognized or required in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and by the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Earning and maintaining DANB certification offers a number of professional advantages: According to the results of the most recent (2014) DANB Salary Survey DANB certificants earn nearly $2 per hour than non-certified dental assistants. Additionally, employers and recruiters often seek out DANB certificants to fill dental assisting positions.

“Holding DANB certification has opened many doors for me,” says Guinevere Juckett, CDA, CPFDA, CRFDA, a dental assistant from Ohio, “and put me in the forefront when applying for positions in my career.”

Whether you are a dental assistant just starting your career, looking to advance your current role, or even considering working in another state, DANB’s certifications and resources can help guide your career and provide professional advantages, greater earning power, and personal pride. To learn more, visit www.danb.org.