DANB Certification in the New Year

With the new year on the horizon, it is the perfect time to reflect on what you’ve achieved and how you’ve grown — and to set new goals for 2012. This year, make the commitment to earn DANB certification. Or, if you are already DANB certified, resolve to keep your professional edge — and the authority to use DANB’s certification mark(s) — by recertifying.

As a profession, dental assisting is reaching new heights. Dental assisting is one of the fastest-growing occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, and job prospects are excellent. Although entry-level positions are available, many dentists prefer to hire dental assistants with experience who have met state requirements to take on additional duties in the office.

Holding DANB certification is one way you can stand out in the field. To get started, download DANB’s 2012 exam application packets from www.danb.org, or call 1-800-367-3262.

“My job was dependent on earning DANB certification,” says Karla Segovia, CDA. “I recommend that dental assistants earn certification and take advantage of every opportunity for professional advancement because it is a way to enhance your career and move up in your job.”

Currently, DANB’s exams are recognized or required to perform dental assisting duties by 38 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In fact, passing DANB exams is often required to perform additional duties or expanded dental assisting functions. DANB Certificants reap numerous benefits, including higher salaries, a sense of personal pride, employer and industry recognition, career mobility and opportunity for advancement.

“For me, holding DANB certification is a personal accomplishment,” explains Ronda Lane, CDA, RDA, B.S. “Holding DANB certification shows that you have chosen to challenge yourself and be a higher achiever.”

If you’re looking for materials to review for DANB exams, the DALE Foundation, the official DANB affiliate, offers a variety of e-learning courses and study aids. You can select from review courses, such as the DANB RHS Review and the DANB ICE Review. Or, choose a study aid, like the Glossary of Dental Terms or the DANB RHS Practice Test.

In January, the DALE Foundation will offer two new products to round out its offerings. The DANB GC Review Part I and the DANB ICE Practice Test will be available early next year. To learn more about the DALE Foundation, visit www.dalefoundation.org.

When times are tough, arming yourself with professional certification and dental assisting knowledge is a winning career move. If you already hold DANB certification, be sure that you renew by earning Continuing Dental Education (CDE) credits and maintaining current CPR certification.

You can earn CDE credits from a variety of sources, including attending hands-on seminars, participating in workshops, reading clinical materials and volunteering. “There’s so much to learn in the dental field — it’s constantly changing,” says Michelle Ashley, CDA, CPFDA, RDH, B.H.S. “That’s why it’s so important to stay current with your certification and continuing education.”

The DALE Foundation’s courses are another great resource for earning CDE. The DANB RHS Review and the DANB ICE Review are both worth 12 CDE credits upon successful completion. You can also earn CDE in office management topics by completing the DALE Foundation’s Accounts Receivable for the Dental Office course and HR Fundamentals for the Dental Office course.

To learn more about DANB’s 2012 Recertification Requirements and all the different types of CDE that will meet DANB Recertification Requirements, visit www.danb.org.