The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.’s (DANB) Board of Directors Annual Meeting was held in Chicago, IL on Aug. 13-14, 2010. In this issue of Dental Assisting Digest, DANB highlights key board actions taken at its Aug. meeting. For a complete summary of DANB’s major board actions, visit http://www.danb.org/news/boardactions.asp.
DANB Exam Fee and Renewal Increases
Are you interested in earning DANB Certification? Do you need to take a DANB exam, but have been putting it off? Now is the right time for you to prepare for the exam and apply! At the 2009 Aug. Annual Meeting, DANB’s Board of Directors approved moderate exam fee increases, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2011. DANB will continue to accept applications from the 2010 Candidate Guide with the 2010 exam fees through March 31, 2011. Download a Candidate Guide and apply today!
As of Jan. 1, 2011, DANB exam fees will be:
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) $375
Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) $375
General Chairside Assisting (GC) $200
Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) $175
Infection Control (ICE) $175
Combination RHS/ICE $250
Orthodontic Assisting (OA) $250
In 2012, renewal fees will be $60, effective with Certificants whose expiration date is Jan. 1, 2012 or thereafter. DANB has not raised renewal fees since 2007 or exam fees since 2006. Therefore, these increases were approved to keep up with inflation.
CPR Attestation Statement
DANB’s Board of Directors approved adding a statement to DANB’s Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE) and RHS/ICE exam applications whereby the candidate affirms, if successful performance on the exam leads to completion of the requirements for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) or Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) Certification, that he or she has current DANB-accepted CPR. The statement will be added to the RHS, ICE and RHS/ICE applications in the print and online versions of the 2011 CDA and COA Candidate Guides. For the current statement, visit http://www.danb.org/news/boardactions.asp.
Certified Oral Preventive Assistant (COPA) Exam
DANB’s Recertification Requirements for the Certified Oral Preven¬tive Assistant (COPA) Certification were approved at the Aug. meeting. The four component exams of DANB’s COPA exam – Coronal Polishing (CP), Sealants (SE), Topical Fluoride (TF), and Topical Anesthetic (TA) – are considered expanded functions in most states. The COPA Certification exam program is currently being pretested by approximately 350 CDAs in the 32 states that allow qualified dental assistants to perform the four functions tested on the COPA exam.
DANB’s Board of Directors approved modifications to COPA Pathways I, II, III, and IV. These updated pathways will appear in the 2011 COPA Candidate Guide, available on or around Jan. 1, 2011 for testing to begin April 1, 2011. The certification exam program will be available to all qualified dental assistants beginning April 1, 2011.
Below is the approved pricing structure for the COPA exam and its four component exams. Fees include a $50 non-refundable application processing fee, and are in line with DANB fees for its other exams of similar length.
| COPA exam | $375 (all four components) |
| Coronal Polishing exam | $175 |
| Sealants | $100 |
| Topical Fluoride | $100 |
| Topical Anesthetic | $100 |
DANB Charitable Contribution
DANB’s Board of Directors approved the donation of $1000 to the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) Foundation for fiscal year 2010-2011. DANB's fiscal year extends from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31.
DANB Welcomes New Board Directors
DANB’s Board Officers were welcomed at the Aug. Board Meeting. DANB’s 2010-2011 Board Officers are:
- Chair — Richard Hunt III, D.D.S.
- Vice Chair — Carol Oeder, CDA, COA, CDPMA, FADAA, LPN
- Secretary — Karen Minca, CDPMA
The Directors who concluded their final terms of ser¬vice on DANB’s Board of Directors at the end of the Aug. 2010 meeting were Howard C. Bell, D.D.S., and Carla Schneider, CDA, RDA. “DANB thanks these oral healthcare professionals for their many years of service to DANB and to dental assistants,” says Ex¬ecutive Director Cindy Durley.
DANB is pleased to welcome incoming Board Direc¬tors Mary Harrison, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, FADAA, and Frank Maggio, D.D.S. Ms. Harrison and Dr. Maggio began the first of a possible two three-year terms at the conclusion of the Aug. Meeting.
Ms. Harrison was elected by DANB's Board of Directors from a slate of qualified nominees provided by the ADAA. “It is with great pleasure and excitement that I begin my term on DANB’s Board of Directors,” she noted.
Dr. Maggio was elected by DANB's Board of Directors from a slate of qualified nominees provided by the American Dental Association (ADA). Dr. Maggio stated, “I consider it an honor to serve on DANB’s Board.”
At the Aug. meeting, DANB’s Board of Directors also discussed:
- DANB Certificant Recertification Requirements
- COPA Recertification Policies
- DANB’s Proposed CDA/GC Exam Pilot Pathway Status
- Upcoming DANB Board of Directors Meetings
For a complete summary of DANB’s Major Board Actions, visit http://www.danb.org/news/boardactions.asp. For more information about DANB, visit www.danb.org or call 1-800-FOR-DANB.
