Recognition of DANB Credentials

In any career, feeling valued and recognized for a job well done fosters employee engagement, strong performance and high retention rates. But as the latest Dentistry IQ survey results show, dental assistants frequently report a lack of acknowledgment in the office for credentials earned from the national certification and credentialing organization, the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB). Because recognition of dental assisting credentials varies widely due to differences in state dental practice acts, types of practice, the employer and the type of acknowledgement offered, dental assistants holding the DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) or Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) Certification marks often discover that a mix and match approach to recognition works best for overall professional satisfaction.

Recognition from the Employer
Many dental practices only hire DANB Certificants, or have policies and practices in place to encourage all dental assistants to earn certification. Kelli Fedder, CDA, RDA, the Michigan Dental Assistants Association (MDAA) President Elect and Publicity Chairperson, learned this first-hand when interviewing for one of her first dental assisting jobs.

“I once interviewed with a dentist and didn't get the job. It was very close, but the assistant I was up against had the credentials and I didn't. The doctor said, ‘If you want to help yourself out, get credentialed,’ and it was off of his words that I took action and started my uphill battle of getting credentialed,” Fedder said.

Kelli graduated from Washtenaw Community College, and is employed at Kent Family Dental in Grand Rapids, where she has worked for over 3 years. She has been DANB Certified for over five years.

“He was right and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Consequently, I saw him this weekend and told him what I was up to now, and he gave me a big hug and told me how proud of me he was.”

An employer in Ohio, Nanette Tertel, DDS, has recently been encouraging one of her dental assistants to take DANB’s CDA exam this fall. “I don’t have a current CDA on my staff, but am heavily encouraging one of my assistants to earn DANB Certification. She wishes to become an EFDA, but I informed her she needs to become a CDA first!” said Tertel. Tertel is supporting her assistant by providing information about the career ladder for dental assistants in Ohio and providing information about testing opportunities.

For assistants working in offices where DANB Certification is not required or encouraged, providing the employer with information about the benefits of employing Certified Assistants on staff may prompt the desired recognition or appreciation. DANB Certification is a tangible way to demonstrate that a dental assistant has met or exceeded the criteria established to measure baseline knowledge and national competency standards in the profession.

DANB CDAs, on average, stay with the same employer for 9.4 years and in the dental assisting profession for 16.7 years. In addition to the clear financial impact of fewer turnovers, the relative stability of DANB Certificants helps create a stronger team orientation in the office. For additional information to share with employers about the benefits of Certified Assistants in the office, visit www.danb.org/history/danbfaq.asp. For salary information, visit www.danb.org. Results of DANB’s 2010 Salary Survey will be posted in the fall.

Reimbursement of renewal or CDE fees is another best practice for dental assistant recognition. “I think the best way for an office to support their credentialed assistants is to help them pay for their education and renewals because I think a lot of assistants don't obtain them or let them lapse due to the finances,” said Fedder.

The dental office that employs Fedder offers a yearly education reimbursement for all employees. When she first asked about reimbursement for DANB CDA and state RDA renewal fees, she was told it did not fall under the category of education. So she continued to ask the next year and the year after that. Finally, her supervisor checked with the accountants and found they would actually be able to pay for her annual DANB Certification renewal fees.

“So if I could offer any piece of advice to assistants who feel a lack of support or recognition, don't ever give up on your fight, especially when you know you're right,” Fedder said.

In offices without reimbursement policies, assistants can also look for ways to be recognized through functions on the team. Many DANB Certified Assistants serve as the office OSHA coordinator, or are an office resource for questions about radiation health and safety, infection control or general chairside duties, which reflect the three components of the CDA exam. An employer may be more receptive to first recognizing assistants through his or her role on the team, and will later become open to learning more about what DANB certification means for the practice.

For dental assistants who are interested in earning DANB Certification or who would like to take courses to move into expanded duties, Lisa Gushin, DDS, from Fayetteville N.C., recommends discussing those career goals with the employer. “Tell the doctor that you want to get DANB Certified or take continuing dental education so that you can help the office be more efficient and run more smoothly. Show how it will save time and money if, as a dental assistant, you can take on more responsibilities to free up the dentists’ time for other procedures,” Gushin suggests. “Above all, be confident and know that you are a professional.”

Appreciation from the Patient
In addition to recognition from the employer, many DANB Certificants gain great rewards from appreciation by the patients that they work so hard to serve.

“The patients do ask what the letters after my name mean, and when I tell them that I had to pass really tough tests and take many hours of education yearly to keep up with it, it makes them realize that they are in good hands,” Fedder said. “DANB Certification is a benefit to the dentists because CDE credit requirements for renewal keep the assistants educated on the ever changing world of dental techniques, materials, equipment.”

Because of the unique patient-assistant relationship, many dentists and employers are generally receptive to displaying the DANB wall certificate, in addition to any required state certificates, in an area that patients regularly view.

Respect from Peers
While employer and patient recognition of dental assisting credentials is an important piece of overall job satisfaction, dental assistants repeatedly find the most respect among their peers.

“If your office won't recognize you for all your hard work, look for other dental communities that do recognize credentialed assistants. I am a member of the ADAA, MDAA, and Grand Rapids Dental Assisting Society and it's a very big deal to other assistants that I'm credentialed,” said Fedder. “It's almost better to be recognized by your peers because of the amount of genuine respect and admiration that comes along with it.”

Self-Assessment and Pride
One of the most important areas of recognition arrives from one’s own assessments of achievements, and the pride of accomplishment of earning national certification. DANB Certified Assistants stand out as professionals in the industry, and demonstrate to colleagues and employers that the dental assistant has passed rigorous exams and met national certification standards. As a result, many DANB Certificants benefit from increased professional pride and greater job satisfaction.

“I'm in a good office that I love working at and honestly I obtained my credentials for myself, so I could be the best I could be,” Fedder said.