STATE AFFILIATE OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATION
DANB Certification
The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB®) is the national certification board for dental assistants. DANB, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1948, and its mission is to promote the public good by providing credentialing services to the dental community. DANB offers five national certifications for dental assistants:
· Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA®)
· Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA®)
· Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA®)
More than 36,000 dental assistants are DANB certified nationwide, and thousands more have earned one of DANB’s certificates of knowledge-based competency.
Currently, 39 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Veterans Affairs recognize or require DANB exams to meet state dental assisting requirements. Holding DANB certification can be an advantage for those who may be relocating or planning to work in another state. To learn more about state dental assisting requirements, visit DANB’s search-by-state map.
Earning DANB certification can lead to greater earning power, higher job satisfaction and increased personal pride. The 2014 DANB Salary Survey found that, on average, DANB CDA certificants earn nearly $2 more per hour compared to non-certified dental assistants. The same survey revealed that DANB certificants have a low turnover rate, remaining with the same employer for more than seven years. DANB certificants are also committed to certification, with over 99% of those surveyed saying they plan to renew their certification and more than 98% saying they’d encourage others to earn DANB certification.
The DALE Foundation, the official DANB affiliate, offers online courses and study aids for dental assistants and other dental professionals. Both engaging and interactive, these unique courses and study aids cover a variety of topics, including CDE courses, DANB exam reviews and office management courses, which are all available through the product catalog. The DALE Foundation also offers a CDE requirements map, where dental assistants can search for their states’ specific CDE requirements in order to stay compliant. The DALE Foundation’s resources offer dental assistants and other dental team members support as they explore professional options for themselves or their staff, pursue certification, and establish themselves in the dental community.
Visit www.danb.org and dalefoundation.org to learn more.