DANB certifications are nationally recognized dental assistant qualifications. Every DANB certification showcases your skills in different dental assistant areas. The Dental Assistant National Board offers different training opportunities to help you move up in your career! Whether you’re a new dental assistant looking for your first dental assistant job, or are an experienced professional ready for a new challenge, there’s a DANB qualification for you. Learn more about DANB certificates and how they can help your career.
What Is The DANB?
DANB stands for the Dental Assistant National Board, a professional education organization that helps dental assistants succeed. This group is on a mission to improve public health by providing credentials for dental assistants. Trained dental assistants play a big role in keeping people healthy. DANB supports dental assistants to help communities across the country.
The DANB was founded in 1948 as the Certifying Board of the American Dental Assistants Association. Its Board of Directors includes dental assistants and dentists who’ve worked in many different practices, including military facilities, private offices, universities, surgical offices, infection prevention, and more.
Do I Need To Take The DANB Exams?
DANB exams offer a good start to your career. They aren’t required for everyone, though. Every state has different requirements for dental assistants. Some states don’t require any training at all, but you’ll need to pass multiple tests to work as a dental assistant in other places. (Click here to see the dental assistant requirements by state.)
Even if you don’t need to take the DANB exams in your state, taking them is still a good idea. These exams are nationwide credentials that are respected in the dental field. People who pass the entry-level DANB exams show that they know what they’re doing! It’s easier to find dental assistant jobs if you’re DANB certified.
What Are The DANB Certifications?
DANB certifications are professional certificates that prove your dental skills. There are several different certificates available so you can find one for any stage of your career. DANB qualifications are recognized across the country. When dentists see a DANB certification listed on your job application, they know you’re ready to put your skills to work.
A DANB certificate isn’t a degree. Many dental assistant programs will help you get ready to take DANB tests. You might also earn a degree or a different professional certificate from your dental assisting school. These are different from the DANB certificates.
How Do I Earn DANB Certification?
You earn DANB certifications by passing groups of DANB exams. These exams test you on specific parts of being a dental assistant. (For example, taking x-rays, preventing infection, or working with braces.) You need to take a different group of tests for each certificate.
Every DANB test is different. You can take most of them at any stage of your career. A few have some requirements like being CPR certified. There’s also a fee for each exam. Click here for all the details about the DANB dental assistant exams!
Explore The DANB Certifications
You can choose from six DANB certificates to help your career. Every certificate prepares you for something new. Start with the entry-level certificate to get your career on the right path, then add other certificates when you’re ready for something new.
DANB NELDA Certificate
You can give your career a boost with the DANB National Entry Level Dental assistant certificate. These tests are designed for new dental assistants who are just learning about the field. If you’re looking for your first dental job, the intro DANB tests are a great way to showcase your skills. Some states even require NELDA certification for dental assistants.
What does the DANB NELDA certificate require? You’ll take three tests to earn the NELDA qualification:
- Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP)
- Infection Control (ICE®)
- Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®)
DANB CDA Certificate
The DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certificate is the next step in your career. The CDA qualification builds on what you’ve already learned at the NELDA-level. These next-level tests prove you’re ready for many different types of dental work.
What does the DANB CDA certificate cover? You need to take these tests to earn CDA qualification:
- General Chairside Assisting (GC)
- Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®)
- Infection Control (ICE®)
DANB COA Certificate
Want to work in an orthodontist’s office with patients who have braces? The DANB Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) certificate is right for you. Consider earning the NELDA or CDA first to build a solid foundation of skills.
What’s on the DANB COA exams? Take these two tests to qualify for the COA certificate:
- Orthodontic Assisting (OA)
- Infection Control (ICE)
DANB CPFDA Certificate
The DANB Certified Preventative Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) certificate is for assistants who focus on preventative care. This includes work like polishing teeth and applying sealants and fluoride. Some states require this certificate to work as a higher-level dental assistant.
What does the DANB CPFDA exam include? You need to take three tests to earn the CPFDA credential:
- Coronal Polishing (CP)
- Sealants (SE)
- Topical Fluoride (TF)
DANB CRFDA Certificate
You can earn the DANB Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA) credential if you want to help repair unhealthy teeth. This certificate proves you know about restorative functions, impressions, sealants, and temporaries.
What’s on the DANB CRFDA exam? This certificate requires four exams:
- Impressions (IM)
- Temporaries (TMP)
- Sealants (SE)
- Restorative Functions (RF)
DANB CDIPC Certificate
The DANB Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) certificate is a partnership with the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP). This certification is easy to earn and proves you know modern infection control techniques.
What does the DANB CDIPC exam cover? There’s only one test for this certificate:
- Dental Infection Prevention and Control
Improve Your Career With DANB Certificates
The DANB certificates are recognized across the country. Even if your state doesn’t require a certificate to work as a dental assistant, you can stand out of crowd by earning one. Start with the NELDA exam when you’re beginning your career. Once you’re ready for something new, you can earn another DANB certificate to prove your skills. Click here to learn more about the DANB tests to see what’s involved.
