Prepare for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam Online
This online Clinical Dental Assistant certification training will equip you for career success—with no previous experience necessary! You will learn about every aspect of professional dental assisting, including invaluable real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants and essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies and much more.
You will even explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software. You will also be ready to pursue certification as a dental assistant by passing the radiology, infection control and anatomy and physiology portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations—the NELDA or CDA exams.
Students in this clinical Dental Assistant program can participate in ed2go's optional Clinical Experience support program. The application for the Clinical Experience support program is included within the course. You must be at least 80% complete in this dental assistant course before you are eligible to reach out to a Clinical Experience Team member for program information. Once you have gained clinical experience and in-person hours, you will be prepared for the general dental assistant certification exam. See below for the full requirements.
In partnership with ed2go, Ashland is proud to offer this Certified Dental Assistant course to those interested in preparing for or advancing their careers.
Course Objectives
- Describe the roles of each member of the dental team and the 12 dental specialties
- Define the legal and ethical practice of dental assisting, including HIPAA
- Explain deciduous and permanent dentition along with their functions in dental anatomy and pathology
- Describe the chain of infection, transmission routes and infection control for the dental practice, along with OSHA regulations
- Summarize the role of the dental assistant in pharmacology, nutrition, and interaction with a variety of patients in normal daily activities and emergency situations
- Describe the use, care and preparation of dental instruments for patient care
- Outline the necessary components of a patient record prior to dental charting
- Use charting techniques to identify dental restorations and disease to create a treatment plan to prevent future disease progression
- Set up equipment for anesthesia and sedation
- Describe patient clinical methods and techniques to prevent dental disease
- Identify the process of exposing high-quality radiographs in both traditional and digital formats
- Describe dental materials, their uses in dental treatment, and the skills needed to use them efficiently
- Define the dental assistant's role in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry
- Explain the communication and business needs required to maintain a dental business office
- State transferable hard and soft skills needed in order to complete a résumé for a dental assistant position
Prerequisites and Certification Requirements
There are no prerequisites to complete this course. However, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for national certification exams.
Voucher Information
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive vouchers to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations. The exams meet three of three exam requirements for the NELDA certification and two of three exam requirements for the CDA. If you already have 3,500 hours of clinical experience and wish to pursue the CDA certification, you will need to acquire the General Chairside Assisting exam. The General Chairside Assisting exam is not included in this voucher package. Included vouchers provide prepaid access to sit for the exams upon eligibility.
Job Outlook for Clinical Dental Assistants
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a dental assistant is $46,540 as of May 2023. The highest 10% of earners make over $61,060 a year.
Employment is projected to grow by 7% through 2032, which is considered much faster than average. On average, 55,100 new job openings are projected for these professionals over this time period.