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.
Clinical Dental Assistant FAQs
Clinical dental assistant jobs vary based on the dental office and the state you work in. Typical duties include preparing patients for treatment, sterilizing tools, instructing patients on proper dental hygiene, passing instruments to the dentist during procedures, keeping records of treatments, scheduling appointments and processing X-rays.
Most clinical dental assistant training programs can be completed in a year or less. This does not include the time you will spend participating in a Clinical Experience or similar position to gain experience in the field. It also does not include the required two years of work experience needed to become certified as a dental assistant.
To become a Certified Dental Assistant, you will need to pass the three components of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification Exam and meet the Board’s work experience requirements. You will need to pass the Radiation Health and Safety, Infection Control, and General Chairside components of the DANB certification exam, as well as complete at least two years of work experience (or a minimum of 3,500 hours accrued over a two- to four-year period).
Most dental assistants work a full-time schedule of 40 hours per week, however there are some dental assistants who work part-time. Many of the hours will be worked during the day, but depending on your dental office, you may be asked to work some evenings or weekends.
Almost all clinical dental assistants work in dental offices under the supervision of dentists, though some may find employment with the government or in physicians’ offices. Dental assistants work very closely with dental hygienists. In this position, you will be on your feet for large portions of the day and wear surgical masks, safety goggles, gloves and protective clothing to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
While both roles are important components of the dental staff, an administrative dental assistant focuses more on the office's administrative tasks, such as greeting patients, collecting patient information, filling out medical forms, organizing office records and other clerical tasks. On the other hand, a clinical dental assistant helps dentists and dental hygienists with treatment procedures, sterilization and disinfection of dental tools, patient charting, taking vital signs, processing quality radiographs (X-rays) and more.
Dental assistants and dental hygienists are essential members of a dental office's daily operations. Dental hygienists have a larger scope of practice and additional education and are more active in patient care planning and diagnosis. Dental assistants play an invaluable role in supporting both hygienists and dentists. This position is excellent for those just starting their careers, with fewer entry barriers.