Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Certified Dental Assistant? (CDA)
Who is eligible to become a CDA?
I have a dental assistant certificate from a school/training program – am I a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)?
What requirements must I meet to work as a Dental Assistant in Connecticut?
How do know what duties I can legally perform?
Where can I obtain dental assistant training?
I just moved to Connecticut and have radiology certification from the state I used to live in - is this valid in Connecticut?

What is a Certified Dental Assistant?

A Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) is someone who has passed the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam. This exam consists of three components: Radiation Health and Safety, Infection Control and General Chairside. You can also earn the CDA credential by passing all three of the CDA component exams within five (5) years. For more information go to: www.danb.org

Who is eligible to become a CDA?

There are no prerequisites to take the Radiation Health and Safety exam or the Infection Control exam. Only the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam taken in its entirety, or the General Chairside exam, have eligibility requirements. (You cannot earn the CDA credential without passing the General Chairside exam). DANB provides various pathways for certification: 1. Graduates of dental assistant training programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Council on Dental Accreditation (ADA or CODA-accredited programs) are eligible to take the CDA exam upon completion of their training program. 2. On the job trained dental assistants or graduates of non-ADA or CODA-accredited programs may take the CDA exam following two (2) years of fulltime employment as verified by her/his employer. Remember, to become a CDA you must pass either the CDA exam or all three component exams within five (5) years. For more information go to: www.danb.org

I have a dental assistant certificate from a school/training program - am I a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)?

No. The CDA credential is granted only by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and only as a result of passing the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam or all three (3) components of the CDA exam (Radiation Health and Safety, Infection Control and General Chairside within five (5) years. For more information go to: www.danb.org

What requirements must I meet to work as a dental assistant in Connecticut?

Connecticut currently requires that dental assistants earn only Radiation Health and Safety certification through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). It is legal for a dentist to hire and train dental assistants on the job however, it is illegal for dental assistants without Radiation Health and Safety certification to expose radiographs (to take x-rays).

How do I know what duties I can legally perform?

Section 20-112a. Dental Assistants. of the Connecticut State Dental Practice Act pertaining to dental assistants reads as follows: "A licensed dentist may delegate to dental assistants such dental procedures as the dentist may deem advisable, including the taking of dental x-rays if the dental assistant can demonstrate successful completion of the dental radiography portion of an examination prescribed by the Dental Assisting National Board, but such procedures shall be performed under the dentist's supervision and control and the dentist shall assume responsibility for such procedures; provided such assistants may not engage in: (1) Diagnosis for dental procedures or dental treatment; (2) the cutting or removal of any hard or soft tissue or suturing; (3) the prescribing of drugs or medications that require the written or oral order of a licensed dentist or physician; (4) the administration of local, parenteral, inhalation or general anesthetic agents in connection with any dental operative procedure; (5) the taking of any impression of the teeth or jaws or the relationship of the teeth or jaws for the purpose of fabricating any appliance or prosthesis; (6) the placing, finishing and adjustment of temporary or final restorations, capping materials and cement bases; or (7) the practice of dental hygiene as defined in section 20-126l, as amended."

The entire Connecticut State Dental Practice Act can be found at: www.cga.ct.gov/2005/pub/Chap379.htm

Where can I obtain dental assistant training?

There are many dental assistant training programs in Connecticut, five (5) of which are ADA/CODA accredited programs. They are: A. I. Prince Technical School in Hartford, Lincoln College of New England in Southington, Porter and Chester Institutes in Branford, Enfield, Rocky Hill and Stratford, Tunxis Community College in Farmington and Windham Technical School in Willimantic. There are non-ADA/CODA accredited programs that offer dental assistant training however, graduation from these programs does not meet the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) eligibility requirement for either the General Chairside or Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam. To meet DANB eligibility requirements you would have to document two (2) years of full time employment.

I just moved to Connecticut and have radiology certification from the state I used to live in - is this valid in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut recognizes only radiology certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Per Section 20-112a. of the Connecticut State Dental Practice Act pertaining to dental assistants, the taking of dental x-rays by a dental assistant is acceptable "if the dental assistant can demonstrate successful completion of the dental radiology portion of an examination prescribed by the Dental Assisting National Board."