Registered Vs Certified Dental Assistant

Be Aware Of The Difference Between Registered Vs Certified Dental Assistant

If you want to work at a dentist's office as an assistant, most places will still accept your application straight out of high school, as long as you have some appropriate science background and a willingness to learn on the job, but many states control the actions of dental assistants and restrict what you are allowed to do without the proper registration or certification. There is a difference though, so you need to be sure about the requirements of a registered vs certified dental assistant to ensure you take the appropriate dental assistant training to get what you need.

Registered Dental Assistant

Becoming licensed or registered is now required by many states in order to fully practice as a dental assistant. The methods in which to attain registration differ in each state though, so it is important to look up your specific requirements. In many states, it requires passing a written or practical exam, which you can prepare for in state approved courses that last from 10-12 months. Other states require courses of simply 4-12 hours, while others will offer registration to dental assistants who have virtually no education or experience.

Once you are registered, many places will require you to maintain or renew your registration by taking continuing education classes. Most however, do not, but it is important to make sure that your hard work does not expire without your knowledge. Finally, there are still a few places that don't demand you to be a registered dental assistant at all, but it certainly is attractive to employers.

Certified Dental Assistant

Certification is quite different and is generally not mandatory. It is recognized in 30 states and certification exams are offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) in order to show competency in the field. It is usually your choice to become a certified dental assistant, but it shows employers the level of education and experience you have achieved, so it gives you a significant advantage finding a job.

You are only eligible to take a certification exam if you have completed an accredited dental assisting program or if you have the appropriate amount of on the job experience: 2 years full time or 4 years part time. You also need to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in order to become a certified dental assistant. Once you have achieved certification, you will need to renew it annually by taking continuing education courses.

When going through dental assistant training, it is crucial to know what you need to do with it and what additional requirements you need to fulfill. While registration is mandatory in many states, certification is not, but it is the best way to display your competency at your job and seek employment. A registered vs certified dental assistant is a very different thing, and although both will get you ahead in the field, be sure you know which one you need or want to attain.

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