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Tidbits of knowledge. Impressive statistics. The answers to commonly asked questions about DANB.
Who is DANB?
What exactly does DANB do?
What is a CDA?
Who is NOCA and what is NCCA accreditation?
How many certificants are there?
Is DANB part of the ADAA or other dental association? Is DANB a membership organization?
Why should I be certified? Some DANB Certification benefits.
Why should I hire a CDA? Some DANB Certification benefits.
Why should a patient care about certification?
Who sits on the DANB Board of Directors and how are they elected?
How can I get information on DANB and its national and state-specific examinations?
Am I on the DANB mailing list?
How do I reach DANB? Who should I talk to?
Who is DANB?
DANB is the acronym for the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. The American Dental Association recognizes DANB, a nonprofit organization, as the national certification and credentialing agency for dental assistants. This recognition is supported by the Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Association of Dental Examiners, the American Dental Education Association, and the American Dental Assistants Association.
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What exactly does DANB do?
DANB administers the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) and Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator (CDPMA) examinations, and Infection Control (ICE), Radiation Health & Safety (RHS), and General Chairside component exams. The CDA and RHS examinations are recognized or required as meeting regulatory requirements in 34 states. DANB also works with nine states to develop state-specific examinations in dental assisting expanded functions.
DANB presents examinations in both written and computerized formats. Written national examinations are administered in June at approximately 250 sites, and in March and October at selected sites. DANB examinations delivered on computer are offered five to six days a week, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, year-round.
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What is a CDA?
The DANB Board of Directors sets the following as the standard definition of a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA):
"A CDA is a dental assistant, dental hygienist, or dentist who
1. meets the education and/or experience prerequisites established by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), AND
2. passes DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Examination, which is comprised of component exams covering Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE), and General Chairside Assisting (GC), AND
3. is currently CPR certified, AND continues to maintain the credential by meeting DANB Recertification requirements (including continuing education, current CPR certification, and annual fee)."
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Who is NOCA and what is NCCA accreditation?
The mission of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) is a national membership organization established to promote excellence in competency assurance for practitioners in all occupations and professions.
The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is the accrediting body of NOCA. Established in 1977 under a federal directive from the Carter administration, NCCA's mission is to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the accreditation of certification programs that assess professional competence.
DANB is a member of NOCA and is accredited by NCCA. NCCA accreditation means that DANB meets the highest standards to ensure validity, reliability, and objectivity in the testing process.
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How many certificants are there?
More than 32,000 certificants renew their credentials with DANB each year. There are also 862 Emeritus certificants. (This section is updated the first of each month.)
| Credential | | Number | | CDA | | 29,717 | | COMSA | | 275 | | COA | | 1,489 | | CDPMA | | 423 |
In addition, since 1997, the following number of assistants have passed DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) and Infection Control (ICE) examinations:
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Is DANB part of the ADAA or other dental association? Is DANB a membership organization?
No. In order to maintain objectivity in the examination process and receive NCCA accreditation, independent board governance is necessary. In 1980, DANB separated from its parent, the ADAA. Although no longer directly related, DANB maintains an excellent relationship with the ADAA, other membership organizations, and state dental boards.
DANB's Board of Directors represents the members of the American Dental Association (2), the American Association of Dental Examiners (1), the American Dental Education Association (1), the American Dental Assistants Association (3), DANB Certificants-At-Large (1), and the public (1). Through this representation, DANB maintains its relationships with organized dentistry, while also maintaining its independence.
DANB is not a membership organization. Rather it is a testing and credentialing agency for dental assistants, which maintains a roster of current certificants, and offers benefits associated with professionalism and advocacy, rather than tangible items such as education, insurance and rental car discounts. For those more tangible benefits, contact the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), the body recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) as the member organization for dental assistants.
DANB offers dental assistants the ability to part of an elite group of professionals that have excelled in one or more of the DANB certification programs.
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Why should I be certified? Some DANB Certification benefits.
By passing one of DANB’s examinations, dental assistants are recognized by their employers, patients, and peers as demonstrating exceptional job competency and professionalism. These assistants can then put the DANB certification acronym behind their names. Maintaining DANB certification not only shows personal professional growth and commitment, but also promotes the image of a professional team.
A formal certificate suitable for framing is awarded—ideal for the office environment. Each certificant also receives DANB's quarterly newsletter, Certified Press. Individuals can earn more than one credential providing opportunity for further professional development and skill expertise.
The DANB certificate is self-satisfaction at its peak—setting a goal and achieving it. CDAs, COMSAs, COAs, and CDPMAs can be found everywhere from the solo dental practices to specialty practices, from public health dentistry to dental product companies…even insurance companies processing dental claims. Many DANB certificants also hold prominent positions or offices within the dental assisting associations.
Benefits for the individual dental assistant:
- Colleagues, employers, educators, consumers, state boards of dentistry and other state dental regulatory agencies recognize a DANB certificant's expertise in dental assisting.
- Certification provides a sense of personal achievement that can boost self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Being DANB Certified promotes your professional pride and achievement.
- Certification enhances professional career mobility in the many states that recognize or require a DANB credential or certification, with resultant increase in employment opportunities and earning potential.
- Ongoing association with the ADA-recognized national certifying organization for dental assistants, an organization with the same high standards and professional values you hold.
- Becoming DANB Certified demonstrates a commitment to excellence-only attained by dedicated dental assistants who strive for the best.
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Why should I hire a CDA? Some DANB Certification benefits.
The presence of a DANB certificant in an office only enhances a dental team’s reputation for quality dental care. According to the ADA, “Dental assistants may be the most valuable asset to a dental practice.” In addition to performing technical duties, they play an important role in helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment.
CDAs, COMSAs, COAs, and CDPMAs have proven their skill level and demonstrated their dedication to the dental assisting profession by voluntarily becoming DANB certified. With that type of commitment to their career and to the patient’s dental health and welfare, why wouldn’t you hire a DANB certificant?
Benefits for the employer/dentist:
- DANB Certification signifies that the dental assistant has met or exceeded the national criterion established to measure baseline knowledge and experience in dental assisting and elevates the professional practice standards for dental assistants.
- DANB credentials encourage employers to recruit, retain, and reward choice employees committed to quality and competence.
- Many employers believe that Certification provides a level of professionalism that can positively effect the practice's bottom line.
- DANB-Certified assistants remain in the profession of dental assisting nearly three times longer than their non-certified colleagues - on average 14 years, spending an average of 8 years in the employ of the same dentist.
- Holding DANB Certification may allow assistants to perform expanded duties in certain states-an asset to any office.
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Why should a patient care about certification?
Being DANB Certified makes a difference to patients whose care should be provided by competent/Certified individuals, and also promotes the image of a complete professional dental team. Other benefits for the patient (and the patient's family) are:
- DANB Certification provides assurance that the dental assistant has obtained the knowledge and skills to enable him or her to competently provide the patient with quality care.
- Certification can strengthen a patient's confidence in the dental team - a team that consists of a licensed dentist, registered hygienist and a DANB Certified Assistant.
- Certification enhances a dental assistant's reputation for delivery of quality services, helping to ensure public safety.
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Who sits on the DANB Board of Directors and how are they elected?
The 2006-07 DANB Board of Directors:
Carla Schneider, CDA, RDA—Chair, ADAA Representative (North Dakota)
Brenda Fell, CDA, CDPMA—Vice Chair, ADAA Representative (Utah)
Howard Bell, DDS—Secretary, ADA Representative (Florida)
Marlene Futterman, MA—Public Member (Washington, DC)
Richard Hunt III, DDS—ADA Representative (North Carolina)
Donna Kotyk, CDA, RDH—ADEA Representative (Montana)
Karen Minca, CDPMA—ADAA Representative (Michigan)
Patricia L. Sippel, CDA—Certificant at Large (Pennsylvania)
James Watkins, DDS—AADE Representative (Virginia)
Cynthia C. Durley, MEd, MBA—Executive Director
The nine-member DANB Board of Directors represents:
American Association of Dental Examiners (AADE) (1)
American Dental Association (ADA) (2)
American Dental Education Association (ADEA) (1)
American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) (3)
DANB Certificants (1)
The Public (1)
With regard to AADE, ADA, ADEA, and ADAA representatives, each DANB Board member is nominated by the respective association and elected to represent the organization on the DANB Board of Directors for a term of three years. DANB certificants elect the Certificant-At-Large to fill that Board position. The Board's Nominating Committee elects the public member. A Board member cannot serve more than 2 full terms.
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How can I get information on DANB and its national and state-specific examinations?
| Just pick up the phone: | 1-800-FOR-DANB | | 1-312-642-3368 | | Fax a request: | 1-312-642-1475 | | Drop us a line: | Marketing & Communications | | DANB | | 444 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 900 | | Chicago, IL 60611 | | Stop by our booth: | See convention schedule | | Visit us frequently: | www.danb.org | | E-mail us: | danbmail@danb.org |
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Am I on the DANB mailing list?
Current and Emeritus DANB certificants, dental program directors, state dental societies, dental assisting membership organizations, state ADAA presidents, and many more receive DANB publications, communications, and information. If you would like to add your name to the mailing list or verify your place in our database, please contact Mary GiaQuinta, Director of Marketing & Communications at 1-800-FOR-DANB, extension 415 or email her at marketing@danb.org.
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How do I reach DANB? Who should I talk to?
You can reach DANB at:
Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.
444 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 900
Chicago, IL 60611
1-800-FOR-DANB
312-642-3368
Fax: 312-642-1475
| Recertification/Audit/Continuing Education | x445 | | Marketing/Communications | x415 | | Test Administration | x450 | | Clinical Radiography Programs (AZ, MT, OR only) | x451 | | Document Review | x425 | | Administration/Finance | x420 | | Measurement, Evaluation, Exam Development | x414 | | Client Services | x427, x429, x430, x436 | | Executive Assistant | x411 | | Speakers Bureau | x438 |
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