Dental assisting is an exciting field, with new information and technology constantly emerging. The Dental Assisting National Board’s recertification requirements ensure that Certified Assistants remain on the leading edge of their field.

Recertification Requirements include:

Certification is current for a one-year period. Once certification is earned, the certificant has one year to accrue the appropriate number of CDE hours in order to be eligible to renew the certification. CDE hours can carry over for up to two years. Following the Steps to Renew can help you plan your renewal year.

DANB requires a minimum of 12 CDE hours annually, which is in line with states that have mandatory CDE requirements for dental assistants. For each additional credential, the Certified Assistant must complete an additional six hours of CDE. Requiring CDE means that Certified Assistants continuously improve their knowledge, skills and abilities—thereby ensuring competency, remaining top professionals and providing the highest quality service to the public.

Certified Assistants can earn CDE hours through a number of different means, including completing a DANB-approved CPR certification course, clinical or non-clinical courses, seminars, table clinics or exhibits. In addition, hours can be earned through home study courses, video or audiotapes from convention seminars, reading of accepted dental articles or materials, DANB exams, community participation, college courses or scholarly activity. Review the Recertification Requirements to see how many CDE hours can be earned in each category.

The DANB Professional Development Examination Program (PDEP) is a great way to earn the full 12 hours of required CDE hours. PDEP is an in-home examination program, which is available only to current DANB Certificants. The PDEP packets contain articles researched and selected by DANB’s Exam Committees along with an exam answer sheet. An individual is required to read the articles and then take the exam and mail it back to DANB for scoring. Once DANB scores the PDEP answer sheet, determines each candidate's passing status and sends out the score report, the 12 hours are credited to the Certificant.

Certified Assistants know the value of lifelong learning, and so do their employers. Recertification helps DANB Certificants to stay up-to-date on the latest dental assisting issues and keeps DANB Certificants differentiated from other dental assistants. Maintaining Certification is a commitment to oneself and to the dental assisting profession.

Payment of a renewal fee is due on/before the assigned expiration date (indicated on the renewal statement). A late fee of $10 will be assessed after the certificate expiration date, but within the 3-month grace period. Certificate and wallet card processing takes approximately 4-6 weeks.

Information on recertification is provided in the Recertification Requirements, included in the initial certificate packet, Certified Press newsletter, or upon request. DANB Certificants are randomly selected for CDE verification audit.

Please note: Current COMSA and CDPMA Certificants can continue to renew their credential, provided they meet DANB's Recertification Requirements. Reinstatement of a lapsed COMSA and/or CDPMA certification will only be possible if the credential has lapsed for less than one year.

If certification lapses, the individual is no longer certified and may NOT use the credential or the acronym under any circumstances.