A break down of the top two Dental Assisting Certifications, what they are and how they can further your career. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the programs and other important info, visit www.intelliteccollege.com/consumer-information.php

1. A Dental Assistant
Certification Can Take
Your Career Farther

2. Top Two Dental Assisting
Certifications
1. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
2. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)

3. According to Jennifer Prather, Dental
Assistant Program Supervisor at
IntelliTec College in Grand Junction,
Colorado:
“Anytime a student furthers themselves with a
certification or any type of class it looks really
good for them. For past students they really need
to take their Registered Dental Assisting exam, if
they move to another state they can show that
they completed it and again it looks better. Some
offices will pay a higher rate if someone gets
certified or registered.”

4. 1. Registered Dental Assistant
(RDA) Certification Exam
This examination is given
through the American Medical
Technologists (AMT).

5. 1st Avenue of Eligibility
•Applicants must have graduated or be scheduled to
graduate from an accredited dental assisting
program.
•Training programs must have included content in
office skills, dental sciences, clinical procedures and
dental radiography.
•Applicants must have graduated within the past four
years. (Those who have graduated more than four
years prior to the date of application must provide
evidence of relevant work experience for at least
three of the last five years.)

6. 2nd Avenue of Eligibility
•Applicant must have completed a military dental
assisting program.
•Have completed a minimum of one year of work
experience in the dental assisting profession.
•Training programs must have included content in
office skills, dental sciences, clinical procedures and
dental radiography.
•Applicants must have graduated within the past four
years. (Those who have graduated more than four
years prior to the date of application must provide
evidence of relevant work experience for at least
three of the last five years.)

7. 3rd Avenue of Eligibility
•Applicant must have been employed as a
dental assistant for a minimum of three years.
•Applicant must have a recommendation from
a current or former employer who is a dentist.
•They must also have their high school diploma
or GED.

8. 2. Certified Dental Assistant
(CDA) Certification Exam
This examination is given
through the Dental Assisting National
Board’s (DANB).

9. Eligibility Requirements
•Have completed a minimum of 3,500 hours of work
experience
•Have a high school diploma or GED
•Be certified in CPR
•Have completed a dental assisting program accredited by
the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
•“Individuals who have been trained on the job or have
graduated from non-accredited programs are eligible to
take the national certification examination after they
have completed two years of full-time work experience
as dental assistants.” – American Dental Association

10. Continuing education is required once an individual
has been certified by the Dental Assisting National
Board in order to maintain that certification.

11. In Summary
Obtaining a dental assisting certification,
especially one of the two mentioned in
this article, is a vital component in
getting and maintaining a lasting career
in the dental assisting field.

12. Learn more about hands-on career training at
Programs at www.IntelliTec.edu
or call 1-800-724-9636.
For more information about our
graduation rates, the median debt of
students who completed the programs
and other important info, visit
www.intelliteccollege.com/consumer-
information.php

13. Sources
• Jennifer Prather, C.D.A, E.F.D.A – Dental Assistant Program Supervisor at IntelliTec College in
Grand Junction, Colorado.
• “Dental Assistant Education and Training Requirements.” Education/Careers. American
Dental Association, 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://www.ada.org/en/education-
careers/careers-in-dentistry/dental-team-careers/dental-assistant/education-training-
requirements-dental-assistant
• “Exams & Certifications.” Dental Assisting National Board: Measuring Dental Assisting
Excellence. Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2015.
http://www.danb.org/Become-Certified/Exams-and-Certifications.aspx
• “How to Become a Certified Dental Assistant.” Everest College. Corinthian Colleges, n.d.
Web. 30 Dec. 2014. http://dentalassistant.everestcollege.edu/certified-dental-assistant
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-
15 Edition, Dental Assistants,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-4
• “Dental Assistant Certification.” American Medical Technologists. American Medical
Technologists (AMT), n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
http://www.americanmedtech.org/GetCertified/RDAEligibility.aspx