Dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination that evaluates their knowledge. Most dental assistants who choose to become nationally certified take the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
Students typically complete a dental assistant program at either a community college or technical school. Programs often take one to two years to complete, depending on whether a student is pursuing a certificate, diploma or associate degree. In addition to classroom teaching, most programs provide hands-on learning opportunities in a clinical setting. Coursework commonly includes:
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