Recertification Requirements

Recertification FAQs

• Where can I earn the 12 required CDE credits?

  Some of the ways you can earn CDE credits are through DANB with the Professional Development Examination Program (PDEP) or through the official DANB affiliate, the DALE Foundation, which offers interactive e-learning courses. 

  Some other ways to find CDE providers include:

  • Contacting the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)
  • Contacting your state dental association

• How can CDE be earned?

  There are many ways to earn CDE credits to fulfill DANB’s Recertification Requirements. These include college courses, conventions, teaching CDE, passing a DANB exam, reading dental journals, home study courses and online courses. To see all of the CDE categories, go to DANB's Recertification Requirements.

• Are CDE credits good for more than one year?

  Yes, in certain cases. Any CDE credits that are earned in excess of the number required in that year can be carried over to the next renewal period. When you are carrying over credits, proof of participation must be provided for the year the credits were earned and the year being audited, if necessary.

  For example, a CDA has 18 CDE credits (all of which comply with the Recertification Requirements and credit maximums). Twelve are accepted for 2012. The remaining six credits are applied toward 2013. If the CDA is audited in 2013, the 12 credits counted in 2012, the six carried over from 2012 and the other six earned in 2012 must all be submitted, because credits were carried from one renewal period to another.

• What type of documentation is acceptable for proof of CDE participation?

  Acceptable forms of proof of participation include a certificate or letter from the sponsor of the program, a DANB approval number for the course, or a college transcript. For courses attended at a convention, send the CDE printout from the meeting. If the meeting does not provide printouts, note the course completion number given at the end of the presentation next to the entry in the program guide. A copy of your name badge serves as proof of attendance at courses or exhibits.

• Why is there mandatory CPR?

  Dental assistants are responsible for patient care. In an emergency, you may be the only one who can attend to a patient immediately. For example, an emergency may occur while you are attending to a patient in exam room 1 while the dentist is with another patient in exam room 2. You are closest to the patient and can administer care or CPR as appropriate.

• Does my CPR certification qualify for CDE credits?

  No. As of January 1, 2012, DANB certificants must hold current DANB-accepted CPR certifications, but DANB no longer counts CDE credits for CPR toward meeting DANB's Recertification Requirements.

• Will DANB accept a stress management course or practice management course?

  DANB will accept these courses under the dental office management category (Category 2). DANB allows three credits of CDE in Category 2 for CDAs, COAs, CPFDAs or COMSAs. For CDPMAs, DANB allows up to six credits of CDE in this category.

• Why are there annual maximums for number of credits earned in many of the CDE categories?

  Some of the questions and comments DANB receives are:

  • “Can I earn all of my CDE credits in practice management? Front desk duties are part of my job”
  • “I run the front desk; I don't chairside anymore”
  • “I went on an international mission and volunteered for two weeks. Can I earn 12 credits for that?”

  The DANB CDA and COA exams focus on clinical duties. Therefore, it is important that knowledge is obtained in all areas of dentistry, not just one. While a CDA’s, COA’s or COMSA’s tasks may include administrative duties, direct clinical patient care is the primary role. Only CDPMAs are allowed to earn six credits annually in Category 2 dental office management courses, since topics such as management, computer software training, insurance and others are certification specific.

  Technology in dentistry changes every day. Professional dental assistants must educate themselves about those changes to continue to be effective, valuable members to the dental assisting profession and to the dental care team.

• How should I complete the CDE Recording Form?

  The CDE Recording Form is on the last page of DANB’s Recertification Requirements. Information should be itemized as follows:

  • Column 1 (date): Enter the date that you attended or completed a course, seminar, etc.
  • Column 2 (credits): Enter the number of credits earned in compliance with DANB’s Recertification Requirements
  • Column 3 (category): Enter the category number that corresponds with DANB’s Recertification Requirements
  • Column 4 (sponsor): Enter the name of the person or company that presented or provided the course
  • Column 5 (program title): Enter the title of the course

  Refer to DANB's Recertification Requirements while completing your CDE Recording Form to ensure that the credits you are submitting are in compliance. Keep in mind that certain CDE categories have annual maximums. Proof of participation (copies of certificates, attendance forms, etc.) must be provided to earn credit if audited. Do not send proof unless you receive notification from DANB.

  Be sure to review DANB's Recertification Requirements each year. The DANB Certificant Services Committee reviews DANB’s Recertification Requirements annually to determine if updated should be made to reflect changes in the profession, Certificants’ feedback and trends in the dental community.

  DANB's Recertification Requirements (PDF) 

• When will I receive my renewal certificate or wallet card?

  The entire renewal process, from DANB’s receipt of payment to your receipt of certificate, takes approximately four weeks. This timeframe includes processing, data entry and certificate printing and mailing. This timeframe still applies if a renewal payment is made at the end of the three-month grace period.

• Why am I being audited?

  DANB randomly selects Certificants for verification, or audit, of CDE. Although the renewal fee has been paid and the Certificant has attested to earning CPR and CDE, DANB performs an audit to verify the signed statement.

• How does the audit process work?

  Certificants simply submit proof of education or attendance in compliance with DANB's Recertification Requirements (see accepted documentation under each category) with a completed CDE form for DANB to review. Once DANB has reviewed and approved the documentation, the Certificant receives a new certificate within a week.

  If the submitted credits do not comply with the appropriate number of credits per category, the credits do not meet DANB's Recertification Requirements, or proof is not provided, the Certificant receives a Non-Compliance letter indicating the deficiency in the audit. The Certificant is encouraged to submit additional proof or, in some cases, use the grace period to earn additional credits to comply. Once the audit is approved, a new certificate is processed.

• Why would a Certificant fail an audit?

  The following are some of the reasons a Certificant might fail a DANB audit:

  • Failure to include proof of DANB-accepted CPR
  • Failure to include proof of CDE participation
  • Submitting credits earned outside of the renewal period being audited
  • Earning too many credits in a category that has a maximum
  • Submitting an insufficient number of credits
  • Submitting proof of attending courses not compliant with the current DANB Recertification Requirements
    

• How do I reinstate my DANB Certification if I allowed it to lapse?

  Lapsed DANB certifications may be reinstated, depending on how long the certification has been expired. If your DANB certification has lapsed and you would like to reinstate it, please contact DANB's Senior Coordinator, Recertification, at 1-800-367-3262, ext. 451.