How do I interpret my overall score?
How many questions did I have to answer correctly in order to pass?
What if I did not pass all of the CDA, COA or CPFDA component exams?
Will anyone else receive my exam scores?
What if my name or address changes after I have applied to take the exam?
What is DANB's retest policy?
What is DANB's hand scoring policy?
Can I get a duplicate score report?
Can I get a duplicate certificate?
How can someone verify Certification or Certificates of Competency?
How can I appeal a DANB decision?
How do I interpret my overall score?
DANB presents exam results as scaled scores. DANB scaled scores range from a low of 100 to a high of 900, with 400 being required to pass each component exam. DANB also provides sub-content performance ratings, which provide useful information regarding each candidate’s performance in each of the sub-content areas on the exams. Subtest scores are rated as low average, average, or high average. Sub-content performance ratings are a reflection on how well a candidate performed in a particular content area of the exam and cannot be used in any way to determine overall status on the component exam. Knowledge of an area of weakness is a useful tool to help plan for further study. The overall status is related solely to a criterion-referenced minimum passing score for each exam in its entirety, and not to any combination of sub-content performance ratings.
DANB highly recommends studying the areas in which a candidate receives a descriptor of “Low Average.” DANB recommends reviewing areas in which the candidate receives a description of “Average.” A descriptor of “High Average” in a subtest indicates that the exam candidate likely has solid understanding of the area.
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How many questions did I have to answer correctly in order to pass?
Minimum passing requirements are based on content, not on a percentage of items correct. Therefore, the number or percent of questions answered correctly/incorrectly will not be disclosed. DANB Exam Committees establish passing standards (the minimum score required to pass a particular DANB exam) using standard psychometric procedures for criterion-referenced tests. DANB’s Board of Directors approves all DANB exam passing standards. Candidates are expected to perform at or above the Board-established standard to pass each exam.
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What if I did not pass all of the CDA, COA or CPFDA component exams?
If a candidate takes the full Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) or Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) exam, but does not pass all the component exams (Radiation Health and Safety [RHS], Infection Control [ICE], General Chairside [GC] for the CDA; ICE and Orthodontic Assisting [OA] for the COA; and Coronal Polish [CP], Sealants [SE], Topical Anesthetic [TA] and Topical Fluoride [TF] for the CPFDA), the candidate need only reapply and pay exam fees to take the component(s) that were not passed in order to earn CDA, COA or CPFDA Certification. All the necessary component exams for the CDA and COA exam must be passed within five years for a candidate to become certified. For the CPFDA Certification, all component exams must be passed within three years to earn certification. To earn CDA, COA, and/or CPFDA Certification, eligibility requirements must be met and appropriate documentation submitted. Certificates of Competency will be issued if the candidate passes the RHS, ICE, CP, SE, TA and/or TF component exam(s). (Please note: Certificates of Competency are not Certifications.)
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Will anyone else receive my exam scores?
Exam scores will not be mailed to employers or any individuals other than the candidate. Because the RHS, ICE, CP, SE, TA, TF, CDA, COA, and/or CPFDA exams may be required to meet state regulations, passing or failing status on these exams is a matter of public record and so will be released to anyone on request over the phone or upon submission of a Request for Credential Verification form. DANB releases a candidate’s exam score and verifies RHS, ICE, CP, SE, TA, TF, GC, OA and/or CDA, COA and CPFDA passing status to state regulatory agencies in compliance with a state requirement. DANB also releases aggregate (grouped) exam results to Program Directors for candidates who are graduates from or students in the Program Director’s dental assisting program. Duplicate score reports and RHS, ICE, CP, SE, TA, TF, GC, OA exam and DANB certification pass/fail verification are available from DANB in the form of a written verification letter.
with a state requirement. DANB also releases aggregate (grouped) exam results to Program Directors for candidates
who are graduates from or students in the Program Director’s dental assisting program. Duplicate score
reports and exam and certification pass/fail verification are available from DANB in the form
of a written verification letter.
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What if my name or address changes after I have applied to take the exam?
It is the candidate’s responsibility to notify DANB of name and/or address changes or any spelling errors in the candidate’s name. Contact DANB by phone at 1-800-367-3262, by email at danbmail@danb.org, or by fax or regular mail. DANB charges a $25 fee for reprinting a certificate for a name change or name spelling change once the original certificate has been printed.
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What is DANB's retest policy?
If a candidate takes the full certification exam or the RHS/ICE exam in the same test administration, but does not pass all of the component exams, the candidate only needs to reapply and retake the component exams that he or she failed. Certificates of Competency will be issued if the candidate passes the component exam(s). Component exams may be applied to meet specific DANB certification exam requirements within five years of passing a component exam (within five years for the CPFDA certification). A candidate does not have to retake passed component exams if DANB Certification is completed within a five-year period of passing the first component (or a three-year period for CPFDA certification). State laws may require additional schooling after failed attempts. Check with the state board of dentistry. Go to the state-specific information section of DANB’s website at www.danb.org for links to each state’s dental board.
Please call DANB at 1-800-367-3262 or go to www.danb.org/main/examinations.asp to obtain a new Application Packet.
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What is DANB's hand scoring policy?
Hand scoring of an exam is available on request. A candidate must submit a Request for Hand Scoring of Exam Results form along with a $25 hand scoring fee so that it is received by DANB (via mail or fax) within 30 days after the official score date printed on the score report or certificate received. Hand scoring of the exam is typically completed within 30 days of receipt of a request. If the pass/fail status is reversed as a result of the hand scoring, the $25 fee will be refunded to the candidate. Requests for hand scoring of an exam will not be honored after 30 days from the official score date.Requests for hand scoring of an exam will not be honored after 30 days from the official score date.
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Can I get a duplicate score report?
Duplicate score reports are available for exams taken within the last 5 years from the date of the request. An
individual must submit a Request for a Duplicate Score Report form, along with the $25 fee for each score report. Exam score reports older than five years are not available, though DANB will verify Certifications or Certificates of Competency earned more than 5 years ago. Note: Score reports will not be released to employers or any other individuals, except on written request of the candidate, unless required by state regulatory agencies. Verification of a DANB Certification and/or Certificate of Competency passing status is available from DANB. For more information, see below.
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Can I get a duplicate certificate?
Duplicate certificates are available for $25. Due to the addition of the ICE component of the CDA and COA exams, for candidates who have allowed their certification to lapse, duplicate certificates may only be requested if the certification was earned on 6/1/93 or later for the CDA or 6/1/94 or later for the COA. A Request for a Duplicate Certificate form along with the $25 fee must be submitted to DANB. Because DANB provides several opportunities for candidates to correct errors, including the Test Admission Notice, this $25 duplicate certificate fee also applies for any reprint of a certificate due to a spelling error.
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How can someone verify Certification or Certificates of Competency?
DANB will verify Certification
or Certificates of Competency exam pass/fail status and the effective date(s) by mail or phone to anyone
on request, since this information is a matter of public record and may be disclosed. Only a candidate or employer
may request written verification by mail or fax by submitting a Request for Credential Verification form along with
a $10 verification fee to DANB. The $10 fee covers one letter which can be used to verify multiple certificate(s),
credential(s) and/or passing of an exam(s). An official verification letter is not a duplicate certificate.
Online verification through DANB’s website may consist of online display of the candidate’s name, current DANB Certification status with dates earned, and the city and state of residence. A candidate’s full address will not be posted online by DANB.
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How can I appeal a DANB decision?
If a candidate wishes to appeal a DANB decision relative to eligibility, administrative or
exam content issues, he or she may submit a Request for Reconsideration Under DANB’s Review and Appeal
Process form or a letter requesting reconsideration of the decision, along with a $25 appeal fee to DANB’s Executive
Director within 30 days of the date on the DANB correspondence that prompts the candidate to appeal (i.e.,
date on the letter indicating the candidate’s application was incomplete, date on candidate score report letter. The policy governing the review and appeal process is available by contacting DANB’s Coordinator, Executive Liaisons at 1-800-367-3262, ext 462. DANB’s Review and Appeal Policy and Procedures are available on the Appeal's Policy page.
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