Exam Eligibility Requirements

Exam Eligibility Requirements

• NELDA Pathways

  Pathway I: 
  1. Graduation from a dental assisting program located within a post-secondary institution that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education but is NOT CODA-accredited, AND
  2. High school graduation or equivalent, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider
  
  Pathway II: 
  1. Graduation from a U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps dental assisting program, AND
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider
  
  Pathway III: 
  1. Successful completion of a DANB-accepted dental assisting program located within a high school that is recognized by a state or federal agency in the U.S. education system, AND
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider
  
  Pathway IV: 
  1. High school graduation or equivalent, AND
  2. Minimum of 300 and up to a maximum of 3,000 hours work experience as a dental assistant, accrued over a period of at least two months and no more than three years; employment must be verified by a licensed dentist, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  NELDA Application Packet (PDF) 

  DANB-accepted dental assisting programs for NELDA certification

• CDA and GC Pathways

  Pathway I: 
  1. Graduation from a CODA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program, AND
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway II: 
  1. High school graduation or equivalent, AND
  2. Minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway III: 
  1. Former DANB CDA status, or graduation from or enrollment in a CODA-accredited DDS or DMD program, or graduation from a dental degree program outside the U.S. or Canada, OR graduation from or enrollment in a post-baccalaureate program affiliated with a U.S. or Canadian dental school on DANB’s list of accepted postbaccalaureate programs, AND
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  CDA Application Packet (PDF) 

• COA and OA Pathways

  Pathway I: 
  1. Minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience, AND
  2. Current or former DANB CDA certification, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway II: 
  1. High school graduation or equivalent, AND
  2. Minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience, AND 
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway III: 
  1. Completion of an orthodontic assisting preparation course from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program, AND
  2. Current DANB CDA certification, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway IV: 
  1. Former DANB COA status, or graduation from a CODA-accredited DDS or DMD program in the U.S. or Canada, or graduation from a dental degree program outside the U.S. or Canada, AND
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  COA Application Packet (PDF) 

• CPFDA Pathways

  Pathway I: 
  1. Current DANB CDA certification, AND
  2. Verification of knowledge- or performance-based competency in each of the three CPFDA functions. Each function must be verified individually through one of the following options. The documentation must indicate that the expanded functions/duties or preventive functions/duties were included in the course curriculum. 
  • Successful completion of a course on the CPFDA functions offered by or within a CODA-accredited dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental program, or 
  • Successful completion of a state dental board-approved course on the CPFDA functions, or 
  • Dentist verification of knowledge or performance of the CPFDA function, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway II: 
  1. Graduation from a CODA-accredited dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental program, AND 
  2. Verification of knowledge- or performance-based competency in each of the three CPFDA functions. Each function must be verified individually through one of the following options. The documentation must indicate that expanded functions/duties or preventive functions/duties were included in the course curriculum.
  • Successful completion of a course on the CPFDA functions offered by or within a CODA-accredited dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental program, or
  • Successful completion of a state dental board-approved course on the CPFDA functions, or
  • Dentist verification of knowledge or performance of the CPFDA function, AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway III: 
  1. Former DANB CDA whose certification lapsed no more than two years ago, AND
  2. Minimum of 3,500 hours work experience as a dental assistant, accrued over the previous four years (employment must be verified by a licensed dentist), AND
  3. Verification of knowledge- or performance-based competency in each of the three CPFDA functions. Each CPFDA function must be verified individually through one of the following options. The documentation must indicate that expanded functions/duties or preventive functions/duties were included in the course curriculum.
  • Successful completion of a course on the CPFDA functions offered by or within a CODA-accredited dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental program, or
  • Successful completion of a state dental board-approved course on the CPFDA functions, or
  • Dentist verification of knowledge or performance of the CPFDA function, AND
  4. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  Pathway IV: 
  1. Current Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) license*, AND
  2. Minimum of 3,500 hours work experience as a dental assistant, accrued over the previous four years (employment must be verified by a licensed dentist), AND
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  * If RDH license is issued in Alabama and the candidate is not a graduate of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program, candidate must meet the requirements of Pathway I, II or III.

  CPFDA Application Packet (PDF)

• CRFDA Pathways

  Pathway I
  1. Current or former DANB CDA whose certification lapsed for no more than two years.
  
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider
  
  Pathway II
  1. Graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited dental assisting or hygiene program, or Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) status (from any state except Alabama). 
  
  2. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider
  
  Pathway III
  1. Completion of an Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) or restorative course/program offered by an institution with a CODA-accredited dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental program. Each function does not have to be listed separately, but the documentation must indicate that expanded functions/duties or restorative functions/duties were included in the course curriculum.
  
  2. Minimum of 3,500 hours work experience as a dental assistant, accrued during the previous two to four years; employment must be verified by a licensed dentist.
  
  3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider
  
  CRFDA Application Packet (PDF)