Ohio State Requirements

Radiography Requirements

To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in Ohio under the direct supervision of a dentist, a dental assistant must meet the requirements shown below.

• Radiography Requirements

  A dental assistant must be state certified as a Dental X-Ray Machine Operator. To obtain this certification, one must:

  1a.  Be a Certified Assistant (see requirements below), or

  1b.  Complete an Ohio Board-approved training course in dental radiography, including a clinical section (Note: The DALE Foundation's DANB RHS Review Course meets this requirement. See instructions below.*),

  or 

  1c.  Hold a license, certificate, or other credential issued by another state that the Ohio State Dental Board deems equivalent to Ohio’s standards for dental assistant radiographer certification, AND

  2.  Apply to the Ohio State Dental Board for certification as a Dental X-Ray Machine Operator. 

  A Dental X-Ray Machine Operator may perform radiologic procedures when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location where the radiologic procedures are performed if the supervising dentist examined the patient not more than one year prior to the date the Dental X-Ray Machine Operator performs the radiologic procedures and the supervising dentist has ordered the radiologic procedures.

  *Instructions for completing option 1b using the DALE Foundation's DANB RHS Review Course:
  
  A. Purchase and complete the DALE Foundation's online DANB RHS Review course. The Ohio State Dental Board requires a minimum of 75% on the post-course assessment.
  
  B. Within 60 days of successfully completing the DANB RHS Review course, submit the completed Affidavit of Ohio Clinical Radiography Training form and a $40 processing fee to the DALE Foundation. Forms may be submitted via email, mail or fax as noted at the bottom of the form. The DALE Foundation accepts credit card, check or money order.
  
  C. Approximately 3-4 weeks after submitting the completed form and payment, the DALE Foundation will send an email notification to the candidate informing him or her that the Ohio Clinical Radiography Training form has been processed and the Ohio State Dental Board has been notified that the education and clinical components of Ohio's dental radiography requirements have been met.
  
  D. Contact the Ohio State Dental Board to complete the Ohio dental assistant radiographer certificate application process. It is the candidate's responsibility to read and comply with the current laws and guidelines provided by the Ohio State Dental Board. Candidates should retain a copy of the DALE Foundation email from step 1c. and submit it to the Ohio State Dental Board along with the application. Click here to apply online. 
  

  Learn more about DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification

Dental Assisting Job Titles and Requirements for Each Level

• Basic Qualified Personnel (BQP)

  Basic Qualified Personnel must be trained directly via an employer/dentist, via a planned sequence of instruction in an educational institution or via in-office training.

  Monitor Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen (N₂O-O₂ ) Minimal Sedation: A dental assistant working at the basic qualified personnel (BQP) level may monitor nitrous oxide-oxygen (N₂O-O₂ ) minimal sedation if he or she
  
  1. Is at least 18 years of age, AND
  
  2. Has completed an accepted basic life-support training course and remains current at all times when monitoring N₂O-O₂, AND
  
  3a. Has successfully completed a six-hour course in N₂O-O₂ monitoring from an Ohio State Dental Board-approved permanent sponsor, or
  
  3b. Has graduated on or after 1/1/10 from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program that included equivalent training, or
  
  3c. Holds a current credential issued by another state for the monitoring of N₂O-O₂ and received training that was substantially equivalent to the Ohio training requirements, AND
  
  4. Has at least two years of active practice and at least 3,000 hours of experience in the practice of dental assisting.
  
  NOTE: All dental health care workers in Ohio must show evidence of immunity to or immunization against the hepatitis B virus, unless a waiver has been granted.

• Certified Assistant

  The Ohio State Dental Board recognizes the following two dental assisting certifications:

  1. DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, or

  2. Certified Ohio Dental Assistant certification administered by the Ohio Commission on Dental Assistant Certification (OCDAC)

  Current holders of either of these certifications are considered Certified Assistants.

  Current Certified Assistants may qualify to perform placement of pit and fissure sealants and to earn a state certificate in coronal polishing by meeting additional requirements.
  
  Coronal Polishing: In order to receive a certificate from the Ohio State Dental Board permitting the dental assistant to perform coronal polishing procedures, a current Certified Assistant** must:
  
  1.  Successfully complete an Ohio Board-approved training program in coronal polishing, AND
  
  2.  Successfully pass standardized testing immediately following successful completion of a skills assessment component of an approved training program, or pass DANB's Coronal Polish (CP) exam, AND
  
  3.  Apply to the Ohio State Dental Board for certification to perform coronal polishing.

  **Please note: Holders of the Ohio coronal polishing certificate must maintain DANB CDA certification or Certified Ohio Dental Assistant certification through OCDAC to perform coronal polishing. 
  
  Pit and Fissure Sealants: Certified Assistants may perform pit and fissure sealants upon successfully completing a course containing a minimum of two hours of didactic instruction and six hours of clinical instruction. In addition, the supervising dentist must observe the assistant successfully apply at least six sealants.

  NOTE: Certified Assistants may perform specified functions when the supervising dentist is not physically present (for not more than 15 consecutive business days), subject to the conditions listed below.

  NOTE: All dental health care workers in Ohio must show evidence of immunity to or immunization against the hepatitis B virus, unless a waiver has been granted.
  
  Learn more about DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification

  Learn more about DANB's Coronal Polish (CP) exam

• Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA)

  To perform expanded functions under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist in the state of Ohio, a dental assistant must qualify as an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA). To qualify as an EFDA, one must:
  
  1a.  Be an unlicensed dentist who has graduated from an accredited dental college and does not have a dental license under suspension or revocation by the OSDB, OR
  
  1b.  Be a dental student who is enrolled in an accredited dental college and is in good standing as a dental student, OR
  
  1c.  Be a graduate of an unaccredited dental college located outside the United States, OR
  
  1d. Be a Certified Assistant (see definition and requirements above), OR

  1e. Be a dental hygienist licensed by the OSBD in good standing, OR

  1f. Be a dental hygienist who has graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program and does not have a dental hygiene license under suspension or revocation by the OSBD, AND 

  2. Complete an Ohio Board-approved EFDA training course that is accredited by either the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools' Higher Learning Commission (course may require proof of DANB CDA certification for entry), AND 

  3. Pass the EFDA exam administered by the Commission on Dental Testing in Ohio (CODT) or the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), AND

  4. Complete a basic life support (BLS) training course certified by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or American Safety and Health Institute, AND 

  5. Apply to the Ohio State Dental Board for registration as an EFDA. 

  Note: An EFDA may not perform coronal polishing unless he or she has met the requirements described above Certified Assistants and received a state certificate in coronal polishing from the Ohio State Board of Dentistry.

  An EFDA may apply pit and fissure sealants prior to a dentist examining the patient and rendering a diagnosis, if all of the conditions below have been met. 

  Note: All dental health care workers in Ohio must show evidence of immunity to or immunization against the hepatitis B virus, unless a waiver has been granted.
  
  CODA-Accredited Dental Assisting Programs

• Conditions for Performing Functions When Dentist Is Not Present

  A Certified Assistant or an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) may perform specified functions when the supervising dentist is not physically present, for not more than 15 consecutive business days, under the following conditions:

  1. The Certified Assistant or EFDA has at least 2 years/3,000 hours experience as a dental assistant or EFDA
  2. The Certified Assistant or EFDA successfully completes a board-approved course in identification and prevention of potential medical emergencies
  3. The supervising dentist has evaluated the skills of the Certified Assistant or EFDA, and made a determination that the Certified Assistant or EFDA is competent to treat patients without the dentist being physically present
  4. The supervising dentist examined the patient not more than one year prior to the date that the Certified Assistant or EFDA provides the services to the patient
  5. The supervising dentist has established written protocols or written standing orders for the Certified Assistant or EFDA to follow during and in the absence of an emergency
  6. The supervising dentist completed and evaluated a medical and dental history of the patient not more than one year prior to the date that the Certified Assistant or EFDA provides services to the patient, and the supervising dentist determines that the patient is in a medically stable condition
  7. The patient is notified, in advance of the appointment for services, that the supervising dentist will be absent from the location and that the Certified Assistant or EFDA cannot diagnose the patient's dental health care status
  8. The Certified Assistant or EFDA is employed by, or under contract with, the supervising dentist, a government entity that employs the dental assistant to provide services in a public school or in connection with other programs the government entity administers, or a dentist licensed under this chapter who is one of the following:

  (i) The employer of the supervising dentist
  
  (ii) A shareholder in a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a shareholder
  
  (iii) A member or manager of a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a member or manager
  
  (iv) A shareholder in a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a shareholder
  
  (v) A partner or employee of a partnership or a limited liability partnership formed under Chapter 1775. or 1776. of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a partner or employee
  
  A Certified Assistant or an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA), may perform application of pit and fissure sealants prior to the dentist examining the patient and rendering a diagnosis under the following conditions:

  9. All of the conditions listed above, with the exception of items 4 and 6

  10. The Certified Assistant or EFDA is providing the service as part of a program operated through any of the following: a school district board of education or the governing board of an educational service center; the board of health of a city or general health district or the authority having the duties of a board of health; a national, state, district, or local dental association; or any other public or private entity recognized by the state dental board

  11. The supervising dentist for the program is employed by or a volunteer for, and the patients are referred by, the entity through which the program is operated and is available for consultation by telephone, videoconferencing, or other means of electronic communication 

  12. The application of sealants is limited to erupted permanent posterior teeth without suspicion of dentinal cavitation

  13. For minor patients, a parent or other person responsible for the patient is notified that a dentist will not be present and that the dental assistant is not trained to diagnose or treat other serious dental concerns that could exist