Dental assistants share advice for taking (and passing) DANB exams

If you’re feeling nervous about your DANB exam or unsure where to even start studying, you’re not alone! The exams require you to have a strong knowledge of the topic and understand how to apply a variety of concepts, which can feel daunting. Taking an exam is also an investment of time and money, and you want to ensure that your efforts are worthwhile. Not to mention that passing a DANB exam or becoming certified is a significant career milestone — whether you’re taking an exam to meet state requirements, grow your knowledge and confidence, or take on expanded functions.

When you’re preparing for something so impactful on your career, it’s wise to seek guidance from those who’ve done it before. So, we sought out DANB certificants to get their advice, see what they found challenging, and hear how they conquered the challenge! Here’s what they had to say.

Identify the gaps in your knowledge

DANB exams cover a lot of ground. You need a firm understanding of many different concepts and how to apply them, some of which you may not use in the dental office every day. It can feel overwhelming when you start reviewing the exam content. Some dental assistants find it helpful to start by determining areas where their knowledge may be lacking.

“I read through the entire textbook and went over subjects I really didn’t understand and took notes,” shares Emily.

Each exam outline contains suggested reference materials, such as textbooks and resources from leading organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While reviewing the study materials, pay close attention to key terms and concepts. Taking notes as you go along can reinforce your learning.

DANB also has free study guide plans for the three exams required to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA): the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE), and General Chairside Assisting (GC) exams. The study guides break down the material into a week-by-week schedule, providing you with a textbook chapter, review course sections, and practice test topics to cover.

Prioritize self-care

While you may want to study up until the final minute, don’t forget to take care of yourself before the exam.

“I took all three tests in one sitting and made sure I slept well the night before, had breakfast, and had plenty of water,” says Sherri.

Getting a good night’s sleep can give you a clear head, helping you focus during the test and recall information more easily. Eating a meal and drinking water beforehand can keep your full attention on the questions in front of you — rather than how thirsty or hungry you are.

Get familiar with the exam format

DANB exams are customized to best measure your ability. If you get a question correct, the next one will be more difficult. If you get a question wrong, the next one will be easier. Whether you pass depends on the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly, not a specific percentage or number. This means you’ll see questions that are at, or close to, your ability level, rather than receiving questions that are too easy or too hard for you. 

This can be challenging for dental assistants.

“The hardest part of the exam for me was getting the really difficult questions, since the questions become harder the more you answer correctly,” says Janie.

Taking a practice test from the DALE Foundation can help you acclimate to the exam format so there are no surprises on test day. A practice test will also give you a feel for the pace you need to move at and let you mark questions you want to review later.

Don’t overthink

Taking an exam is stressful for some people, which may cause them to overthink the question being asked. Often, the correct answer is the simplest one or the option you gravitate toward initially. But if you’re not sure about an answer, you can always narrow down the options since DANB exams are multiple choice.

“The nice thing about multiple choice is you’ll be able to rule out at least a couple of the answers because they won’t make sense,” says Alicia.