Become a certified dental assistant in San Francisco
To become a certified dental assistant in San Francisco, there are several steps that need to be taken. First, an individual must complete a dental assisting program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). These programs typically take anywhere from 9 months to 2 years to complete and cover topics such as dental anatomy, radiography, infection control, and dental materials.
After completing the dental assisting program, the individual must pass the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exam. This exam consists of three components: general chairside assisting, radiation health and safety, and infection control. Once the individual has passed all three components of the exam, they will receive their Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential.
In addition to completing the dental assisting program and passing the DANB exam, the individual must also meet certain eligibility requirements to become certified. These requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent, current CPR certification, and a certain number of hours of on-the-job training or experience.