Get EDDA Certified

Expanded dental duties assistant (EDDA) or expanded functions dental assistant (EFDA) certification allows you to perform more specialized duties in a dental office than normal dental assistants. Expanded duties may include giving a patient nitrous oxide, applying sealants, or taking X-rays. EDDA certification varies by state. You may need to take a course, certification program, exam, or clinical training. Once you have completed the requirements, you simply need to fill out the application and provide proof of your training.

Steps

Learning the Requirements

1. Gain experience as a dental assistant. Generally, you need about two years of experience working as a dental assistant in a licensed dental practice before you can become an EDDA.
2. Research the rules and procedures for your state. Requirements for EDDA certification vary widely from state to state. You can check your state’s requirements through the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) website or contact your state dental board.
   • Some states may refer to their programs as “registered” or “licensed” instead of certified.
   • Not all states certify EDDAs. Some places, such as North Carolina, have tiers of dental assistants while other states, such as North Dakota and Oklahoma, certify dental assistants for specific duties in the dental office.
3. Determine if you need previous certifications. In some states, you may need to be certified as a dental assistant before you can start the process of becoming EDDA certified. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification is granted by the DANB. You must take an exam to receive the certification.
   • There are three components of the CDA exam: general chairside assisting (GC), radiology health and safety (RHS), and the infection control exam (ICE). Each are a little over an hour-long, and they can be taken together or separately.
   • In most states, the CDA certification is a different process than your initial licensing requirements to become a dental assistant.
4. Check the radiology laws in your state. Since doing X-rays is an important part of your duties as an EDDA, you may need special training in radiology. Most states will require you to get radiology training, either as part of your EDDA training or as a separate qualification. Make sure you understand the requirements for radiology in your state.
   • Radiology courses can only be completed at state-approved universities. Check with your state’s dental board to see which schools are approved in your area.

Training as an EDDA

1. Complete an official program at a CODA accredited school. Most states require that you complete a EDDA training program at a dentistry school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). These courses can take about a year to complete. They will train you in:
   • The use of nitrous oxide and oxygen on patients
   • Radiology
   • Removing plaque from teeth with coronal scaling and polishing
   • Applying sealants
   • Emergency care
2. Undergo clinical training. Clinical training is on-the-job training that is supervised by a licensed dentist. Some states require it in addition to coursework. Your EDDA program will help you arrange clinical training under a supervising dentist. In some cases, your current employer may be able to supervise you.
   • You may need a certain number of instruction hours on a living human subject. For example, in Illinois, you should have at least 16 hours of training on a human.
   • In some states, you may need to successfully complete a certain number of procedures to finish your training. For example, in Arizona, you must complete twenty direct restorations as well as five prefabricated crowns.
3. Become CPR certified. Most states require you to be CPR certified so that you can resuscitate a patient in case of emergency. These programs can be taken at local community centers, hospitals, gyms, or CODA-accredited schools.
   • Depending on who certified you, CPR certification typically lasts about one or two years. You will need to renew it within six months of its expiration date.
   • CPR classes typically cost between $80 and $120.
4. Take an exam if necessary. While most states do not require exams to become EDDA certified, some may require specific exams, which may be administered by DANB or by the state. The exam you take will depend on the state you live in.
   • For example, in New Mexico, you will need DANB’s coronal polishing (CP) exam and topical flouride (TF) exam as well as a state jurisprudence exam.
   • In Arizona, you must take DANB’s anatomy, morphology and physiology (AMP) exam, temporaries (TMP) exam, and restorative functions (RF) exam.
   • DANB exams are administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. You can find study guides and practice exams on their website for each specific test.

Applying for Certification

1. Fill out the application. Visit the website or office of your state’s dental board to find the application. This application will generally ask for your contact information, coursework, and current certifications. You may also need to provide the names and license numbers of any dentists you work for.
   • The program where you completed your EDDA coursework will likely provide you with the application you need to become EDDA certified.
   • Most states require you to mail the form in with your documents to the state dental board.
   • Some states, such as Pennsylvania, have an online application process.
2. Attach proof of your qualifications. Whenever you finish a course, training, or qualification, you will be sent a certificate or other proof of completion. Make copies of these for your application. You may either include these documents in the envelope with a mailed application or upload them as attachments to an online application. Forms of proof include:
   • Dental school certificate
   • Radiology permit or course certificate
   • CPR card
   • Licensed Dentist Endorsement Form filled out by your supervising dentist
   • Exam results mailed directly from DANB to the state
3. Submit the application. Include payment for the application fee, which can range between $100 to $250. Once you receive your certification, you can start performing your new duties on patients.
   • Once you have submitted the application, it can take up to six weeks to receive your certification.
   • You will usually pay by check or money order, although some states may allow you to pay by card online.

Tips

• Every state has a different definition of what counts as an expanded function or duty in a dental practice. Make sure you understand what an EDDA certification allows you to do in your state.

References

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