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Welcome to the Dental Assisting Program

NEW REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE DENTAL BOARD’S
DENTAL ASSISTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND COURSE APPROVALS

Please note changes to the California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Sections 1070, 1070.1, 1070.2, 1070.6, 1070.7, 1070.8, and 1071 will become effective November 11, 2011.  These amended regulations impact approved and proposed providers of Registered Dental Assistant Educational Programs, Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions Programs, Infection Control Courses, Orthodontic Assistant Permit Courses, and Dental Sedation Assistant Permit Courses.  Programs and courses that already have Board approval will need to demonstrate compliance with the new regulations by submitting a Notice of Compliance to the Dental Board of California no later than 90 days from the effective date of the regulations, which is by February 9, 2012.

If you are a Board-approved provider of the aforementioned programs or courses that was approved by the Board prior to January 1, 2011, you should have received a Notice of Compliance for your program or course.  If you have not received a Notice of Compliance from the Board by mail, you may print a notice by selecting the correct form for your type of course under the “Dental Assisting Educational Programs and Courses, California Code of Regulations, Sections 1070, 1070.1, 1070.2, 1070.6, 1070.7, 1070.8, and 1071” heading at the following link:  http://www.dbc.ca.gov/lawsregs.  Read and follow the directions listed on the form to help ensure compliance with the new regulations. If you are a new provider who is seeking approval, you must comply with these new regulations to secure and maintain approval from the Board.

The responsibilities of the Dental Assisting Program are the following:

   (1) To review and evaluate all applications for licensure in all dental assisting categories to determine whether a candidate meets the appropriate licensing requirements specified by statute and board regulations.
   (2) To maintain application records, cashier application fees, and perform any other administrative tasks as are incidental to the application process.
   (3) To delegate any or all of the functions in this subdivision to its staff.
   (4) To issue dental assistant licenses in all cases, except where there is a question as to a licensing requirement.
   (5) To develop or administer examinations, and set pass points for all dental assisting licensing examinations.
   (6) To be responsible for all aspects of the license renewal process.
   (7) To review applications for approval of instruction of dental assisting programs or courses, and approve or deny applicants.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL UNLICENSED DENTAL ASSISTANTS

Business and Professions Code, Section 1750.  (a) A dental assistant is an individual who, without a license, may perform basic supportive dental procedures, as authorized by Section 1750.1 and by regulations adopted by the board, under the supervision of a licensed dentist. "Basic supportive dental procedures" are those procedures that have technically elementary characteristics, are completely reversible, and are unlikely to precipitate potentially hazardous conditions for the patient being treated.
   (b) The supervising licensed dentist shall be responsible for determining the competency of the dental assistant to perform the basic supportive dental procedures, as authorized by Section 1750.1.
   (c) The employer of a dental assistant shall be responsible for ensuring that the dental assistant who has been in continuous employment for 120 days or more, has already successfully completed, or successfully completes, all of the following within a year of the date of employment:
   (1) A board-approved course in the Dental Practice Act.
   (2) A board-approved 8 hour course in infection control.
   (3) A course in basic life support offered by an instructor approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, or any other course approved by the board as equivalent and that provides the student the opportunity to engage in hands-on simulated clinical scenarios.
   (d) The employer of a dental assistant shall be responsible for ensuring that the dental assistant maintains certification in basic life support.
   (e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2010.

If additional information is needed, please email Dawn.Dill@dca.ca.gov.

Richard E. DeCuir
Executive Officer
Dental Board of California

 

2012 RDA EXAMINATION SCHEDULE (9/15/11)

Following are the confirmed RDA practical examination dates in California for 2012.  The actual examination dates and sites are subject to change, the final filing dates will not change.  Applications will NOT be accepted before the filing period opens.  Applications must be postmarked no later than the end of the filing period. 

Applicants will be provided specific information about the content of the Practical exam, and directions for scheduling the written examinations, when they are notifiied that their application has been approved.

 

Examination Date	Examination Location	Filing Period
February 11 and 12, 2012	Carrington College, Pomona	Nov. 4, 2011 – Dec. 4, 2011
February 25 and 26, 2012	UC, San Francisco
April 14 and 15, 2012	Carrington College, Pomona	Jan. 5 – Feb. 5, 2012
April 28 and 29, 2012	UC,  San Francisco
August 4 and 5, 2012	Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria	April 1 – June 1, 2012
August 11 and 12, 2012	UC, San Francisco
August 25 and 26, 2012	Carrington College, Pomona
November 3 and 4, 2012	UC, San Francisco	Aug. 3 to Sept. 3, 2012
November 17 and 18, 2012	Carrington College, Pomona

 

Carrington College
901 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 300
Pomona, CA 91768

UCSF, School of Dentistry
707 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143

Allan Hancock College
800 South College
Santa Maria, CA 93454

Employment Opportunities - Subject Matter Expert and/or Site Evaluator

The Dental Board of California is currently looking for RDA Educators to join our team of consultants as Subject Matter Experts and/or Site Evaluators.  You will have the opportunity to assist the Board with its mandate to protect the public by reviewing and making recommendations regarding dental assisting educational programs and courses trying to obtain Dental Board of California approval.  For further information, please visit our website at:  http://www.dbc.ca.gov/about_us/employment_opp_sme.shtml