Side by Side - Summer 2015 - 7


Professional Growth

"Individuals who
have DANB credentials
tend to stay in practice
about three times longer
than those who
aren't certified"
such as Expanded Function Dental Assistant
(EFDA) or Registered Dental Assistant (RDA),
each of which represents something different in
every state that offers them. Note: before most
states allow delegation of expanded duties to
dental assistants, they must demonstrate their
qualifications and education in order to receive
a state permit, registration, or license to perform
those functions.
"Therefore, it's very important for any dental
assistant interested in earning higher wages and
remaining employable to invest in themselves
by earning whatever credential is recognized in
those states," Durley explains. "Earning DANB's
national certifications allows assistants greater
state-to-state mobility." Not only does earning
credentials boost a dental assistant's confidence
and contribute to professional satisfaction, but
also it can help to instill confidence in the patients
they treat. "Unfortunately, I think most patients
believe that all dental assistants are credentialed,
and I think they'd be very surprised to learn that
they're not."

What It Means to be Credentialed
and Certified
Yet, with the assortment of training programs,
manufacturer-sponsored courses, and continuing
education programs available, it can be
confusing to understand what really makes a
dental assistant credentialed. What constitutes
a credential, certification and certificate is
based on definitions established by the Institute
for Credentialing Excellence™, which is the
national membership association that provides
accreditation for certification programs offering
national credentials in a variety of professional
fields, not just health care. Without clear-cut
definitions, the marketplace can be very unclear
for dental assistants, their employers, and those in
education and training in terms of what someone
has actually achieved and what their proven
competency is.

According to Durley, a credential is an umbrella
term that includes such achievements as
accreditation, which is related to a program or an
institute, not a person. Professional certification
also falls beneath the "credential" umbrella term.
Individuals are authorized to use a professional
certification mark once they meet the eligibility
and competency requirements of a national
certifying board and maintain certification by
meeting recertification requirements. Durley
explains that there are a number of facets to
professional certification, but it includes eligibility
pathways involving more than just taking one
lecturer's course or going to one school, and
usually requires a certain number of years of
actual work experience before taking a nationally
recognized standardized examination, like those
leading to DANB's CDA certification mark.

"Earning DANB's national
certifications allows
assistants greater
state-to-state mobility."
"Certification is a big term that is often used to
indicate competence in smaller or less broad
professional areas, such as what is achieved
through a certificate program," Durley elaborates.
"Certificate programs are given after an individual
participates in a defined course of study, one
given by a particular individual or manufacturer.
Taking that course leads to a test on that particular
topic-whether it's a way of doing something
clinically or using a particular product."
However, unlike true certification from DANB
or a state board, the education in those topic
areas does not come from taking a variety
of courses from different people and/or at
various institutions. Rather, the education and
training must come from the entity conducting
the certificate program. While the certificates

Cindy Durley
received from attending these programs do not
constitute a professional credential, they do
demonstrate that the individual has achieved
a certain knowledge base, as demonstrated by
taking that program's test or examination. There
are also other types of certificates, such as those
received for attending a continuing education
class at a conference.
Dental assistants who are committed to investing
in themselves and their professional skills by
pursuing ongoing education will experience the
greatest value by participating in those courses
and programs that provide practical, hands-on
experience. These should be conducted by wellrecognized and respected instructors who are
qualified to teach the subject matter based on
their own credentials, background knowledge,
and expertise. This is especially important if
dental assistants expect to receive some type
of recognition for being able to use a particular
product and/or perform a specific technique.
Durley therefore cautions dental assistants to
take a "buyer beware" approach, because almost
anyone can provide a course and claim that
participants will then be certified. It is important
to understand exactly what type of certificate
they will receive.

Conclusion

"Individuals who have DANB credentials tend to
stay in practice about three times longer than
those who aren't certified," Durley says. "They're
loyal to their employer, most likely because they
really feel part of the team and are rewarded for
their achievements, lifelong learning, and making
a difference in their patients' oral health."
The US Department of Labor expects the dental
assisting profession to grow by 25% by 2022,
making it a very rapidly growing field. Whatever
dental assistants can do to take quality courses,
improve their knowledge and skills, and advance
in their learning is great for themselves, their
colleagues, and their patients.

www.henryscheindental.com * Summer EDITION 2015

7
http://www.henryscheindental.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Side by Side - Summer 2015
