See how CDA supports your staffing needs
Finding and onboarding dental assistants can be challenging in today’s market. Members benefit from easy-to-implement training programs and staffing efficiencies.
Dental Assistant Training Roadmap
Download a full set of recruiting, hiring, onboarding and training materials developed just for CDA members. These tools are available for free as a benefit of membership.
Dental Assistant Online Training Curriculum
Provide on-the-job training in core DA competencies — even for staff without prior dental experience. Interactive on-demand learning, based on Smile Crew curriculum, is offered to members at cost.
Smile Crew Bootcamp
Off-site pilot training programs are building staffing pipelines. Smile Crew participants learn the skills needed for a career in dental assisting and can fill open positions at member dentists’ practices.
Dental Assistant Training FAQ
The Training Roadmap is a new set of resources that are included as a benefit of your CDA membership. The roadmap materials guide you through a 6-week process of recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training and retaining a new dental assistant.
The Online Training Curriculum is a separate in-office option that provides online DA learning alongside on-the-job training. This 12-week learning program is available to members at nominal cost.
Explore each option and decide which works best for your practice. The Training Roadmap materials have been built to complement the Online Training Curriculum.
To access member-exclusive resources, like the Training Roadmap, log into your cda.org account. If you’re not already a member, join CDA today for full access to benefits.
The Online Training Curriculum is a convenient and flexible in-office training option available to all CDA members. Smile Crew Bootcampsare held in select locations throughout California in partnership with local workforce boards and training providers. The Online Training Curriculum was designed and built from the Smile Crew Bootcamps.
A link to the Dental Board-approved training providers for specific certifications is included in the dental assistant training materials. Smile Crew Bootcamp participants receive certifications in partnership with an approved training provider.
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 directly 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 has successfully completed a board-approved eight-hour course in infection control prior to performing any basic supportive dental procedures involving potential exposure to blood, saliva, or other potentially infectious materials.
(d) The employer shall maintain evidence for the length of the employment for the dental assistant at the supervising dentist’s treatment facility to verify the dental assistant has met and maintained all certification requirements as dictated by statute and regulation.
(e) The employer shall inform the dental assistant of the educational requirements described in subdivision (f) to maintain employment as an unlicensed dental assistant.
(f) The employer of a dental assistant shall be responsible for ensuring that the dental assistant who has been employed continuously or on an intermittent basis by that employer for one year from the date of first employment provides evidence to the employer that the dental assistant has already successfully completed, or successfully completes, all of the following within one year of the first date of employment:
(1) A board-approved two-hour course in the Dental Practice Act.
(2) Current certification in basic life support issued by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the American Safety and Health Institute, the American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or the Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education, in accordance with both of the following:
(A) The dental assistant shall be responsible for maintaining current certification in basic life support to perform duties involving patients.
(B) The employer of a dental assistant shall be responsible for ensuring that the dental assistant maintains certification in basic life support.
(3) To perform radiographic procedures, a dental assistant shall complete a board-approved course in radiation safety. The original or a copy of the current, valid certificate issued by a board-approved radiation safety course provider shall be publicly displayed at the treatment facility where the dental assistant performs dental services.
(4) To perform coronal polishing prior to licensure as a registered dental assistant, an unlicensed dental assistant shall complete a board-approved coronal polishing course and obtain a certificate of completion. Prior to taking the coronal polishing course, the dental assistant shall provide evidence to the course provider of having completed a board-approved eight-hour course in infection control and a current, valid certification in basic life support.
(A) Coronal polishing performed pursuant to this paragraph shall be performed under the direct supervision and pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed dentist, who shall, at minimum, evaluate each patient after coronal polishing procedures are performed by the dental assistant.
(B) The original or a copy of the current, valid certificate issued by a board-approved coronal polishing course provider shall be publicly displayed at the treatment facility where the dental assistant performs dental services.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 483, Sec. 48. (SB 1453) Effective January 1, 2025.)
The cost for the Online Training Curriculum is $255. CDA has obtained a licensing agreement to be able to provide the curriculum to members at cost.
Visit the Smile Crew website for bootcamp locations and details.
Once activated, each unique license for training allows three years of access to the platform. Once purchased, the Online Training Curriculum is associated with the individual dental assistant trainee. Access to the unique curriculum is not transferable nor refundable once redeemed.
CDA has a license agreement and partnership in place to be able to provide the curriculum at cost to CDA members. The licensing agreement is not available for purchase by individuals.
However, there’s no limit to the number of individual curriculum purchases an employer can purchase for employees.
For technical support and program inquiries, email our support desk.
Dental Assistant Training Roadmap materials have been developed by CDA expert analysts. For assistance, call or email a helpful analyst.
Dental Assistant Training Webinar
Learn more about the new resources built to help members staff their practices.
Career Center
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