faq

Below are questions that the board has compiled to help provide some answers to questions the board frequently receives. The list breaks down as follows:

Questions about Trainee Status
Questions about Exams
Questions about Graduates of a D.A Program
Questions about Fees, Registration and Application
General Questions about Dental Assisting
Questions about Continuing Education

Questions about Trainee Status

I am hiring someone without any dental assisting experience, what do I need to do? What is trainee status? Trainee status is a classification that allows someone to work under the personal supervision of a licensed dentist and train on the job in dental assisting and dental radiography while working to meet registration requirements. Within seven days of employment, the trainee and employer dentist need to submit a trainee application to our office. This form can be found on our web site, www.dentalboard.iowa.gov/forms.html, or you can contact our office. The fee for trainee status is $25.

Trainee status lasts up to twelve months. During that time a trainee must complete the Iowa jurisprudence examination and infection control/hazardous materials examinations. If the dentist wants the trainee to take x-rays, the trainee must also complete the radiography examination. However, if the trainee has completed the Dental Assisting National Board infection control exam (after June 1991) or radiation exam (after 1985), the trainee does not need to complete the board exams in those areas. Before the end of the twelve month period, the trainee must apply for registration. If the trainee is not registered by the expiration of trainee status, the trainee must cease and desist from performing dental assisting duties.

As a reminder, trainee status is issued only once per person. If someone fails to complete trainee status or become registered, that person cannot work as a dental assistant until registration has been issued.

A trainee manual is available from our office. The cost is $70. This manual covers all of the material found on the jurisprudence, infection control/hazardous materials, and dental radiography examinations.

My trainee status expires tomorrow. Can I bring my application into the office, and wait while you process it? You are certainly welcome to bring your application to our office in person; however, we process applications in the order they arrive in our office. This means that we will be unable to process your application while you wait. It is a good idea to submit your application a minimum of two weeks prior to expiration to allow time to process your application.

Can I remain on trainee status after my trainee status expiration? No. Trainee status lasts for twelve months total. After that time, you must be registered to work as a dental assistant. Trainee status is a one-time opportunity. Once that time has lapsed, you must be registered before you can continue work as a dental assistant.

Can I sterilize equipment, clean up rooms, take x-rays, et cetera if my trainee status has expired? No. You cannot perform any of the functions of a dental assistant unless you are registered as a dental assistant or working under a current trainee status. You may perform non-dental assistant related duties, such as filing or processing insurance claims, but you are prohibited from performing infection control and other dental assisting related duties.

When can I apply for registration? Dental assistant trainees can train on the job for twelve months under the personal supervision of a licensed dentist. However, you can submit your application for registration any time after completing a minimum of six months of on-the-job training. The application for registration is actually a joint application that allows you to apply for qualification in dental radiography on the same application and for one application fee. It is a good idea to allow a minimum of two weeks for our office to process your application. This will avoid missed work after the trainee’s expiration date. If you are a graduate of a dental assisting program or if you have a minimum of six months prior experience within the last two years, you can apply for registration as soon as you complete all registration requirements.

I have previous dental assisting experience, but I am not currently registered in Iowa. Do I have to go on trainee status? If you wish to begin working right away, you should go on trainee status. Otherwise, you can make application for registration and wait until registration has been issued by the Iowa Dental Board.

I wish to hire someone who was previously registered as a dental assistant. However, she let her dental assisting registration lapse. Can she work under dental assistant trainee status until reinstatement has been issued by the Board? No. Board rules clearly state that a dental asssistant whose registration has lapsed is ineligible to work as a dental assistant until registration has been reinstated by the Board in accordance with Board rules.

Questions about Exams

What do I need to bring with me when I take the exams? You will need a copy of your written verification of trainee status from our office and a picture ID. The testing site will not allow you to sit for the exam without these items.

Can I get my exam results over the phone or by fax? No. Exam results are confidential and we cannot ensure confidentiality via fax or telephone. Results will be mailed to the address provided on the answer sheet.

Can I come into the office and watch you correct my exam? Often times, we have corrected the exam before you would have contacted our office. If you would like to review your exam, you can make arrangements with our office.

I took my exam yesterday, when can I expect to see my results? Please allow 7 business days after our office receives the exam. We will try to mail the score reports as quickly as possible. It is a good idea to schedule your exams well in advance of your trainee expiration date.

Is it possible to review my past exam(s)? Yes. You need to contact our office to set up a time. However, you need to keep in mind that you will need to come to the Des Moines office to review any exams.

When I come into the office to review my exam(s), will I get to see the answers to the examination(s)? No. We provide you the answers that you gave and you see which questions were wrong. It is an opportunity for you to get an idea where you are running into problems, but we do not provide the answers to the questions.

Am I still able to complete my remaining exams after my expiration date? Yes. However, you need to keep in mind that you must stop working as a dental assistant when your trainee status expires. You can resume dental assisting duties as soon as you are registered, but not before that time. However, you will need to contact our office to get a new verification to take the exams. The initial verification has an expiration date listed on it and the testing site may not accept it.

I have worked as a dental assistant for 20 years, but moved out of state prior to the grandfathering phase. Do I have to take the exams to register? Yes. Anyone who was not registered prior to July 1, 2001, must complete board-approved education and exams in infection control, hazardous materials, and jurisprudence for registration. If your supervising dentist wants you to take x-rays you must meet those requirements and make application. If you want to start working right away, you may submit a trainee application within seven days of employment and train on the job for up to twelve months while you meet the registration requirements.

I passed the DANB exams in infection control/hazardous materials & radiography. Can I use those scores to meet the examination requirements? Yes. The board accepts DANB infection control examination (ICE) results if they were taken after June 1991, in lieu of completing the board infection control exam. The Board also accepts DANB radiation exam results if they were taken after 1985, in lieu of the board radiography exam. For registration purposes, however, all applicants will need to complete the board jurisprudence exam.

Do I have to be a certified dental assistant in order to be registered? No. Board rules do not require you to be a certified dental assistant in order to be registered. Certification means passing the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination and fulfilling other DANB requirements. Although the board does recognize components of the DANB exam as fulfilling parts of the Iowa examination requirements, you do not have to take the DANB exam. Some assistants choose to become certified for professional development reasons or because some dentist’s prefer their assistants to be certified. Also, you cannot use the title of certified dental assistant unless you complete the DANB requirements. However, there is NO board requirement for certification as a dental assistant.

Questions about Graduates of a D.A Program

I recently graduated from a dental assisting program. I am not registered yet. Can I start work? No. Iowa law requires that a dental assistant must be registered, or classified under trainee status to work. If you choose to work as a trainee until you become registered, you must submit application to our office within seven days of beginning employment.

I recently graduated from a dental assisting program. I heard that I can work as soon as I pass my exams. Is this true? No. Exams are only one component required for registration. You cannot work until you are registered as a dental assistant, or have applied for trainee status while you pursue registration.

When can I apply for registration? If you are a graduate of a dental assisting program, you can make application as soon as you have met all of the requirements of registration.

Questions about Fees, Registration and Application

Are application fees refundable? No.

Can I pay my fees by credit card? No. We are not able to accept credit cards as payment. A check or money order is required to process payments.

When can I apply for registration? If you are a graduate of a dental assisting program, you can make application as soon as you have everything ready for your application. If you are a dental assistant trainee, you can submit your application any time after completing a minimum of six months of on-the-job training under the personal supervision of a licensed dentist. Please keep in mind, dental assitant trainees have twelve months to meet the requirements for registration. They can, however, make application for registration after six months of on-the-job training. It is a good idea to allow a minimum of two weeks for our office to process your application. This will allow us time to contact you in the event that additional information is needed and to help you to avoid missed work after expiration of trainee status.

I only work in Iowa one day per week. Do I need to be registered in Iowa? Yes. If you perform any work as a dental assistant in the state of Iowa, you MUST be registered with our office.

Can I fax in my application(s)? You can, but be aware that we will not process any application(s) without the appropriate fee(s).

Can I apply for registration without having CPR? No. CPR is a requirement for application, and we will not process it without a copy of a current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) CPR card. It is strongly suggested that you schedule CPR training well in advance of your expiration date to avoid delays. If there is a delay in receiving your card, we will accept a letter from the organization that sponsored the training stating that you have successfully completed the certification requirements. You will need to send a copy of your card as soon as you receive it.

Will I need to have CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) in order to be registered? Yes. Assistants who apply for registration after July 1, 2001, will need CPR certification prior to registration as a dental assistant. All registered dental assistants must also show proof of current CPR to renew registration each biennium. In either case, all assistants must furnish evidence of valid certification in a nationally recognized (e.g. American Heart Association, Red Cross) course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in order to renew registration. CPR does not need to be at health care provider level. However, online courses or homestudy courses, which offer CPR certification are prohibited. You will be able to claim up to three continuing education hours for certification in CPR in a biennial period.

I work in a specialty dental office. Am I exempt from the registration requirements? No. ALL dental assistants who practice in Iowa must be registered with the Board, regardless of practice type, specialty, educational background, certification, or location.

I am an office assistant in a dental office. I would like to fill in as a dental assistant from time to time, but I am not registered. Am I allowed to do this? No. In order to perform any infection control or chair-side assisting you must be registered as a dental assistant. However, you are welcome to go on trainee status in order to work towards registration.

General Questions about Dental Assisting

What happens if I have not completed my continuing education prior to the renewal expiration date? If you have not completed your continuing education, the Board will be unable to renew your registration. This means that you will be unable to work as a dental assistant. The Board strongly encourages all dental assistants to look for continuing education courses early to avoid any problems at renewal.

I have been hired by a health center as a dental assistant. Can a doctor, who is not a licensed dentist, supervise me? No. Iowa law requires all dental assistants and hygienists to be supervised by a licensed dentist.

How will my criminal history affect my registration? It will depend on the nature of the conviction. The board may ask you to provide information pertaining to the conviction. The board reviews each case individually. Having a criminal history does not necessarily prevent you from becoming registered.

Someone told me that I do not need to be registered. Is this true? No. Iowa law requires all dental assistants to be registered.

Will I be held accountable because someone else failed to mail in my forms? Yes. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own registration.

What kind of CPR certification am I required to maintain? The board requires Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification from a nationally recognized sponsor (e.g. American Heart Association, Red Cross.) You do not need any advanced training to meet board requirements. Board rules require that your CPR certification course includes a clinical component. Homestudy courses in CPR are not acceptable.

Will I still need my radiography qualification to take x-rays once I am registered? Yes. Registration alone does not qualify you to take x-rays in the dental office. Under state and federal law, a dental assistant may not take x-rays unless qualified by the board to do so. If you need to take x-rays, you must maintain your radiography qualification.

Do I need a qualification in dental radiography in order to be registered? No. You need an active qualification in dental radiography from the Dental Board only if you take x-rays in the office.

I passed the DANB radiation exam but I don't have a certificate of qualification from the Iowa Dental Board. Can I take x-rays in the dental office? No. Every dental assistant who takes dental radiographs, regardless of education or exam background, must have a current qualification in dental radiography issued by the Iowa Dental Board or be on current trainee status. Assistants who have a current radiography qualification will have the words “Added qualifications: dental radiography,” printed on their blue renewal card.

I am a certified surgical technician working for an oral surgeon. Do I have to be registered? If you perform any of the duties of a dental assistant, the answer is yes. Board rules define a dental assistant as "any person who, under the supervision of a dentist, performs any extraoral services including infection control, dental radiography, or the use of hazardous materials or performs any intraoral services on patients." Surgical technicians are not licensed, registered, or certified by any state agency in Iowa. Also, surgical technician certification is a voluntary process. Hence, if problems arise, there is no state agency that can resolve the problems and ensure the public is protected. In order to ensure that technicians who work for dentists meet the minimum registration standards, technicians should register as a dental assistant with the Board.

I am now licensed as a dental hygienist, however, I used to be a registered dental assistant. Do I still need to maintain my dental assistant registration? Board rules specifically exempt licensed dental hygienists from dental assistant registration.

I am a licensed nurse and work in a dental office. Do I also need to be registered as a dental assistant? No, provided you are actively licensed in Iowa as a nurse and perform duties within the scope of practice as a nurse. Board rules state that the term "dental assistant" does not include persons otherwise actively licensed in Iowa to practice dental hygiene or nursing who are engaged in the practice of their profession. However, if you will be taking dental X-rays, you will need to obtain a qualification in dental radiography from the Board. You may apply for dental assistant trainee status and train on the job to meet these requirements.

Questions about Continuing Education

What are the continuing education requirements for renewal of my dental assistant registration? Board rules require dental assistants to complete 20 credit hours of continuing education every biennium. A minimum of two credit hours must be in the subject area of infection control. If a dental assistant has a qualification in dental radiography, two hours in the subject area of dental radiography is also required. All dental assistants must submit proof of current certification in CPR. Dental assistants must also complete state training requirements for abuse identification and reporting.

I took the exams for registration and just received my certificate of registration. Do I also need to get the full 20 hours of continuing education? Dental assistants who successfully completed the infection control and jurisprudence exams as part of the registration process after July 1, 2001, are exempt from the 20 hours of continuing education requirement for their first renewal. For the first renewal, they need only submit proof of current CPR and completion of the child/adult abuse training in addition to submitting a timely renewal with the renewal fee. These dental assistants will need to complete 20 hours of continuing education for each succeeding renewal.

Can I get continuing education credit for taking cardiopulmonary resuscitation? Yes. You are required to have a current CPR certificate at the time of your renewal. You may claim a maximum of three continuing education hours for this training, depending on the length of the course.

Do I have to keep a record of my continuing education activities? Yes. You must maintain a record of all courses attended by keeping the certificates of attendance for four years after the end of the year of attendance. The Board reserves the right to require any licensee or registrant to submit the certificates of attendance during a continuing education audit.

Can I take all twenty hours of continuing education hours by home study? No. You are allowed a maximum of twelve hours of credit per biennium for home or self study activities. Also, Board rules currently prohibit the completion of CPR certification via online/homestudy coursework.

Will I get continuing education credit for continuing education courses taken prior to being registered as a dental assistant? No. Courses must be taken during the current biennial period.

What if I live in another state, do courses taken outside of Iowa apply to my renewal? All courses must meet the continuing education guidelines as set forth in Board rules. A general rule of thumb is that if the course is related to clinical practice, it is acceptable for credit in Iowa. Unacceptable subject matter includes personal development, business aspects of practice, personnel management, insurance, collective bargaining, and community service presentations.

Can I obtain continuing education credit for attending OSHA courses? Yes, you may receive continuing education credit hours for attendance at OSHA courses.

Where can I find continuing education courses? The list of board-approved sponsors can be found at http://www.dentalboard.iowa.gov/Approved.html. Contact the sponsors directly for information about upcoming courses.

I cannot find any continuing education classes that interest me. I am not aware of any continuing education in my area. Am I exempt from those requirements? No. All dental assistants must meet all requirements of renewal, including continuing education. The only people who are exempt from the 20 hours of continuing education are those who took the exams and became registered during the current biennium. The Board has posted a list of approved sponsors on the web site, along with information pertaining to continuing education requirements. Some sponsors offer ICN courses around the state. Home study is also accepted for up to 12 hours; so you should be able to find classes to meet the 20 hour requirement.

I am a certified dental assistant and DANB requires 12 hours of continuing education every year. Does this mean that I need to obtain 32 continuing education hours every year to also renew my registration? No. The majority of the courses that you take to renew your DANB certification will also count for purposes of registration renewal in Iowa, and vise versa. You will need to ensure that you take courses in the appropriate subject for Iowa registration renewal, and that the courses are given by sponsors approved by the Iowa Dental Board. In addition, DANB may have different continuing education requirements than Iowa. Contact DANB for information on what is required to renew your CDA certification. For Iowa registration, you will need a total of 20 hours of continuing education each biennium, including two hours in the subject of infection control, and two hours in the subject area of radiography if you hold a radiography qualification. You can also claim up to three hours of continuing education for CPR certification. CPR is required for registration renewal.

If I take additional continuing education, do the extra hours carry over to the next renewal cycle? No. Only continuing education hours earned during the current renewal cycle (September 1, 2007, to August 31, 2009, for dental assistants) can be claimed for registration renewal.

How do I request approval for continuing education courses? First, check with the course sponsor to see if the course has already been approved, or determine if the general rule of thumb applies (is the course related to clinical practice). If you are unsure, you can download an approval form from this web site. The form requires a small fee for processing. Please complete the form and return to the office of the Iowa Dental Board, 400 SW 8th Street, Suite D, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.

Updated 11/8/2007

faq

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