Dental Assistant Exam FAQs
The DANB CDA exam is a certification exam administered by the Dental Assisting National Board Inc. and designed for dental assistants. Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (IC) and General Chairside Assisting (GC) are all components of the DANB CDA exam. The exams may be taken together as the DANB CDA exam, or can be taken separately to earn the credential of DANB CDA, as long as they are all successfully completed within five years.
The DANB is a non-profit organization that is the nationally-recognized agency for certifying and credentialing dental and orthodontic assistants. DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA), and their exam programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). DANB exams provide a way to identify qualified dental and orthodontic assistants, and in the process, promote excellence in oral healthcare practices. DANB's exams for Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) and Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) are required or meet regulatory requirements in 38 states.
The DANB CDA consists of multiple-choice questions. The exam is administered in a computer-adaptive format, which means that each question is chosen based on the answer given to the previous question. The test continues until a pass or fail determination can be made.
The complete DANB CDA exam consists of 255 computerized multiple-choice questions. The GC component exam contains 95 questions, and the RHS and IC component exams each have 80 questions. The candidate must meet minimum performance standards on each of the three component exams in order to obtain DANB CDA certification.
Three hours and fifteen minutes is given to take the three sections of the DANB CDA exam together. The GC component has a 75 minute time limit, and the RHS and IC components each have a 60 minute time limit.
The exam is administered in a computer-adaptive format, which means that each question is chosen based on the answer given to the previous question. The test continues until a pass or fail determination can be made.
All candidates register to test through DANB. Candidates may test through Pearson VUE, the national testing vendor for the DANB CDA, either in person or at home, online. Pearson VUE has test centers in every US state and territory.
A minimum passing scaled score of 400 is needed to pass the DANB CDA exam with scores ranging from 100 to 900 points. Exam results are reported as a "scaled score" which are not raw scores (i.e., the number of questions answered correctly).
The DANB CDA covers the following domains:
GC
I. Evaluation
II. Patient Management and Administration
III. Chairside Dentistry
IV. Dental Materials
IC
I. Prevention of Disease Transmission
II. Prevention of Cross-contamination
III. Process Instruments and Devices
IV. Occupational Safety and Administration Protocols
RHS
I. Purpose and Technique
II. Radiation Safety
III. Infection Control
DANB exams were developed by subject matter experts using the above exam outline. Subject matter experts develop the questions using a job analysis survey of practicing DANB certificants.
The DANB CDA exam is offered on a daily basis, year-round at testing sites across the United States and US territories. Tests can be scheduled any day of the week, year-round. Pearson VUE has test centers in every US state and territory.
Those who pass the certification exams and become certified assistants may benefit through having greater earning power and career mobility, recognition in the workplace, and the knowledge that they have met all competency standards in the industry.
Yes, the DANB CDA can be taken in person at a Pearson VUE center, or at home, online
There are a number of pathways to become eligible to obtain the GC and DANB CDA credentials. Generally, to be eligible to take the GC component exam or the full DANB CDA exam, test candidates must have either graduated from a dental assisting or dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), or have completed a minimum of 3,500 hours of work experience as a dental assistant during the last two to four years. Current or former DANB certified assistants, graduates of CODA-accredited DDS or DMD programs and graduates of foreign dental degree programs may also be eligible for the exam. All candidates must also have certification in CPR from a DANB accepted provider. For detailed information go to the DANB website. There are no eligibility requirements to take the RHS and ICE exams.
Register on the DANB website. You will receive a confirmation email after you have successfully applied for the exam. You may then schedule an exam appointment using the link in your confirmation email or via the dashboard.
There is no limit on how many times a candidate may retake a failed exam. State laws differ on requirements for additional education after a certain number of failed attempts. Check your state board for more information.
There is a preliminary exam result immediately after taking the exam, which is not an official result. Official exam results will be posted to the candidate's online DANB account about one week after the exam was taken.
Yes. Certification lasts for one year. To maintain your certification, each year you must:
- Earn the minimum of Continuing Dental Education (CDE) credits
- Answer Background Information Questions
- Maintain DANB-accepted, hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS (not required for those who hold only the CDIPC and/or the DISIPC certifications)
- Pay the renewal fee
Practice tests, such as Tests.com's Dental Assistant Practice Exam, are a good way to study as it goes over the material you need to know while giving you a chance to practice your test taking skills. Additionally, study guides, text books, class notes, flashcards and videos are important study tools. It is best to use a wide range of test prep to get the most comprehensive coverage of the subject matter.
Tests.com has worked with instructors in dental assistant practice to create a Dental Assistant Practice Test to help you prepare for the DANB CDA exam. Tests.com's TestSim online interactive platform allows you to tailor tests to the subjects you want to study and to form tests to fit your study schedule. You can even simulate the actual DANB CDA exam by setting the number of questions and timer to the time period allowed for the actual test. Get experience reading multiple-choice questions and taking timed tests. Tests.com will help you pass your DANB CDA exam on your way to a successful career as a dental assistant. Click here to take a free Dental Assistant Practice Exam.
