FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – DENTAL ASSISTANTS
Q. How do I know if I need to register as a dental assistant?
| | A. Only those assistants who take radiographs are required to register. |
Q. I sent my application in over two weeks ago and have not heard anything. How can I verify the Dental Board received it?
| | A. The fastest way to confirm delivery of your RDA application is to use a carrier such as UPS, Federal Express, USPS, etc., that can offer delivery confirmation. |
Q. How long is the document showing I passed a SBDE-approved dental assistant course provider valid for?
| | A. The documents given to you by an SBDE-approved dental assistant course provider are recognized for two (2) years from the date listed on the document. Note to DANB CDAs: The Certificate of Completion for taking the Jurisprudence Assessment is only valid for one (1) year from the date of completion. |
Q. When I checked, my registration status online says I am 'expired', Why?
| | A. When a registration number is assigned, the status will stay expired until the registration is activated. All new registrants are sent documents explaining the activation process. |
Q. Can I work after September 1, 2007 if I am not registered?
| | A. Newly Hired Dental Assistants. Only newly hired dental assistants working in their first year of employment are permitted to make x-rays under the direct supervision of a dentist without being registered. It is during this first year of employment they should consider taking an SBDE-approved Dental Assistant Course and registering with the Dental Board as they will not be permitted to make x-rays legally after the first year of employment. A. Experienced (and Certified) Dental Assistants. Dental Assistants who have worked for more than one year in a dental office, who have never registered, but made x-rays in the past in a dental office are required to register to legally make x-rays. |
Q. How do I find information on the upcoming required DA Course?
| | A. Review the list of approve course providers located on the SBDE website under the section entitled ‘Dental Assistant Registration Procedures'. Providers should be contacted directly for course details. |
Q. Can I send a copy of my passport instead of a copy of my Social Security Card?
| | A. Yes. A Xerox copy of your U.S. Passport will be an acceptable form of SSN verification. The SBDE will also accept a letter issued by the Social Security Administration that displays the SSN you have been (or will be) issued as well as a military identification card that displays your SSN. (A federal or state income tax document listing your SSN is not acceptable.) |
Q. How much will the Dental Assistant Courses Cost?
| | A. The cost will vary by provider. Please contact the providers for this information. |
Q. What do I do after I complete the required course?
| | A. Applicants for the RDA credential must complete an application and submit it to the SBDE for processing. |
Q. Why are activation fee amounts different with some dental assistants?
| | A. The SBDE has a staggered renewal system. When a registration number is assigned to you, a month of expiration (chosen randomly) is also assigned. Registration fees are then prorated to that first expiration date. |
Q. Do I have to be employed to be eligible to apply for the RDA credential?
| | A. No. There is no requirement that applicants must be employed to register with the SBDE. Simply leave the question of “Current Employer” blank on the application. |
Q. How long can I wait before I register after completing a dental assistant course approved by the Dental Board?”
| | A. Documents given to you by a SBDE-approved dental assistant course provider showing you successfully completed their course are valid for two (2) years. Dental Assistants will want to consider registering within two years from the date they successfully complete a SBDE-approved dental assistant course. |
Q. After I have been issued a Dental Assistant Registration Certificate by the SBDE, will I have to take continuing education?
| | A. Yes. The continuing education requirement for annual renewal of a dental assistant registration is six hours per year. Courses must relate to dental assistant duties. All courses must be taken from SBDE - approved providers listed in Rule 104.2. |
Q. Is there a "grandfather clause" for dental assistants who want to register with the Dental Board?
| | A. No. No "grandfather clause" exists. All dental assistants who make x-rays in Texas must be registered with the Dental Board. |
Q. I am a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) through the Dental Assisting National Board. How will I be affected?
| | A. As a current CDA, you will be required to take only the jurisprudence assessment and complete the SBDE registration process. You may use your current CDA credential as proof of appropriate education in the areas of radiology and/or infection control at the time you submit an application to our office. |
Q. I am a Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) through the Dental Assisting National Board. How will I be affected?
| | A. As a current COA, you will be required to take the radiology and jurisprudence assessment components and complete the SBDE registration process. You may use your current COA credential in lieu of the infection control exam at the time you submit an application to our office. |
Q. How do I register with the SBDE?
| | A. | | | | Step 1 : | When your registration application, supporting documents and Application Fee ($50) are received by the SBDE for processing, the registration process will begin. Your information is entered into our system, and you will be assigned a registration number and a month for that registration number to expire. Expiration dates are selected randomly by our computer system. The first period for your new registration will be between 4 to 17 months. At the time the expiration month is assigned, the computer will also prorate the Activation Fee due for the first registration period. Again, this fee is called an " Activation Fee" and this fee is prorated for your first registration period. | | | Step 2 : | When you receive the Renewal (Activation) Form:
1) Verify that the information on the form is correct. Please note any changes on the form.
2) Mail the renewal-activation form and Activation Fee (noted at the bottom of the form) back to the SBDE for final processing. The Activation Fee is a pro-rated amount based on the randomly selected expiration date of your future registration certificate. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing of your paperwork. The SBDE staff will not be able to verify receipt of your fees until they are posted to your registration record. When the fees are posted to your record, a registration certificate will be generated and mailed to you. |
Q. When I have been issued a Dental Assistant Registration Certificate by the SBDE, will I be considered a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)?
| | A. Yes, once registered, and activated, you may use the RDA credential. The State Board of Dental Examiners is the sole authority in the State of Texas to issue this credential. Only dental assistants formally registered with the SBDE may use this credential. |
Q. I have questions that are not addressed here. How can I get help?
| | A. Send questions via e-mail for a faster response to
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Calls to the Dental Board will take one to two days to return due to high call volume. Contact the SBDE Dental Assistant Coordinator at (512) 475-0988. Your patience is appreciated. | |
