By: Natalie Kaweckyj, LDA, RF, CDA, CDPMA, COA, COMSA, CPFDA, CRFDA, MADAA, BA
Are you looking to become a dental assistant or are moving as a current dental assistant?
Make sure to check the dental assistant requirements in Delaware to see if you are still qualified in the state to practice.
Each state has different requirements for dental assistants, here are the levels, and functions permitted for dental assistants in Delaware.
Levels of Dental Assistants in Delaware
There is only one level of dental assistants in Delaware:
1. Dental Assistant
In the state of Delaware, the competency of dental assistants in specific duties is determined by the supervising dentist. The dentist is given full responsibility for deciding the scope of work to be allocated to the dental assistant. Adequate training of dental assistants is solely the responsibility of the dentist.
What this means is the Delaware Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene places full responsibility for the work done by dental assistants directly upon the dentist.
Requirements vary greatly from one state to the next. Being credentialed in one state or being DANB certified as a CDA does assist in some cases.
Requirements to Operate X-Ray Equipment & Perform Radiographic Procedures
In order to legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures under the supervision of a licensed dentist in Delaware, a dental assistant must meet the following requirements:
A dental assistant must hold a state certificate as a Dental Radiation Technician or a state certificate recognizing DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification from the Delaware Division of Public Health/Office of Radiation Control (Delaware ORC).
To qualify, one must:
- FIRST Pass the DANB national Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)exam
- OR
- Hold current DANB CDA certification
- AND THEN
- Submit a completed state certificate application (Form R16-N) to the Delaware ORC AND
- Be at least 18 years of age to receive the state certificate.
Currently, the State of Delaware has no provisions for recognizing certificates issued by other states.
NOTE: The Delaware ORC has discontinued the Delaware Dental Radiologic Technology (DDRT) exam, which was a state-specific exam equivalent to DANB’s RHS exam offered prior to December 31, 2015. As of January 1, 2016, individuals who wish to become certified as Delaware Dental Radiation Technicians and who do not hold DANB’s CDA certification must apply to DANB to take the DANB RHS exam. Candidates who passed the DDRT exam prior to December 31, 2015 may still use their DDRT exam passing result to qualify for the Dental Radiation Technician certificate.
Photo by Алекке Блажин
