Dental Assisting Requirements in Washington State
- General dental assistants can elect to achieve a sealant/fluoride varnish endorsement. Those who elect the endorsement must complete a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited program, such as the Seattle Vocational Institute or Clover Park Technical College dental assistant programs. Endorsed assistants can also enroll in continuing education courses. EFDA assistants must also complete a CODA-accredited program or acquire certification from the Dental Assisting National Board to meet the education requirement.
- The dental assistant designation requires the completion of seven clock hours of AIDS education. Dental assistants must complete a curriculum that includes confidentiality, testing and counseling and infection control guidelines. Dental assistants with the sealant endorsement must complete at least 200 hours of employment that includes theoretical and clinical training in sealants and fluoride treatments, according to the DANB. In addition, EFDA assistants should complete a CODA-accredited program, continuing education courses or training provided by a Washington state licensed dentist.
- EFDA assistants must successfully complete the Washington State Restorative Exam (WARE) after graduating from a CODA-accredited institution or achieving DANB certification. The DANB offers WARE examination in Renton, Seattle, Spokane Valley and Yakima and the total fee for the exam was $275 at the time of publication. EFDA assistants must also complete the Western Regional Examining Board, or WREB, examination, which consists of clinical and computer-based components. The fee for WREB examination was $875 for dental hygiene, $440 for restorative and $250 for local anesthesia at the time of publication.
- Dental assistants must complete an application for registration and submit the required fee. The Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission provides the application form and the fee was $40 at the time of publication. Dental assistants must renew their registration annually. EFDA candidates must submit an application for licensing to the Washington State Dental Association.
