The Dental Assisting National Boards® (DANB®) offers different types of certifications: CDA®, COA®, CPFDA®, CRFDA®, and NELDA® certification. Please refer to DANB's official website to find out the details of each exam and certification. For your convenience, we created a summary, see below.

SmarterDA is an online dental assisting exam prep solution. We call it the "ALL-INCLUSIVE" formula because you get study guides + quiz + mock exam in ONE price. Study at your own pace and maximize your scores. The goal is to pass the exams so you become the professional you deserve to be.

Check out the exams provided by DANB®.

Disclaimer: DANB®, CDA®, COA®, CDPMA®, COMSA®, CRFDA®, NELDA® are registered certification marks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. ("DANB"). RHS®, ICE®, Dental Assisting National Board® and DANB® are registered service marks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. ("DANB").  Certified Dental Assistant™ is a certification mark of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. ("DANB"). The courses are not sponsored or endorsed by or affiliated with DANB. SmarterDA provides information about DANB's exams to help users plan for the examinations. 

DANB's CDA® Exam (Certified Dental Assistant™)

Total Cost: $425

You save $325 by buying this bundle rather than all the courses individually

Total Time: 4 Hours

(GC Exam 90 Minutes + ICE® Exam 75 Minutes + RHS® Exam 75 Minutes)

Total Questions: 320 Multiple Choice

(GC Exam 120 Questions + ICE® Exam 100 Questions + RHS® Exam 100 Questions)

Exam Composition

CDA® Exam = GC Exam + ICE® Exam + RHS® Exam

DANB's GC Exam (General Chairside)
Cost: $250
90 Minutes
 120 Multiple Choice Questions
DANB's ICE® Exam (Infection Control)
Cost: $250
75 Minutes
100 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Patient and dental health care worker education (10%)
  • Prevent cross-contamination and disease transmission (20%)
  • Maintain aseptic conditions (10%)
  • Instrument processing (15%)
  • Asepsis procedures (15%)
  • Occupational safety (30%)
DANB's RHS® Exam (Radiation Health and Safety)
Cost: $250
75 Minutes
100 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Expose and evaluate (26%)
  • Quality Assurance and radiology regulations (21%)
  • Radiation safety for patients and operators (31%)
  • Infection control (22%)
DANB's COA® Exam (Certified Orthodontic Assistant)

Total Cost: $425

You save $125 by buying this bundle rather than all the courses individually

Total Time: 4 Hours

(ICE® Exam 75 Minutes + OA Exam 165 Minutes)

Total Questions: 310 Multiple Choice

(ICE® Exam 100 Questions + RHS® Exam 210 Questions)

Exam Composition

COA® Exam = ICE® Exam + OA Exam

DANB's ICE® Exam (Infection Control)
Cost: $250
75 Minutes
100 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Patient and dental health care worker education (10%)
  • Prevent cross-contamination and disease transmission (20%)
  • Maintain aseptic conditions (10%)
  • Instrument processing (15%)
  • Asepsis procedures (15%)
  • Occupational safety (30%)
DANB's OA Exam (Orthodontic Assisting)
Cost: $300
165 Minutes
210 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Collection and recording of clinical data (21%)
  • Dental radiation health and safety (18%)
  • Orthodontic procedures (35%)
  • Patient education and office management (26%)
DANB's CPFDA® Exam (Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant)

Total Cost: $425

You save $350 by buying this bundle rather than all the courses individually

Total Time: 4 Hours 15 Minutes

(CP 80 Minutes + SE 60 Minutes + TA 60 Minutes + TF 60 Minutes)

Total Questions: 340 Multiple Choice

(CP 100 Questions + SE 80 Questions + TA 80 Questions + TF 80 Questions)

Exam Composition

CDA® Exam = GC Exam + ICE® Exam + RHS® Exam

DANB's CP Exam (Coronal Polishing)
Cost: $225
75 Minutes
100 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Dental and oral anatomy (8%)
  • Oral prophylaxis (7%)
  • Objective of coronal polish (7%)
  • Dental deposits (15%)
  • Polishing precautions (15%)
  • Patient education and recordkeeping (10%)
  • Abrasives and polishing agents (8%)
  • Polishing technique (20%)
  • Infection control/OSHA protocol (10%)
DANB's SE Exam (Sealants)
Cost: $125
65 Minutes
80 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Purpose of sealants (10%)
  • Indications and contraindications for sealant application (40%)
  • Acid etching (10%)
  • Sealants (40%)
DANB's TA Exam (Topical Anesthesia)
Cost: $125
60 Minutes
80 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Patient preparation (10%)
  • Classifications (20%)
  • Precautions and contraindications (20%)
  • Indications for use (30%)
  • Placement of the topical anesthetic (20%)
DANB's TF Exam (Topical Fluoride)
Cost: $125
60 Minutes
80 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Infection control/OSHA protocol (10%)
  • Indications and contraindications for topical fluoride (30%)
  • Benefits of topical fluoride (15%)
  • Adverse reactions (10%)
  • Patient education (10%)
  • Fluoride preparations (10%)
  • Topical fluoride application (15%)


DANB's CRFDA® Exam (Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant)

Total Cost: $775

Based on the combination of $400 (AMP + TMP + RF) + $125 (IS) + $125 (IM) + $125 (SE)

Total Time: 4 Hours 45 Minutes

(AMP 80 Minutes + IM 60 Minutes + IS 45 Minutes + RF 80 Minutes + SE 60 Minutes + TMP 60 Minutes)

Total Questions: 510 Multiple Choice

(AMP 105 Questions + IM 80 Questions + IS 60 Questions + RF 105 Questions + SE 80 Questions + TMP 80 Questions)

Exam Composition

CRFDA® Exam = AMP + IM + IS + RF + SE + TMP

DANB's AMP Exam (Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology)
Cost: $225
80 Minutes
105 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Head and neck (15%)
  • Oral cavity (25%)
  • Tooth anatomy, morphology and related characteristics (20%)
  • Tooth numbering systems (15%)
  • Occlusion (15%)
  • Oral pathology (10%)
DANB's IM Exam (Impressions) 
Cost: $125
60 Minutes
80 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Purpose of impressions (15%)
  • Taking impressions (55%)
  • Patient management techniques (10%)
  • Bite/occlusal registrations (10%)
  • Infection control/OSHA protocol (10%)
DANB's IS Exam (Isolation)
Cost: $125
45 Minutes
60 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Purpose of isolation (20%)
  • Types and attributes/use of various isolation systems/armamentaria (30%)
  • Special health considerations (10%)
  • Infection control/OSHA protocol (10%)
DANB's RF Exam (Restorative Functions)
Cost: $250
80 Minutes
105 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Cavity liners and bases (7%)
  • Cavity classifications (7%)
  • Amalgam restorations (20%)
  • Composite, glass ionomer and compomer restorations (30%)
  • Stainless steel crowns (12%)
  • Procedural considerations (15%)
  • Infection control/OSHA protocol (9%)
DANB's SE Exam (Sealants)
Cost: $125
60 Minutes
80 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Purpose of sealants (10%)
  • Indications and contraindications for sealant application (40%)
  • Acid etching (10%)
  • Sealants (40%)
DANB's TMP Exam (Temporaries)
Cost: $125
60 Minutes
80 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Temporary/provisional restorations (65%)
  • Temporary cement (20%)
  • Infection control/OSHA (15%)
DANB's NELDA® Exam (National Entry Level Dental Assistant)

Total Cost: $375

You save $350 by buying this bundle rather than all the courses individually

Total Time: 3 Hours 50 Minutes

(AMP Exam 80 Minutes + ICE® Exam 75 Minutes + RHS® Exam 75 Minutes)

Total Questions: 305 Multiple Choice

(AMP 105 Questions + ICE® Exam 100 Questions + RHS® Exam 100 Questions)

Exam Composition

NELDA® Exam = AMP Exam + ICE® Exam + RHS® Exam

DANB's AMP Exam (Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology)
Cost: $225
80 Minutes
105 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Head and neck (15%)
  • Oral cavity (25%)
  • Tooth anatomy, morphology and related characteristics (20%)
  • Tooth numbering systems (15%)
  • Occlusion (15%)
  • Oral pathology (10%)
DANB's ICE® Exam (Infection Control)
Cost: $250
75 Minutes
100 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Patient and dental health care worker education (10%)
  • Prevent cross-contamination and disease transmission (20%)
  • Maintain aseptic conditions (10%)
  • Instrument processing (15%)
  • Asepsis procedures (15%)
  • Occupational safety (30%)
DANB's RHS® Exam (Radiation Health and Safety)
Cost: $250
75 Minutes
100 Multiple Choice Questions

Exam Composition

  • Expose and evaluate (26%)
  • Quality Assurance and radiology regulations (21%)
  • Radiation safety for patients and operators (31%)
  • Infection control (22%)

DISCLAIMER

CDA®, COA®, CPFDA®, CRFDA®, NELDA®, DANB®, RHS® and ICE® are registered trademarks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (“DANB”). CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANT is a trademark of DANB. CMAS™, CMLA™, MLT®, MT®, RDA™, RMA™, RPT™ are trademarks of American Medical Technologists. 

The NDAEB® is a trademark of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board. The courses and products provided by SmarterDA are not sponsored or endorsed by or affiliated with the DANB®, AMT®, NDAEB®, or regional boards.


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