Dental Assistants must hold a current permit issued by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners if they perform dental radiography, coronal polishing, administration/monitoring of nitrous oxide, and sedation monitoring in the dental office. If a dental assistant
is performing any of these duties without a permit, they
are doing so illegally.
Listed below are the steps a dental assistant must complete
in order to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA).
STEP ONE
3 Ways to Obtain a Permit for
Radiography and/or Coronal Polishing
On the job training through an Arkansas-licensed dentist using the Educational Packet provided by the Board
Be a graduate of a CODA-approved dental assisting program (click here for a list of CODA-accredited dental assisting programs that are accepted by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners)
Be a Certified Dental Assistant through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Click here for more information on DANB
Process for Obtaining a Permit for
the Administration of Nitrous Oxide
Successfully complete a nitrous oxide administration
and monitoring course as approved by the Board.
Click
here to download the listing
of Board-approved nitrous oxide instructors in PDF Format.
Process for Obtaining a Permit for Sedation Monitoring
Successfully complete a sedation monitoring course. The Board only accepts the "Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification" course. Click here for information on the course.
Note: You must be already registered in Nitrous Oxide Administration/Monitoring in order to receive a permit for Sedation Monitoring.
STEP TWO
Click here to download the "Registration for Dental Assistants" form. You will use this form to become a Registered Dental Assistant AND to add expanded duties in the future.
Fee:
The Fee is $20 for EACH expanded duty.
These are considered "expanded duties":
Radiography (x-ray)
Coronal polishing
Nitrous oxide administration
Sedation monitoring
Note:
One (1) expanded duty = $20
Two (2) expanded duties = $40
Three (3) expanded duties = $60
Four (4) expanded duties = $80
STEP THREE
Upon receipt of your initial application, you will be mailed an open-book jurisprudence examination along with the Dental Practice Act. To pass the examination you must have a score of at least 75%.
All RDA permits expire December 31st and must be renewed
biennially on forms provided by the Board office. The renewal
fee will be $20.
PDF
forms require the Free
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.
Click the icon or the link above to download the free program.
