Dental Assistant Services

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

1. What is Dental Assistant Services?
2. Is Dental Assistant Services an approved program?
3. Is financial assistance available?
   
4. What's the difference between a CDA, RDA, and an x-ray license?
5. How do I sign up for "the CDA course"?
6. Does it matter what order I take the courses in?
7. Do I need any experience before taking the Introductory Dental Assisting course?
8. Can I take the New Jersey State Radiology course before taking Introductory Dental Assisting?
9. Do I need to be previously or currently employed to take the radiology course?
10. On average, how long does it take to get a dental x-ray license?
11. On average, how long does it take to get a CDA certificate?
12. On average, how long does it take to get an RDA?
13. How successful are your students in passing the exams required to obtain the various dental assisting credentials?
14. Do you offer a placement service where you would help me to find a job once I complete your program?

General FAQs 

1.  What is Dental Assistant Services?

Dental Assistant Services is a training program designed to help individuals obtain the credentials and skills they need to become fully functioning dental assistants in the state of New Jersey.  Our program is designed to help students learn about the necessary materials and develop the necessary skills though a combination of classroom instruction, discussion, demonstration, and hands-on practice to pass the state required examinations and to be prepared to enter the field of dental assisting as a desirable job candidate.  We also offer continuing education courses and some assistance finding employment.

2.  Is Dental Assistant Services an approved program?

Dental Assistant Services is a board approved program and provides the necessary educational component required in order to obtain a Dental Radiologic Technologist (dental x-ray) license in the state of New Jersey.  Approval is through the Radiologic Technologist Section of the Bureau of X-Ray Compliance (a part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection). 

 

 

3.  Is financial assistance available?

Dental Assistant Services offers dental assisting training programs, but is not a full-time program.  As a result, we are not eligible to offer state or federal financial aid programs (such as the NJ Tuition Assistance Grant, the Federal Perkins Loan, or the Federal Stafford Loan).  We do offer the option of paying by credit card if that should help.

Our policy requires a $100 non-refundable deposit prior to enrollment in any course (excluding continuing education courses where payment in full is required).  The balance for the course is due by the first day of class.  Should this provide a financial hardship, please call our office about the possibility of making other arrangements.

4.  What's the difference between a CDA , RDA, and an x-ray license?

Our page entitled Types of Dental Assistants provides a nice overview of the similarities and differences between the various credentials that a dental assistant in NJ can obtain.  Those differences relate in part to educational backgrounds, testing and experience requirements, and specific job responsibilities granted to the various types of dental assistants.  Be sure to look at the summary at the bottom of the page.

5.  How do I sign up for "the CDA course"?

Earning a CDA certificate entails more than taking a single course.  There are a series of three required examinations and three corresponding courses that will help you to obtain your certification. 

After passing one of these three required exams you can earn a dental x-ray license.  This will make you more employable and help you gain the additional experience requirement necessary to become a CDA certificant.  As a result, most students will pursue a dental x-ray license first by taking our NJ State Radiology course.  Afterwards, they continue on in pursuing their CDA certification.

If you are brand new to the field, we encourage you to explore the Career section of our website by selecting Career from the pull down menus at the top of this page.  Nearly all students will begin by taking Introductory Dental Assisting unless they already have prior experience/credentials.

6.  Does it matter what order I take the courses in?

Though there are some exceptions based upon your background and experience, program courses are typically taken in a certain order.  Please click here to view the Typical Course Sequence and for more information about the specific program courses we offer.

7.  Do I need any experience before taking the Introductory Dental Assisting course?

No, there are no experience requirements necessary in order to take Introductory Dental Assisting.  This course is specifically designed for those who are new to the field of dental assisting. 

8.  Can I take the New Jersey State Radiology course before taking Introductory Dental Assisting?

Although we do not have a strict requirement that you first take the Introductory Dental Assisting course, it is highly recommended that you take this course prior to registering for the radiology course.  Exceptions may be made for those students who have prior experience or education.  At a minimum you should be familiar with all of the following before taking the radiology course.  If after reviewing this list you feel you may have the background to skip Introductory Dental Assisting or if you're still unsure about whether or not you should take the course, please contact us at info@dentalassistantservices.com with a brief summary of your experience or call our office at 732-919-1816.

9.  Do I need to be previously or currently employed to take the radiology course?

Current employment is not required in order to register for the NJ State Radiology course.  Part of the course however includes a clinical component where you will work in an actual dental office.  Many students will choose to do their clinical at an office where they are already employed, those this is not a requirement.  It is possible to do your clinical at an office where you are not already employed. 

10. On average, how long does it take to get a dental x-ray license?

While individual times will vary, on average you can expect to spend approximately six months from when you begin taking the required radiology course to the time when you are finished with the clinical component of the course and ready to take the exam and formally apply for your license.  For a summary of the requirements necessary to obtain a dental x-ray license in NJ, please click here.

11. On average, how long does it take to get a CDA certificate?

As with the dental x-ray license, individual times will vary.  If you already have a dental x-ray license and passed the exam to get that license within the past five years you will still have two additional courses that run a combined 17 weeks.  There is also an experience requirement of 2 years (minimum).  If you are just starting out in the field, you can expect that it will take at least about 2½ years to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA ) certificant.  Please click here for further information.

12. On average, how long does it take to get an RDA?

The Expanded Functions course that prepares you for the exam required to become an RDA runs for a total of 8 weeks.  Although you may choose to take more or less time to study for the exam, most students are able to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in approximately 4 months.  Please note that having a CDA certificate is a prerequisite to becoming an RDA.

13. How successful are your students in passing the exams required to obtain the various dental assisting credentials?

Our students have traditionally done exceptionally well and we have consistently scored as one of the top training programs in the state year after year.  Our program is designed not only to prepare you to pass the required exams, but also to be a desirable job candidate in a dental office.

14. Do you offer a placement service where you would help me to find a job once I complete your program?

While we cannot guarantee employment for students upon completion of the program and we do not offer job assistance in the form of arranging for and setting up interviews, we can and do offer a job board where students can view postings of available positions from local dental offices.  We also offer a listing service (see the "Services" menu) where we collect some basic information about individuals seeking employment that we send to local dental offices upon request.  There is no cost associated with either the job board or the listing service. 

FAQs about registration

1. How do I register for a course?
2. Can I register online?
3. What forms of payment do you accept?
4. What is your refund policy if I have to withdraw from a course?

FAQs about registration 

1.  How do I register for a course?

It depends on the type of course you want to register for.  If you want to register for a program course (i.e. those designed to help you earn your dental x-ray license, CDA certificate, and/or RDA) you must download a registration form, complete it, and return it to our office.  If you would like to register for a continuing education course you can either use a registration form or register online.  Please visit our registration page for further details, including payment options.

2.  Can I register online?

At this time you can only register online for continuing education courses.  If you are registering for the Infection Control or Expanded Functions course for continuing dental education credits, you must still complete a paper registration form.  These courses cannot be registered for online.

3.  What forms of payment do you accept?

4.  What is your refund policy if I have to withdraw from a course?

Please speak with our office manager, Emil Villanueva.  You can either stop in and speak with him in person or call him at 732-919-1816.

FAQs about the clinical component of the radiology course

1. When can I start my clinical?
2. How do I find a site to do my clinical?
3. Where do I get a film badge from?
4. Do I have to wear my name tag and/or film badge even if the office I work in tells me not to?
5. Is it okay to hold a dental film in the mouth of a patient during a radiographic exposure?
6. I've already taken x-rays prior to starting the clinical portion of the radiology course.  Can I use this experience towards the required 30 hours of clinical experience?
7. I'm doing my clinical with a dental group that has multiple offices.  Am I allowed to take x-rays at all of their offices?
8. If I'm pregnant can I still complete the clinical component?
9. If my film badge expires, what should I do?
10. I just finished the required 30 hours of clinical experience.  Can I continue to take x-rays while waiting to receive my license?
11. I just finished my 30 hours of clinical experience.  What do I do now?
12. Who can I ask if I have other questions about what is and is not legally permitted during my clinical?

FAQs about the clinical component of the radiology course

1.  When can I start my clinical?

Before you can begin the clinical component you must first successfully complete the first two components of the Radiology course (the didactic or instructional and the laboratory components).  Dental Assistant Services will then provide you with a clinical affiliation application to complete.  The purpose of this application is to have the NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) approve of the location where you plan to do your clinical.  Once this approval process is complete, you may begin your clinical.

2.  How do I find a site to do my clinical?

The office where you do your clinical must be a location where you can be supervised by a properly licensed individual and that has been approved by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.  Students can usually complete their clinical at an office where they are already employed.  While it is ultimately your responsibility to locate a dental office where you can obtain your clinical training, if you need help locating an office Dental Assistant Services may be able to provide some assistance.

3.  Where do I get a film badge from?

Dental Assistant Services will provide you with both a name tag and a film badge before you begin your clinical assignment.  The name tag identifies you as a student and indicates that you have permission to take radiographs during your clinical.  The film badge detects and measures any radiation you may be exposed to while exposing radiographs.

4.  Do I have to wear my name tag and/or film badge even if the office I work in tells me not to?

Yes, according to state law it is illegal for you to operate radiographic equipment, take dental radiographs, position a patient, and/or position a film in the mouth of a patient without a name tag and film badge or a license.  Thus all students are required to wear both their name tag and film badge at all times throughout the duration of their clinical assignment.

Failure to do so may subject you, DAS, and/or the dental office you're working in to various penalties and fines.  Furthermore, your Clinical Affiliation Application may be revoked keeping you from completing your clinical and ultimately from obtaining your license.

5.  Is it okay to hold a dental film in the mouth of a patient during a radiographic exposure?

No.  Nobody, whether student or licensed dental radiologic technologist, may hold a film or be in the line of the radiation beam.

6.  I've already taken x-rays prior to starting the clinical portion of the radiology course.  Can I use this experience towards the required 30 hours of clinical experience?

It is illegal in the state of New Jersey to operate radiographic equipment, to take dental radiographs, or even to position the patient and/or dental film without a license or approval to begin your clinical.  As a result, no it would not count towards your 30 hour requirement.

7.  I'm doing my clinical with a dental group that has multiple offices.  Am I allowed to take x-rays at all of their offices?

When you complete your clinical affiliation form it will only be valid for a single office location.  If you plan to perform your clinical hours at more than one location you should obtain and submit for approval a separate form for each additional office or location you expect to work at.

8.  If I'm pregnant can I still complete the clinical component?

Yes, if you are pregnant you are still allowed to either begin or complete your clinical.  The NJ Department of Environmental Protection has indicated that it is safe for an operator to take radiographs while pregnant.  Dental Assistant Services will also provide you with a written pregnancy policy upon being advised of your pregnancy.

9.  If my film badge expires, what should I do?

According to state law all students are required to wear their assigned film badge at all times throughout the duration of their clinical assignment.  If your film badge is about to expire please contact us to obtain a new one.  If it has already expired you are not legally permitted to continue your clinical or to continue taking dental radiographs until you receive a replacement.

10. I just finished the required 30 hours of clinical experience.  Can I continue to take x-rays while waiting to receive my license?

Once you have completed the clinical component you should stop taking dental radiographs until you receive your license. 

11. I just finished my 30 hours of clinical experience.  What do I do now?

First off, congratulations.  You're one step closer to obtaining your license!  After you have finished the required 30 clinical hours please return your film badge, along with your "clinical affiliation application", and a completed "Dental Radiographic Verification of Curriculum Completion form" to Dental Assistant Services.  These will be provided to you.  After processing, we will then provide you with the remaining paperwork necessary to obtain your dental x-ray license.

12. Who can I ask if I have other questions about what is and is not legally permitted during my clinical?

You may contact the Bureau of X-Ray Compliance (a division of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection) by calling 609-984-5890 or click here for a list of email addresses under their " technologist certification section".

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