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Dental Assistant Trainee Status
- I was issued dental assistant trainee status before the new rules go into effect. What does that mean for my dental assistant trainee status?
Your dental assistant trainee status will remain in effect and you may continue to practice until the trainee status expires. The rule change means that you are no longer required by law to be on trainee status for a minimum of six (6) months. Your supervising dentist can now decide when you are ready to apply for registration, as long as it is within 12 months of your date of employment.
Please note: Iowa law requires individuals who train in or work with dental radiography to be 18 years of age or older. If registered while a minor, a dental assistant may train on-the-job in dental radiography after reaching the age of 18.
- I will be starting a job in a dental office as a dental assistant. Do I need to apply for dental assistant trainee status?
Effective December 21, if you have not yet been issued a registration in Iowa, no, you will not need to apply for trainee status. Based on your first date of employment as a dental assistant trainee with an office, you may train on the job for up to 12 months while you work on meeting the requirements for registration.
- If I do not need to apply for dental assistant trainee status, how will I know when I must be issued registration or stop working?
You can train on the job as a dental assistant while meeting the requirements for registration for up to 12 months from your first date of employment with an office as a dental assistant trainee.
- How do I determine my first date of employment?
The date of employment should be determined based on the date of hire by your employer as that is the entity responsible for hiring and other employment-related decisions. Working at multiple locations for the same employer does not restart the clock for the purposes of trainee status. If working for multiple employers, the timeline for trainee status may be reset depending upon the most recent date of employment.
- What happens if I am not registered before the end of the 12 months?
You must stop practicing as a dental assistant trainee unless you are issued a dental assistant registration, or obtain new employment as a dental assistant trainee.
- I worked as a dental assistant trainee at a dental office and quit before I completed the requirements for registration. Can I work as a dental assistant trainee again?
If you gain new employment as a dental assistant, you may work as a dental assistant trainee for up to 12 months while meeting the requirements for registration. Your trainee status would start over based on the date of your new employment as a dental assistant.
- Can I get an extension on my dental assistant trainee status?
If you are still employed at the same dental office, you are unable to continue practicing as a dental assistant trainee until registration is issued to you.
If you leave employment at a dental office and are hired again as a dental assistant, you may practice as a dental assistant trainee for 12 months while you meet the requirements for registration.
Back to topDental Assistant Registration
- I am in high school and have worked for several months as a dental assistant trainee. I have completed the examinations for registration and my dentist wants me to become registered. Am I allowed to apply for registration?
Yes. The board eliminated the requirements for minimum age and graduation from high school, or equivalent, to qualify for registration. If you have completed the requirements for registration and your dentist attests to your competency as a dental assistant, you may apply for and be issued a registration as a dental assistant.
- I have worked as a dental assistant trainee for three (3) months, and my dentist wants to me to become registered. Am I allowed to do so?
Yes. If your dentist will attest to your training and competency as a dental assistant and you have successfully completed the other requirements, you may apply for registration at your convenience. Dental assistant trainees are no longer required to have a minimum of six (6) months experience prior to becoming registered.
- Until recently, I practiced as a dental assistant in another state. Do I qualify for registration as a dental assistant?
Yes. If you have practiced as a dental assistant within the previous five (5) years, your out-of-state experience as a dental assistant will qualify you for registration. You will need your previous dentist to verify your experience. If you have successfully completed the other requirements for registration, you may apply directly for registration.
If you would like to practice as a dental assistant while completing any outstanding requirements for registration, you may practice as a dental assistant trainee for up to 12 months.
Back to topSupervision
- I am working in an office with a dental assistant trainee. The dentist has asked me to supervise the dental assistant trainee when she assists with some intraoral functions, such as suctioning and taking x-rays. Am I allowed to do that?
If you are a licensed dental hygienist or registered dental assistant, you may supervise a dental assistant trainee if the dentist directs you to do so. Unlicensed or unregistered individuals may not supervise a dental assistant trainee.
- The dentist is going to be out of the office; however, the dentist has instructed me to provide services that must be done under direct supervision. Am I allowed to perform those services?
If a dentist will be able to be available via live video in a time similar to what would occur were the dentist were in the office, you may provide most services that require direct supervision. Note: Some services, which require direct supervision, such as expanded functions, obligate the dentist to review the work completed before the patient is dismissed.
If a dentist will not be available via live video, those services that require direct supervision may not be performed. Services would be restricted to those that can be performed under general supervision, or situations wherein a registered dental assistant or dental hygienist is working under a public health supervision agreement.
Back to topDental Radiography Qualification
- I was a dental assistant trainee while I was in high school. I was unable to train in dental radiography at that time. I am over 18 years of age, hold a current registration, and my dentist would like me to get a qualification in dental radiography. What do I need to do?
You may train on the job in dental radiography if you hold an active registration or Iowa nursing license. After your dentist trains you and attests to your proficiency, and you successfully complete a board-approved examination, you may apply for a qualification in dental radiography.
- I am an Iowa-licensed nurse who practices in a dental office. My dentist has asked me to take x-rays. What do I need to do?
If you have an active nursing license and are employed in a dental office, you may train on the job in dental radiography. After your dentist trains you and attests to your proficiency, and you successfully complete a board-approved examination, you may apply for a qualification in dental radiography.
- How long must I train in dental radiography before I can apply for a qualification to take x-rays?
Board rules do not establish a minimum training requirement. After your dentist trains you and attests to your proficiency, and you have successfully completed a board-approved examination in dental radiography, you may apply for a qualification.
- May students enrolled in a CODA-accredited dental assistant program take x-rays on patients via teledentistry?
In accordance with Iowa Administrative Code 650—Chapter 20, if the dental assisting students are taking x-rays on one another, they may take the x-rays under the direct supervision of a licensed or registered faculty member/instructor, or licensed dentist. If the students are taking x-rays on members of the public, the x-rays must be taken under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.
The board has amended the definition of “direct supervision” to permit a licensed dentist to provide direct supervision using teledentistry in cases where the dentist is able to appear via live video upon request in a timeframe similar to what would be expected if the dentist were in the treatment facility.
If the supervision is provided by a licensed dental hygienist or registered dental assistant, teledentistry would not be permitted for the direct supervision of the students.
“Direct supervision” means that the dentist is present in the treatment facility, but it is not required that the dentist be physically present in the treatment room, or the dentist is not present in the treatment facility but is able to appear using live video upon request with a response time similar to what would be expected if the dentist were present in the treatment facility.
Back to topExaminations
- I recently started work as a dental assistant trainee. When am I allowed to attempt the examinations required for registration?
You may take the examinations at your convenience. You are not required to train on the job for a required amount of time before testing. When you feel prepared to take the exam(s), contact the Board-approved examination provider of your choice to make arrangements. Access the list of community college testing sites here.
- I am a graduate from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program. As part of my program, I successfully completed examinations in infection control and dental radiography. Am I required to take the tests approved by the Iowa Dental Board to obtain registration?
If you are able to provide evidence of successful examination in either of the subject areas, administered by a CODA-accredited dental assistant program or the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), the Iowa Dental Board will accept the results for the purposes of registration.
If you or your program are unable to provide evidence of successful completion of those examinations, you will be required to successfully complete examinations approved by the board.
ARC 6673C
Rule Changes Effective 12/21/2022