Government Relations
Much to our surprise . . . AB481 was “held on suspense” which means that it will not become law this year. If CDA decides to pursue a new bill next year they will have to start over with new wording and a new bill number. We will continue to monitor the situation and work with CDA if/when they draft a new bill in 2024.
Many changes for dental assistants and DA education in California!!! Here are a few:
- 8 Hour Infection Control course changes
- Creation of a “Preceptorship” pathway to RDA licensure
- Many changes to scope of practice
- MAY remove DBC written exam requirement for OA permit
- MANY OTHERS . . .
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO REGULATORY LANGUAGE BELOW.
DISSOLUTION OF THE DENTAL ASSISTING ALLIANCE
Well everyone – we are surprised and pleased to announce that at their August 2023 meeting the DBC rescinded their motion to dissolve the DAC. They realized this would cause an issue with the change to the new board member positions and therefore rescinded their previous motion.
We will see what 2024 brings – we are hopeful that it will bring a new/more collaborative teamwork approach between the DAC, the full Dental Board, and the DBC staff.
At the May 19, 2023 Dental Board meeting in Southern California, the board voted unanimously to dissolve the Dental Assisting Alliance and change one of the board positions from a public member to an RDA.
PLEASE REMEMBER: THE CHANGES LISTED BELOW ARE REPRESENATIVE OF THE AMENDED VERSION DATED 4/26/23 AND ARE NOT LAW YET. THE BILL MAY CHANGE COMPLETELY BEFORE IT BECOMES LAW.
DO NOT ADVERTISE OR IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE LISTED CHANGES BELOW AT THIS TIME!
Definitions
Alternative dental assisting program: a program offered by an institution of secondary or postsecondary education which is accredited or approved by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that offers career technical education programs, regional occupation programs, or apprenticeship programs in dental assisting, and whereby a certificate of completion from the program shall serve as a pathway component for licensure as a registered dental assistant.
Apprenticeship dental assisting: a program offered through an institution of secondary or postsecondary education which is accredited or approved by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education where instructional design combines education and clinical work experience referred to as apprenticeship hours. An apprenticeship program shall be recognized as an alternative dental assisting program as defined in above.
Preceptee: an unlicensed dental assistant who is employed by a California-licensed dentist and is participating in a preceptorship in dental assisting to learn the clinical skills and acquire procedural knowledge through work experience and supplemental dental assisting coursework.
Preceptor: a California-licensed dentist in good standing who directly supervises and provides on-the-job training to a preceptee in a preceptorship in dental assisting by evaluating clinical competence, documenting completion of clinical chairside work experience, learning, and clinical progress, teaching and promoting clinical reasoning, and ensuring the preceptee has completed course requirements before performing dental assisting duties.
Preceptorship in dental assisting: means supervised on-the-job training of a preceptee by a preceptor in the performance of dental assisting duties in a competent manner as determined by the preceptor.
Pathways to RDA licensure
Preceptorship:
An affidavit signed under penalty of perjury by the preceptor verifying the applicant’s completion of at least 500 hours of documented and verifiable clinical chairside work experience that was directly supervised and evaluated by the preceptor and involved skills consistent with the allowable duties described in Section 1750.1. The documented and verifiable clinical work experience hours performed as a dental assistant within the two years immediately preceding the effective date of this section may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Completion of at least 300 hours of courses in dental assisting-related topics, including all aspects of clinical chairside assisting, medical dental emergencies, first aid and safety precautions, protocols and armamentaria associated with dental assisting chairside procedures, dental materials, and skill development associated with operative and specialty dentistry, that may be obtained concurrent with the clinical chairside work experience. Courses shall be obtained through a board-approved dental assistant educational program or course, a board-registered provider of continuing education courses, the American Dental Association Education Recognition Program, or a provider approved by the Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education. Eight units shall be the maximum number of credits granted in one day.
CDA:
Current, valid certificate as a certified dental assistant issued by the Dental Assisting National Board.
Radiation Safety
8 Hour Infection Control: The 8 hour IC course would be a prerequisite to taking a radiation safety course.