Oregon Dental Assisting Requirements

Below are the Dental Assistant requirements for the State of Oregon. To confirm that you meet these requirements or if you have any questions, please reach out to the Oregon dental board.

Disclaimer: This data is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Radiography

Note: Effective January 1, 2019, the Oregon Board of Dentistry no longer requires applicants for the Oregon Radiologic Proficiency Certificate to pass the Oregon Clinical Radiologic Proficiency Exam formerly administered by DANB. Dental assistants seeking to earn the certificate must now submit verification of proficiency as described in 1.c. below. To perform dental radiography procedures in Oregon, a dental assistant must hold a state certificate of radiologic proficiency. To obtain this certificate, a dental assistant must do one of the following: 
  1. Complete all of the following three requirements and apply to DANB for a state certificate of radiologic proficiency: a. Complete a course approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD)*, or submit evidence of equivalent training recognized by the Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Protection, Radiation Protection Services, and b. Pass the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, and
  2. Submit verification** from an Oregon licensed dentist or Oregon licensed dental hygienist that the assistant is proficient to take radiographs 2. Complete one of the following two requirements and apply to DANB for a state certificate of radiologic proficiency by credential: a. Be certified in another state that has training and certification requirements substantially similar to Oregon’s, OR b. Obtain verification from an employer dentist that the assistant has been employed for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant (in a state other than Oregon) and is competent to take radiographs.
The DALE Foundation’s DANB RHS Review course is approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry and meets the course requirement to earn the Oregon Radiologic Proficiency Certificate. For a complete list of accepted radiography courses, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at information@oregondentistry.org.

Note: A dentist or dental hygienist may authorize a dental assistant who has completed the course and written exam requirements described above to perform radiographic procedures under the indirect supervision of a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant who holds an Oregon Radiologic Proficiency Certificate. Within 6 months of beginning to expose radiographs, as authorized by an Oregon licensed dentist or Oregon licensed dental hygienist, the dental assistant must submit verification from an Oregon licensed dentist or dental hygienist that the assistant is proficient to take radiographs.

Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at www.oregon.gov/dentistry

Expanded Function Dental Assistant

To perform expanded functions in Oregon under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must earn an Oregon Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) certificate. To qualify, one must:

Pathway I:

1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency ( see requirements), AND

2. Successfully complete a CODA-accredited dental assisting program, AND

3. Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate (administered by DANB).

 

Pathway II:

1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency ( see requirements), AND

2. Pass the national DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam , AND

3. Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions General Dental Assisting exam (administered by DANB), AND

4. Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has completed clinical requirements, AND

5. Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway III(a):

1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency ( see requirements), AND

2. Pass the Oregon Basic Dental Assisting exam, AND

3. Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions General Dental Assisting exam, AND

4. Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has completed clinical requirements, AND

5. Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway III(b):

1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency ( see requirements), AND

2. Pass the DANB Infection Control (ICE) exam, AND

3. Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions General Dental Assisting exam , AND

4. Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has completed clinical requirements, AND

5. Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway IV:

1. Be certified in another state that has training and certification requirements substantially similar to Oregon’s requirements or obtain verification from a licensed dentist of having been employed (in a state other than Oregon) for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant performing, expanded functions, AND

2. Apply for the Oregon EFDA certificate (administered by DANB).

To apply for pathway IV, contact DANB to request an application.

Note: An EFDA may apply pit and fissure sealants and temporary soft relines to full dentures upon successful completion of a course of instruction (in the desired expanded function) in a CODA-accredited program or other course of instruction approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry.

Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry  at www.oregon.gov/dentistry

View all Oregon exams and certificates.

Expanded Function Dental Assistant with Restorative Functions Certificate

To perform placement and finishing of direct restorations, except gold foil, under the indirect supervision of a dentist, subject to OBD regulations, an EFDA must hold a Restorative Functions certificate. To qualify, an EFDA must:

1a. Complete an OBD-approved restorative functions curriculum from a CODA-accredited program, AND

1b. Pass the WREB Restorative Exam (or other equivalent exam approved by the OBD) within the five years preceding application, AND

1c. Apply for the Oregon Restorative Functions certificate (administered by DANB), OR

2a. If the applicant passed the WREB Restorative Exam or other equivalent OBD-approved exam more than five years before application, submit verification from another state or jurisdiction where the applicant is legally authorized to perform restorative functions and verification from the supervising dentist of successful completion of at least 25 restorative procedures within the immediate five years preceding application, AND

2b. Apply for the Oregon Restorative Functions certificate (administered by DANB.)


Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at www.oregon.gov/dentistry

Expanded Function Orthodontic Dental Assistant

To perform expanded orthodontic functions in Oregon under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must earn status as an Expanded Function Orthodontic Dental Assistant (EFODA). To qualify, one must successfully complete all of the following requirements in ONE of the following four pathways:

Pathway I:

  1. Complete a course of instruction in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program, AND
  2. Apply for Oregon EFODA certification (administered by DANB).

Pathway II:

  1. Pass the national DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam or Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) exam , AND
  2. Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions Orthodontic Assisting (ORXO) exam (administered by DANB), AND
  3. Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has successfully completed the clinical requirements, AND
  4. Apply for the Oregon EFODA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway III(a):

  1. Pass the Oregon Basic Dental Assisting (ORB) exam, AND
  2. Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions Orthodontic Assisting (ORXO) exam (administered by DANB), AND
  3. Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has successfully completed the clinical requirements, AND
  4. Apply for the Oregon EFODA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway III(b):

  1. Pass the DANB Infection Control (ICE) exam, AND
  2. Pass the Oregon Expanded Functions Orthodontic Assisting (ORXO) exam (administered by DANB), AND
  3. Provide endorsement from an Oregon licensed dentist stating that the applicant has successfully completed the clinical requirements, AND
  4. Apply for the Oregon EFODA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway IV:

  1. Be certified in another state that has training and certification requirements substantially similar to Oregon’s requirements or obtain verification from a  licensed dentist of having been employed (in a state other than Oregon) for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant performing expanded orthodontic functions, AND
  2. Apply for the  Oregon EFODA certificate (administered by DANB).
Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at www.oregon.gov/dentistry View all Oregon exams and certificates

Expanded Function Preventive Dental Assistant

To perform expanded preventive functions in Oregon under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must earn an Oregon Expanded Function Preventive Dental Assistant (EFPDA) certificate. To qualify, one must:

Pathway I:

  1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency see requirements, AND
  2. Successfully complete a course of instruction in a program accredited by CODA, AND
  3. Apply for the Oregon EFPDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway II:

  1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency see requirements, AND
  2. Pass the DANB Infection Control (ICE) exam, AND
  3. Pass one of the following exams:
  4. DANB Coronal Polishing (CP) exam, OR
  5. DANB Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) exam OR
  6. Oregon Expanded Functions General Dental Assisting exam (administered by DANB)
  1. Provide endorsement from a dentist licensed in Oregon stating that the applicant has

completed clinical requirements, AND

  1. Apply for the Oregon EFPDA certificate (administered by DANB).

 

Pathway III:

  1. Hold an Oregon Certificate of Radiologic Proficiency  see requirements, AND
  2. Pass the Oregon Basic Dental Assisting (ORB) exam (administered by DANB), AND
  3. Pass one of the following exams:
  4. DANB Coronal Polishing (CP) exam, OR
  5. DANB Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) exam OR
  6. Oregon Expanded Functions General Dental Assisting exam (administered by DANB), 
  7. Provide endorsement from a dentist licensed in Oregon stating that the applicant has completed clinical requirements, AND
  8. Apply for the Oregon EFPDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Pathway IV

  1. Be certified in another state with requirements similar to Oregon’s, OR Obtain verification from a licensed dentist of having been employed (outside the state of Oregon) for at least 1,000 hours in the past two years as a dental assistant performing the permitted expanded preventive functions, AND
  2. Apply for the Oregon EFPDA certificate (administered by DANB).

Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of  Dentistry at www.oregon.gov/dentistry


View all Oregon exams and certificates

Anesthesia Dental Assistant

A dental assistant in Oregon must hold state certification as an Anesthesia Dental Assistant in order to perform specified anesthesia assisting functions. To qualify, one must:
  1. Hold a current Health Care Provider BLS/CPR certification, AND
2a. Successfully complete the Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Exam (DAANCE) conducted by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, OR 2b. Successfully complete the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Assistants Course conducted by the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, OR 2c. Have passed the DANB Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Assistant (COMSA) exam (prior to the discontinuation of the COMSA exam in 2000), OR 2d. The Resuscitation Group – Anesthesia Dental Assistant course, OR 2e. Other course approved by the Oregon Board of Dentistry, AND
  1. Apply for the Oregon Anesthesia Dental Assistant certificate (administered by DANB)
Note: The Oregon state dental practice act specifies that, in addition to the exams, courses and programs listed on this page, a dental assistant may complete any successor or otherwise Board-approved exams, courses or programs. For more information, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at  www.oregon.gov/dentistry

.View all Oregon exams and certificates.

Anesthesia Dental Assistant with IV Therapy Certificate

To initiate intravenous (IV) lines in Oregon for a patient being prepared for IV medications, sedation or general anesthesia under the indirect supervision of a dentist holding the appropriate anesthesia permit, an Anesthesia Dental Assistant must earn an additional endorsement. To qualify, an Anesthesia Dental Assistant must:
  1. Complete a course in intravenous access or phlebotomy approved by the OBD, AND
  2. Apply for the Oregon Anesthesia Dental Assistant with IV Therapy certificate (administered by DANB)
View all Oregon exams and certificates.

Recommended Course

Frequently Asked Questions

To become a dental assistant in the state of Oregon, visit the Oregon Dental Assistant Requirements for more detailed information.  

To perform dental radiography procedures in the state of Oregon, visit the Oregon Radiography Requirements for more detailed information.

To perform expanded function in the state of Oregon, visit the Oregon Expanded Function Dental Assistant Requirements for more detailed information.  
To perform restorative function as dental assistant in the state of Oregon, visit the Oregon Restorative Function Requirements for more detailed information.
To perform expanded preventive functions in the state of Oregon, visit the Oregon Preventive Function Requirements for more detailed information.
To become a Anesthesia Dental Assistant in the state of oregon, visit the Oregon Anesthesia Dental Assistant Requirements for more detailed information.  
To initiate intravenous (IV) lines in the state of Oregon, visit the Oregon Anesthesia Dental Assistant IV Therapy Requirements for more detailed information.
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