RDA Licensure Renewal Requirements Regarding Sealant Placement Certification
5/20/09

Under regulations scheduled to take effect January 1, 2010, the educational requirements, licensing process, and allowable duties for dental assistants, registered dental assistants, and registered dental assistants in extended functions will change. In addition, two new specialty assisting permits in the fields of orthodontic delivery and dental sedation will be created. As part of these changes a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) licensed for the first time after January 1, 2010, must complete a Dental Board-approved course in the application of pit and fissure sealants as a condition of license renewal at the first renewal cycle requiring continuing education credit. Registered Dental Assistants licensed prior to January 1, 2010, are exempt from this requirement unless they wish to be able to perform the duty of sealant application. 

Dentists and Registered Dental Assistants should be aware of this distinction and not be confused by mailings or other solicitations for pit and fissure sealant courses that seem to imply that such certification is necessary for all RDA licensure renewal after January 1, 2010.  

An excellent summary of the new DA, RDA, and RDAEF duties and licensure requirements, as well as the duties and requirements for the new specialty assisting permits, is available on the website of the California Dental Association (www.cda.org) under “What’s New”.  

Questions regarding these new regulations as they might affect pediatric dental care delivery or member’s practices may be directed to CSPD’s Public Policy Advocate, Dr. Paul Reggiardo, at Reggiardo@prodigy.net .  

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