Nationally Certified Multi-Skilled Dental Assistant
CIP Code: 51.0601 • 125 questions • 2.5 hours • Passing score: 70% • Annual renewal
Overview
This credential validates multi-skilled competency in modern dental practice. Certified Dental Assistants support chairside procedures, manage instruments and materials, maintain sterilization and infection control, assist with impressions and provisional restorations, capture basic radiographic images per office protocol, and document care accurately.
- Nationally recognized Multi-Skilled Stackable
- Listed in the NHWCA National Registry for employer verification
- Annual renewal: $465 • 10 CEU • Active CPR • No lapse
Why Multi-Skilled?
NHWCA’s multi-skilled model verifies cross-functional readiness in chairside assistance, infection control, materials management, radiography basics, documentation, and patient support—so practices can staff flexibly across general and specialty procedures with one certified professional.
Job Description
A Dental Assistant prepares operatories, seats and educates patients, passes instruments, mixes materials, maintains sterile technique and asepsis, assists with impressions and temporaries, captures basic radiographic images (per office authorization), documents care, and coordinates post-op instructions and supplies.
Qualifications (choose one)
- Graduate of a dental assisting or allied health training program; or
- Trained on the job by an accredited dental practice or dental facility; or
- Experience: 3 months verifiable work in chairside dental assisting.
All candidates must meet age, ID, and conduct requirements per the NHWCA Candidate Handbook.
Exam Structure & Timing
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question Count | 125 multiple-choice (100 scored + 25 pilot) |
| Time Limit | 2.5 hours (150 minutes) |
| Passing Score | 70% or higher |
| Delivery | Online or approved testing site, proctored, closed-book |
| Question Style | Scenario-based and knowledge-based items |
Exam Domains & Weighting
| Domain | Weight | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Infection Control, Sterilization & OSHA | 20% | ~25 |
| Chairside Procedures & Four-Handed Dentistry | 25% | ~31 |
| Dental Materials, Impressions & Temporaries | 15% | ~19 |
| Dental Radiography: Principles & Safety* | 15% | ~19 |
| Dental Anatomy, Charting & Pharmacology Basics | 15% | ~19 |
| Documentation, Patient Management & Emergencies (CPR) | 10% | ~12 |
* Local/state authorization may be required for radiographic duties. Totals reflect 100 scored items; 25 pilot items do not affect score.
Practice Questions (10)
Included with registration inside the candidate portal. These do not affect your score but mirror the style and depth of the live exam.
Renewal
- Cycle: Annual
- Requirements: $465 • 10 CEU • Active CPR • No lapse
© NHWCA – National Healthcare Workers Certification Association. All rights reserved.