A certified dental assistant is a dental assistant who has been certified by the dental assisting national board (the ADA's only recognized board). The CDA exam is a broad vestage exam and is strictly a written exam. In order to be eligible for the board exam, the dental assistant must be a graduate of an ADA accredited program or have work experience (full time or part-time of a total of 3,500 hours or two years, plus be a high school graduate or GED equivalent, and have a current CPR card), or have been certified in the past.

The state of Michigan does not currently recognize this certification in the delegation of duties, as some states do. In Michigan, the CDA duties are listed under dental assistant in the administrative rules (Rule 1403).

A certified dental assistant is a dental assistant who has been certified by the dental assisting national board (the ADA's only recognized board). The CDA exam is a broad vestage exam and is strictly a written exam. In order to be eligible for the board exam, the dental assistant must be a graduate of an ADA accredited program or have work experience (full time or part-time of a total of 3,500 hours or two years, plus be a high school graduate or GED equivalent, and have a current CPR card), or have been certified in the past.

The state of Michigan does not currently recognize this certification in the delegation of duties, as some states do. In Michigan, the CDA duties are listed under dental assistant in the administrative rules (Rule 1403).