The bill, AB 481, aims to expand dental assistants’ scope of practice and create new licensure pathways, according to a Feb. 17 news release from the CDA.
Here are five things that the CDA hopes the legislation will accomplish:
1. Simplify and shorten the current requirement of 15 months of on-the-job training to 800 supervised hours, including educational and clinical experience.
2. Change the orthodontic assistant permit to a certificated course without an exam.
3. Formalize interim therapeutic restoration regulations.
4. Allow those who move to California and hold a certified dental assistant certificate to apply for a registered dental assistant license under certain criteria.
5. Clarify existing duties as well as add duties for dental assistants based on evolving technologies.
