California Code of Regulations › Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations › Division 10 - Dental Board of California › Chapter 3 - Dental Auxiliaries › Article 2 - Educational Programs › Section 1070.2 - Approval of Registered Dental Assistant Educational Programs

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) All Registered
				  Dental Assistant (RDA) programs in California shall apply for and receive Board
				  approval prior to operation.
(b)
				  The Board may, in lieu of conducting its own investigation, accept the findings
				  of any commission or accreditation agency approved by the Board and adopt those
				  findings as its own. All programs accredited by the American Dental Association
				  Commission on Dental Accreditation (Commission) shall submit to the Board after
				  each site visit a copy of the final report of the Commission's findings within
				  30 days of the final report issuance. New programs approved by the Commission
				  shall apply to the Board and shall submit proof of Provisional Approval status
				  by the Commission, a copy of the institutional self study, and applications for
				  Radiation Safety, Coronal Polish, Pit and Fissure Sealants and any other
				  courses required of an RDA educational program. Acceptance of the Commission's
				  or any accrediting agencies' findings is at the discretion of the Board and
				  does not prohibit the Board from exercising its right to site-evaluate a
				  program.
(c) If the program is
				  granted the status of "Approved with Reporting Requirements" from the
				  Commission, the program shall submit to the Board copies of any and all
				  correspondence received from or submitted to the Commission until such time as
				  the status of "Approval without Reporting Requirements" is granted.
				  Additionally, if the program withdraws from accredited status by the
				  Commission, the program shall notify the Board, in writing, of such status
				  within 30 days.
(d) In order for a
				  registered dental assistant program to secure and maintain approval by the
				  Board, it shall meet the requirements of Sections
				  1070 and
				  1070.1 and the requirements
				  contained in this Section.
(1) A program shall
				  notify the Board in writing if it wishes to increase the maximum student
				  enrollment for which it is approved and shall provide documentation to the
				  Board to demonstrate compliance with Section
				  1070 and Section
				  1070.1 to reapprove the program
				  for the increased enrollment prior to accepting additional students.
(2) Programs shall establish and maintain an
				  advisory committee whose membership provides for equal representation of
				  dentists and dental assistants, all currently licensed by the Board. In
				  addition, consideration shall be given to a student, a recent graduate or a
				  public representative to serve on the advisory committee. The advisory
				  committee shall meet at least once each academic year with the program
				  director, faculty, and appropriate institutional personnel to monitor the
				  ongoing quality and performance of the program and to receive advice and
				  assistance from the committee.
(3)
				  Adequate provision for the supervision and operation of the program shall be
				  made. In addition to the requirements of Sections
				  1070 and
				  1070.1, the following requirements
				  shall be met:
(A) By January 1, 2012, each
				  faculty member shall have completed a course or certification program in
				  educational methodology of at least 30 hours, unless he or she holds any one of
				  the following: a postgraduate degree in education, a Ryan Designated Subjects
				  Vocational Education Teaching Credential, a Standard Designated Subjects
				  Teaching Credential, or a Community College Teaching Credential. Each faculty
				  member employed after January 1, 2012, shall complete a course or certification
				  program in educational methodology within six months of employment. The program
				  director or designated administrator shall be responsible to obtain and
				  maintain records of each faculty member showing evidence of having met this
				  requirement.
(B) The program
				  director shall have teaching responsibilities that are less than those of a
				  full-time faculty member. He or she shall actively participate in and be
				  responsible for the administration of the program including the following:
(i) Participating in budget preparation and
				  fiscal administration, curriculum development and coordination, determination
				  of teaching assignments, supervision and evaluation of faculty, establishment
				  of criteria and procedures, design and operation of program facilities, and
				  selection of extramural facilities and coordination of instruction in those
				  facilities.
(ii) Holding periodic
				  staff meetings to provide for subject matter review, instructional calibration,
				  curriculum evaluation, and coordinating activities of full-time, part-time, and
				  volunteer faculty or instructional staff.
(iii) Maintaining copies of minutes of all
				  advisory committee and staff meetings for not less than five
				  years.
(C) The owner or
				  school administrator shall be responsible for the compliance of the program
				  director with the provisions of this Section and Sections
				  1070 and
				  1070.1.
(4) The program shall have sufficient
				  financial resources available to support the program and to comply with this
				  Section. If the program or school requires approval by any other governmental
				  agency, that approval shall be obtained prior to application to the Board for
				  approval and shall be maintained at all times. The failure to maintain that
				  approval shall result in the automatic withdrawal of Board approval of the
				  program.
(5) The program shall be
				  of sufficient duration for the student to develop minimum competence in
				  performing dental assistant and registered dental assistant duties, but in no
				  event less than 800 hours, including at least 275 hours of didactic
				  instruction, at least 260 hours of combined laboratory or preclinical
				  instruction conducted in the program's facilities under the direct supervision
				  of program faculty or instructional staff, and the remaining hours utilized in
				  clinical instruction in extramural dental facilities. No more than 20 hours of
				  instruction shall be devoted to clerical, administrative, practice management,
				  or similar duties. Programs whose demonstrated total hours exceed 800 and who
				  meet all the instructional requirements in this Section, may utilize the
				  additional instructional hours as deemed appropriate for program success. To
				  maintain approval, programs approved prior to the effective date of these
				  regulations shall submit to the Board a completed "Notice of Compliance with
				  New Requirements for Registered Dental Assistant Educational Programs (New 
				  9/10)", hereby
				  incorporated by reference, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of
				  these regulations.
(6) In addition
				  to the requirements of Section
				  1070 with regard to extramural
				  instruction:
(A) No more than 25 percent of
				  extramural clinical instruction shall take place in a specialty dental
				  practice.
(B) Program faculty shall
				  visit each extramural dental facility at least once every ten clinical
				  days.
(7) Facilities and
				  class scheduling shall provide each student with sufficient opportunity, with
				  instructor supervision, to develop minimum competency in all duties that
				  registered dental assistants are authorized to perform. The following
				  requirements are in addition to those contained in Sections
				  1070 and
				  1070.1:
(A) The following are minimum requirements
				  for equipment and armamentaria during laboratory, preclinical, and clinical
				  sessions as appropriate to each type of session: amalgamator, model trimmers in
				  the ratio of one for every seven students, dental rotary equipment in the ratio
				  of one for every three students, vibrators in the ratio of one for every three
				  students, light curing devices in the ratio of one for every operatory,
				  functional typodonts and bench mounts in the ratio of one for every two
				  students, functional orthodontically banded typodonts in the ratio of one for
				  every four students, facebows in the ratio of one for every ten students,
				  automated blood pressure device, EKG machine, pulse oximeters in the ratio of
				  one for every ten students, capnograph or simulated device, one set of hand
				  instruments in the ratio of one set for every two students for each procedure,
				  respiration device, camera for intraoral use, camera for extraoral use, CAD
				  machine or simulated device, caries detection device in the ratio of one for
				  every ten students, and all other equipment and armamentaria required to teach
				  dental assistant and registered dental assistant duties. With the exception of
				  a CAD machine and patient monitoring equipment specific to EKG machine, pulse
				  oximeter, and capnograph, the program shall own the necessary equipment and
				  have it readily available upon inspection. Patient monitoring equipment owned
				  by the institution and utilized by more than one program within the institution
				  premises is acceptable and may be used by the RDA program as needed for
				  instruction. Instruction by a licensed healthcare provider is acceptable. In
				  the event instruction in patient monitoring procedures and use of the CAD
				  machine is provided by an outside provider, the RDA program shall not be
				  required to have available or own patient monitoring equipment or CAD
				  machine.
(B) Instruments must be
				  provided to accommodate students needs in learning to identify, exchange, and
				  prepare procedural trays and assist in procedures as they relate to general and
				  specialty dentistry.
(C) Provision
				  shall be made for reasonable access to current and diverse dental and medical
				  reference texts, current journals, audiovisual materials, and other necessary
				  resources. Library holdings, which may include, in total or in part, access
				  through the Internet, shall include materials relating to all subject areas of
				  the program curriculum.
(D)
				  Emergency materials shall include, at a minimum, an oxygen tank that is readily
				  available and functional. Medical materials for treating patients with
				  life-threatening conditions shall be available for instruction and accessible
				  to the operatories. Facilities that do not treat patients shall maintain a
				  working model of a kit of such emergency materials for instructional
				  purposes.
(8) Curriculum
				  documentation shall be reviewed annually and revised, as needed, to reflect new
				  concepts and techniques. This content must be integrated and of sufficient
				  depth, scope, sequence of instruction, quality and emphasis to ensure
				  achievement of the curriculum's defined competencies.
(A) Programs that admit students in phases,
				  including modular or open-entry programs, shall provide, at minimum, basic
				  instruction in tooth anatomy, tooth numbering, general program guidelines,
				  basic chairside skills, emergency and safety precautions, infection control,
				  and sterilization protocols associated with and required for patient treatment.
				  Such instruction shall occur prior to any other program content and prior to
				  performances or activities involving patients.
(B) All programs shall provide students with
				  additional instruction in the California Division of Occupational Safety and
				  Health (Cal/OSHA) Regulations (Cal. Code Regs., Title 8, Sections
				  330-344.85) and the Board's
				  Minimum Standards for Infection Control (Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1005) prior to the student's
				  performance of procedures on patients.
(9) In addition to the requirements of
				  Sections 1070 and
				  1070.1 and subdivisions (b)(11)
				  and (b)(12) of this Section, programs shall include the following content:
(A) Instruction in radiation safety that
				  meets all of the requirements of Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Sections
				  1014 and
				  1014.1.
(B) Instruction in coronal polishing that
				  meets all of the requirements of Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1070.4.
(C) Instruction in the application of Pit and
				  Fissure Sealants that meets all of the requirements of Cal. Code Regs., Title
				  16, Section
				  1070.3.
(D) A course in basic life support provided
				  by an instructor approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart
				  Association, or any other course approved by the Board as equivalent. The
				  program may require that the student complete this course as a prerequisite to
				  program enrollment, or that the student provide evidence of having completed
				  the course from another provider.
(E) Instruction in infection control that
				  meets all of the requirements of Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1070.6.
(F) Instruction in the Dental Practice Act
				  that includes the content specified in Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1016 governing Dental Practice Act
				  continuing education courses.
(10) A program that desires to provide
				  instruction in the following areas shall apply separately for approval to
				  provide the following courses:
(A) A course
				  in the removal of excess cement with an ultrasonic scaler, that shall meet the
				  requirements of Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1070.5.
(B) An orthodontic assistant permit course
				  that shall meet the requirements of Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1070.7, except that a program
				  shall not be required to obtain separate approval to teach the duties of
				  placing ligature ties and archwires, removing orthodontic bands, and removing
				  excess cement from surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument, and shall be no
				  less than 51 hours, including at least 9 hours of didactic instruction, at
				  least 22 hours of laboratory instruction, and at least 20 hours of clinical
				  instruction.
(C) A dental sedation
				  assistant permit course that shall meet the requirements of Cal. Code Regs.,
				  Title 16, Section
				  1070.8.
(D) A Registered Dental Assisting educational
				  program that includes instructional content for either the orthodontic
				  assistant permit or dental sedation assistant permit, or both, shall provide a
				  certificate or certificates of completion to the graduate. The certificate
				  holder shall be deemed an eligible candidate for the permit examination process
				  as having met all educational requirements for the permit
				  examination.
(11) General
				  didactic instruction shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(A) Principles of general anatomy,
				  physiology, oral embryology, tooth histology, and head-neck anatomy.
(B) Principles of conditions related to and
				  including oral pathology, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, pediatric
				  dentistry, oral surgery, prosthodontics, and esthetic dentistry.
(C) Instruction in the Dental Practice Act
				  that includes the content specified in Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1016, as well as principles of the
				  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and
				  security standards, risk management, and professional codes of ethical
				  behavior.
(D) Principles of
				  infection control, waste management, and hazardous communication requirements
				  in compliance with the Board's Minimum Standards for Infection Control (Cal.
				  Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1005) and other federal, state,
				  and local requirements governing infection control. Instruction in infection
				  control shall meet the education requirements set forth in Section
				  1070.6(e).
(E) Principles related to pharmacology and
				  biomedical sciences including nutrition and microbiology.
(F) Principles of medical-dental emergencies
				  and first aid management.
(G)
				  Principles of the treatment planning process including medical health history
				  data collection, patient and staff confidentiality, and charting.
(H) Principles of record classifications
				  including management, storage, and retention protocol for all dental records
				  including legal and ethical issues involving patient records.
(I) Principles and protocols of special needs
				  patient management, the psychology and management of dental patients, and
				  overall interpersonal relationships.
(J) Principles, protocols, and armamentaria
				  associated with all dental assisting chairside procedures.
(K) Principles, protocols, manipulation, use,
				  and armamentaria for contemporary dental materials used in general and
				  specialty dentistry.
(L) Principles
				  and protocols for oral hygiene preventative methods including, plaque
				  identification, toothbrushing and flossing techniques, and nutrition.
(M) Principles, protocols, armamentaria, and
				  procedures associated with operative and specialty dentistry.
(N) Principles, protocols, armamentaria, and
				  procedures for each duty that dental assistants and registered dental
				  assistants are allowed to perform.
(O) All content for instruction in radiation
				  safety as set forth in Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1014.1.
(P) All content for instruction in coronal
				  polishing as set forth in Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section
				  1070.4.
(Q) All content for instruction in the
				  application of Pit and Fissure Sealants as set forth in Cal. Code Regs., Title
				  16, Section
				  1070.3.
(12) Laboratory and clinical instruction
				  shall be of sufficient duration and content for each student to achieve minimum
				  competence in the performance of each procedure that dental assistant and
				  registered dental assistant is authorized to perform.
(13) Each student shall pass a written
				  examination that reflects the curriculum content, which may be administered at
				  intervals throughout the course as determined by the course
				  director.