Dental Assisting Council reviews proposal to shift program oversight and considers accepting DANB exams; stakeholders warn of training gaps

The Dental Assisting Council on Aug. 14 discussed a draft legislative proposal to amend multiple Business and Professions Code sections so that external accrediting or approving agencies — rather than the Dental Board — would approve dental‑assisting educational programs and courses, and separately heard a presentation from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) about its radiation, infection‑control, coronal‑polishing and sealants exams.

The proposal, presented by council members Jerry Fowler and Kara Miyazaki as part of the regulations working group, would add a new statutory section that lists recognized accrediting/approving entities and remove or reduce the board’s direct program‑approval role. Board staff said the change reflects that the board no longer has staffing capacity or subject‑matter resources to continue full program review, approval and audits at current scale. "Board staff do not have the education to approve dental assisting courses anymore," Tina Valerie, chief of dental assisting and licensing and program compliance, told the council.

Why it matters: The board oversees training that underpins several expanded duties for assistants (radiography, infection control, coronal polishing, sealants). Stakeholders and some council members warned that shifting oversight could reduce required hands‑on instruction, fragment curricula and raise costs for small providers, with potential impacts on workforce supply and patient safety.

Key components of the proposal and staff rationale

- The draft text would require educational providers to be accredited or authorized by a list of…