The board has implemented a board examination for student dental assistants who are currently registered under the “grandfather clause”, which means they have not completed the qualification, but are registered based on their experience.
The requirement for registration as a dental assistant is successful completion of a National Certificate in Dental Assisting from the University of Technology, recognised in terms of sub regulation 1 of the regulations relating to registration of Dental Assistants (DA).
The 2015 board examination will be conducted on 15 May 2015 and candidates who are successful will be registered as dental assistants. Further information regarding the examination is available on the website.
The board examination tests competency and knowledge of student dental sssistants registered under the grandfather clause for registration as dental assistants.
No qualification certificate will be issued to candidates who are successful in the examination, as the board is not an educational institution. The examination focuses on the application of theoretical knowledge in practice and will also include issues relating to ethics, human rights and HIV/Aids.
The board examination will be phased out in 2016 (last examination will be conducted in 2016) and student dental assistants who have not undertaken the board examination by 2016 will be required to enrol for the formal dental assisting course at an accredited education institution.
It is no longer possible to register as a student dental assistant or a dental assistant in terms of the grandfather clause, i.e. registration based on years of experience, since the provision in the regulations for registration in terms of the grandfather clause has expired.
Last Updated on 4 March 2015 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs