The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) 2012 Salary Survey reveals that dental assistants who have earned DANB certification receive a higher salary than noncertified dental assistants and demonstrate high employer loyalty.
The findings are consistent with DANB's previous salary surveys, which have been conducted since 2001.
DANB, which is recognized by the ADA as the national certification board for dental assistants, offers the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) national certification exam and also the Certified Orthodontic Assistant and Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant exams.
DANB surveyed thousands of dental assistants in the U.S. who hold the CDA certification about salary levels, types of work benefits, job satisfaction, and other issues.
Their responses indicate full-time dental assistants who hold the CDA certification earn a median salary of $18.60 an hour, $1.54 more than full-time dental assistants who do not. The survey also shows that the average CDA salary has climbed slightly since the 2010 salary survey, particularly notable during a time of economic difficulty and high unemployment rates.
CDA certificants also show high employer loyalty, averaging eight years in their current position.
CDAs also credited DANB certification for a number of other benefits, including pride (82%), self-improvement (72%), employer recognition (60%), elevation of the profession (51%), patient respect for credentials (45%), career mobility (45%), recognition by the dental community (45%), and the potential to perform additional dental assisting duties (45%).
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