ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT COURSE 

Great News for Dental Assistants!

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California Dental Educators is proud to offer a Dental Board of California–approved Orthodontic Assistant Course (OA144). Under new Dental Board regulations, dental assistants no longer need six months of work experience to enroll in the Orthodontic Assistant course, nor one year of experience to apply for the Orthodontic Assistant Permit (OAP) Exam.

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Take the next step in your dental career and earn your Orthodontic Assistant Permit Certificate today!

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Course Overview

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Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be emailed to californiadentaleducators@gmail.com
within one week of registration and before course materials are released.

Required Prerequisites:

• Board-approved 8-Hour Infection Control Course (If you hold an RDA license and completed the 8-Hour Infection Control course more than two (2) years ago, you are required to retake the course. This is a Dental Board of California requirement.) 

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

• Chairside experience

• Employment in an orthodontic office

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Orthodontic Assistant Course Breakdown

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Total Hours: 84

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• 24 hours – Didactic (Lecture/Home Study)

• 28 hours – Lab & Pre-Clinical Training (Rocklin Facility)

• 32 hours – Clinical Experience (Your Orthodontic Office)

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Didactic Portion – Home Study (24 Hours)

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• Begins immediately upon registration

• Includes 7 modules with written exams

• Exams must be printed and completed before the first lab day

• Bring completed exams to class for instructor review

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Lab & Pre-Clinical Portion – In-Office Training (28 Hours)

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Schedule Options

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February 13–17 | April 10–14 | June 12–16

• Friday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Monday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

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March 19–22 | May 14–17

• Thursday: 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM

• Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

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This portion includes hands-on training using manikins and live student-patient practice with classmates.

Minimum enrollment required:
This course requires at least two students to be held. If minimum enrollment is not met, students will be transferred to the next available Orthodontic Assistant course.

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Before & After You Register

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1. Review the FAQ page (available in the website toolbar)

2. Select your preferred course date and register

3. Submit all prerequisites after registration

4. Receive course materials by email to begin home study

Questions? We’re just a phone call or email away—we’re here to help!

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Upon successful completion, your certificate will be:

• Emailed for immediate proof

• Mailed as an original hard copy

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Clinical Portion – Orthodontic Office (32 Hours)

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• Must be completed within 21 days after the lab/pre-clinical portion

• Completed under the supervision of a licensed dentist

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Required Documentation

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Your supervising doctor must sign:

• Dental Office Affiliation Agreement

• Clinical Patient Grade Sheets

• Clinical Hours Verification Form

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Permitted Procedures During Clinical Hours

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Under appropriate supervision, Orthodontic Assistant students may perform:

• Facebow transfers and bite registrations

• Orthodontic measurements

• Examination of orthodontic appliances

• Placement and removal of orthodontic separators

• Removal of ligature ties and archwires

• Use of light-curing devices

• Seating and examination of removable appliances (after dentist adjustment) and providing care instructions

• Isolation, etching, and preparation of teeth for bonded attachments, brackets, aligner buttons, and appliances

• Sizing, fitting, and cementing orthodontic bands

• Removal of bands, brackets, and attachments; cleaning excess cement using hand instruments

  • Note: Residual material must be removed by a supervising dentist or an RDAEF licensed after January 1, 2010

• Placement and ligation of archwires

• Use of an ultrasonic scaler to remove excess supragingival cement (included in our course)

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Upon Completion

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Once all coursework and clinical documentation are successfully submitted, you will receive your Orthodontic Assistant Certificate from California Dental Educators. You will then be eligible to apply for the California Dental Board Orthodontic Assistant Permit (OAP) Exam.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

You may only perform OAP procedures while enrolled in a board-approved OAP course during the required 84 hours. Once those hours are completed, you must pass the California Dental Board OAP Exam before performing any OA procedures independently.

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Final Notes

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• Students must be employed in an orthodontic office to complete the clinical portion

• All requirements align with current Dental Board of California regulations