Sedation Consult highlights monitoring course as DANB opens new CDA pathway

Sedation Consult is promoting its online monitoring course as the Dental Assisting National Board moves to expand access to Certified Dental Assistant certification. The new DANB pathway is expected to launch in early 2027 and could broaden options for dental assistants in non-Commission on Dental Accreditation programs.

Why it matters: - DANB’s new CDA pathway could widen the pipeline to certification for dental assistants who train in qualifying programs that are not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. - Sedation Consult is positioning its 14-credit monitoring course as a resource for dental teams focused on anesthesia-related patient care and office readiness. - The shift could affect how dental assistants, dentists and educators think about continuing education, sedation monitoring and career advancement.

What happened: - The Dental Assisting National Board announced a new pathway for Certified Dental Assistant certification on Sept. 23. - DANB says the pathway is designed for dental assistants who complete qualifying programs within institutions accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-approved agency, even if the programs are not CODA-accredited. - DANB is inviting eligible programs to apply for approval. - DANB expects the pathway to be officially available in early 2027. - Sedation Consult responded by highlighting Essentials of Monitoring (Online), a continuing-education course for dentists, dental anesthesiologists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.

The details: - Essentials of Monitoring covers patient requirements for sedation, the continuum of sedation, documentation and consent, vital signs, monitoring basics, electrocardiogram fundamentals, patient recovery and discharge, and dental-office emergency protocols. - The course includes 14 hours of lectures, written lecture notes and a 100-question exam. - Participants must score 75% to pass, according to the course page. - Sedation Consult and the Academy of Continued Education designate the activity for 14 continuing-education credits. - The course page says the program is approved by the state dental boards of Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. - Allan Schwartz, DDS, CRNA, created and presents the program. - Sedation Consult says Schwartz has taught anesthesia to dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, certified registered nurse anesthesiologists, physicians and nurses for more than 13 years. - Schwartz is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontics at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education. - More information on DANB’s announcement is available in DANB’s news release. - Details on the course are available on Sedation Consult’s course page.

Between the lines: - DANB’s new pathway signals a broader effort to open CDA certification to more education models while still keeping a formal approval process. - Sedation Consult is using the announcement to reinforce the value of monitoring training at a moment when dental assistants may be looking for clearer routes into certification and more specialized CE. - The course’s state-board approvals and credit designation may make it easier for dental professionals to use the program as part of licensure or continuing-education planning.

What’s next: - DANB will review eligible programs and expects to make the pathway available in early 2027. - Dental assistants and training providers that want access to the new route will need to follow DANB’s approval process. - Sedation Consult is likely to keep promoting its monitoring course to dental teams preparing for sedation-related responsibilities and CE requirements.

The bottom line: - DANB is broadening the path to CDA certification, and Sedation Consult is seizing the moment to market a monitoring course aimed at the same dental workforce that could benefit from the change.