650—20.6(153) Categories of dental assistants: dental assistant trainee, registered dental assistant. There are two categories of dental assistants. Both the supervising dentist and the registered dental assistant or dental assistant trainee are responsible for maintaining documentation of training. Such documentation must be maintained in the office of practice and shall be provided to the board upon request.
	20.6(1) Registered dental assistant. Registered dental assistants are individuals who have met the requirements for registration and have been issued a certificate of registration. A registered dental assistant may, under general supervision, perform dental radiography, intraoral suctioning, use of a curing light and intraoral camera, and all extraoral duties that are assigned by the dentist and are consistent with these rules. During intraoral procedures, the registered dental assistant may, under direct supervision, assist the dentist in performing duties assigned by the dentist that are consistent with these rules. The registered dental assistant may take radiographs if qualified pursuant to 650—Chapter 22.
	20.6(2) Dental assistant trainee. Dental assistant trainees are all individuals who are engaging in on-the-job training to meet the requirements for registration and who are learning the necessary skills under the personal supervision of a licensed dentist. Trainees may also engage in on-the-job training in dental radiography pursuant to 650—22.3(136C,153).
	a. 	General requirements. The dental assistant trainee shall meet the following requirements:
	(1)	Successfully complete a course of study and examination in the areas of infection control, hazardous materials, and jurisprudence. The course of study shall be prior approved by the board and sponsored by a board-approved postsecondary school.
	(2)	If a trainee fails to become registered by the trainee status expiration date, the trainee must stop work as a dental assistant trainee. If the trainee has not yet met the requirements for registration, the trainee may reapply for trainee status but may not work until a new dental assistant trainee status certificate has been issued by the board.
	b. 	Trainee restart.
	(1)	Reapplying for trainee status. A trainee may “start over” as a dental assistant trainee provided the trainee submits an application in compliance with subrule 20.7(1).
	(2)	Examination scores valid for three years. A “repeat” trainee is not required to retake an examination (jurisprudence, infection control/hazardous materials, radiography) if the trainee has successfully passed the examination within three years of the date of application. If a trainee has failed two or more examinations, the trainee must satisfy the remedial education requirements in subrule 20.11(1). The trainee status application will not be approved until the trainee successfully completes any required remedial education.
	(3)	New trainee status expiration date issued. If the repeat trainee application is approved, the board office will establish a new trainee status expiration date by which registration must be completed.
	(4)	Maximum of two “start over” periods allowed. In addition to the initial 12-month trainee status period, a dental assistant is permitted up to two start over periods as a trainee. If a trainee seeks an additional start over period beyond two, the trainee shall submit a petition for rule waiver under 650—Chapter 7.
	c. 	Trainees enrolled in cooperative education or work study programs. The requirements stated in this subrule apply to all dental assistant trainees, including a person enrolled in a cooperative education or work-study program through an Iowa high school. In addition, a trainee under 18 years of age shall not participate in dental radiography.
[ARC 0465C, IAB 11/28/12, effective 1/2/13; ARC 2028C, IAB 6/10/15, effective 7/15/15; ARC 3489C, IAB 12/6/17, effective 1/10/18]