Expanded Function Dental Assistant Certificate
The Charles Cohen and Rebecca Binder Expanded Function Dental Assistant Program
Enter the rapidly growing dental field with our Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) program. We offer cutting-edge, relevant training designed to help you command a competitive salary, potentially in just six months.
Our program effectively blends lectures with hands-on lab work to maximize your knowledge and practical skills. Recognizing the needs of busy individuals, we offer flexible class schedules perfect for students working full- or part-time while pursuing an EFDA certificate or an associate degree.
Earning your EFDA certificate significantly broadens your skillset and increases your earning potential in dentistry. This credential can also be a stepping stone to an associate degree in dental hygiene or a related field, making your advanced skills highly valuable to private dental offices and clinics.
At Central Penn, our expert faculty will empower you to build enriching patient relationships and master preventive dental care techniques. Daily tasks may include flossing, applying fluoride, taking x-rays, and managing schedules—all crucial for preventing pain and serious dental issues for years to come.
6 months, 10 credits
Central Penn College’s EFDA program is designed for dental professionals who want to expand their skills and advance their careers while maintaining their current job.
Online lecture classes
Study at your own pace with our flexible online courses.
Saturday morning labs
Gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art facilities during convenient Saturday morning lab sessions.
Extern at your current office!
Apply your new skills during a 120 hour externship at your current place of employment.
Certificate in Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Dental assistants can expand their skill set by earning the Certificate in Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA). An EFDA performs all the duties of the dental assistant, along with placing and carving amalgam and composite restorations, placing sealants, doing coronal polishing, applying fluoride, and placing bases and liners, matrix bands, wedges and rubber dams.
The program takes a blended approach to learning. The first term involves lectures, along with hands-on labs in the Summerdale area on Saturdays. The second term will consist of an externship to expand clinical experiences. When the program is completed, students are eligible to apply for the State Board Licensure exam.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the labor market for EFDAs will grow at 18 percent over the next 10 years, far faster than the national average for other fields.
Lectures will all be on-line and labs will be held on-ground.
Full and Partial Scholarships available for Central Penn College’s EFDA Program!
For more information on all of Central Penn College’s dental scholarships visit CentralPenn.edu/Scholarships or email dental@centralpenn.edu!
Central Penn College offers a variety of scholarships to help aspiring dental professionals achieve their educational goals. These scholarships aim to reduce the financial burden associated with higher education, making careers in dentistry more accessible.
Potential dental students are able to fill out one very simple application for all dental scholarships. Click here to fill out one applications or all the below scholarships!
Courses
DEN 200 - Expanded Function Dental Assistant
DEN 205 - Compliance, Ethics and Professional
Responsibility for the Dental Professional
DEN 200L - Expanded Function Dental Assistant Lab
DEN 210 - EFDA Externship
Careers you can pursue
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Assistant
- Expanded Function Dental Assisting
You will succeed if you are...
- Personable
- Detail-oriented
- Neat
- Good at working with your hands
- Patient
- Empathetic
88.1% of our graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation.
* Based on graduates whom we have information during a one-year period from 2022-23. It should be noted that 98.1% of graduates were employed in some capcity or continuing their education.
