The Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association is requesting the Board of Dentistry to consider lifting the CDA requirement for dental hygienists to enter the DA II training program. This is a very reasonable request by the VDHA, and I myself sent this question to the board a few years ago, figuring a RDH should most certainly be able to bypass the CDA requirement, given our school prerequisites, hygiene education requirements and ability to pass both regional clinical and national written exams. Given the call to increase access to care in many areas of the state and country, this would remove a roadblock for practicing hygienists who have already completed extensive coursework in dental materials, dental anatomy, radiology, infection and immunity and microscopic anatomy. Creating specific additional requirements for RDHs which would address necessary didactic content within restorative dentistry and its materials would be an excellent place to start building this dental community resource.

Further discussion and consideration by the VA BOD would be greatly appreciated regarding the DAII prerequisites in regards to hygienists. Thank you for your time.