UC Blue Ash College

Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) Certificate Program

The UC Blue Ash EFDA Program is incredibly proud of our graduates and look forward to more amazing years to come. The program is made up of online and face-to-face instruction with hands on pre-clinical laboratory sessions as well as off-site practicum experiences. Students will use typodonts (patient simulation) for learning instrumentation and proper manipulation of dental materials.  

Students will also develop self-evaluation skills, an understanding of the Ohio State Dental Board Rules and Laws as they pertain to EFDAs, as well as professionalism and critical thinking in dentistry. At the completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the EFDA board examination to become a registered EFDA in the state of Ohio.

See below for eligibility changes and admission requirements.

Helpful tip: If you are a dental assistant who has not taken a recognized certification exam, register to do that NOW!


Information Sessions

Learn more about the EFDA program and ask the Program Director questions. Available in a hybrid format (virtual OR face-to-face).


Eligibility

Qualified candidates for the EFDA program include:

  • Advanced qualified personnel (AQP)
  • Unlicensed dentists
  • Dental students
  • Unaccredited foreign dental college graduates (restriction apply please see note below*)
  • Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
  • Unlicensed dental hygienists
  • Certified or Registered Dental Assistants 
    • Recognized Dental Assistant Exams/Certifications:
      • Commission on Ohio Dental Assistant Certification (CODA)
      • Dental Assisting National Board, Certified Dental Assistant (DANB CDA)
      • American Medical Technologists, Registered Dental Assistant (AMT RDA)
    • Dental Assistants must also have two years of full-time chairside dentistry experience within the past five years
    • Note to Dental Assistants: your two years of experience do not have to be as a certified or registered assistant, but you must be certified or registered to take the EFDA board exam.

*Please note: For international student requirements, contact the Enrollment Services Office at 513-558-9998.

Admission Requirements

Due to limited capacity and our desire for the highest quality graduates, the EFDA Program uses a selective admission process. 

Steps for getting into the EFDA Program:

  1. Apply to UC Blue Ash as a Pre-Health Professions - interest in EFDA major, recommended no later than February 1st
    • Official transcripts must be sent from your previous school, this can take a while to process.
    • You must be accepted to UC Blue Ash, confirm your acceptance, AND receive your UC username and email before applying to the EFDA program. (Do not wait until the last minute!)
  2. After you are a confirmed UCBA student, submit all necessary paperwork required for the selective admissions application by choosing Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary from the drop down on the UC Blue Ash Selective Admissions page.  
    1. Application criteria are below.
    2. Links to UC Blue Ash and the EFDA program applications are available at the bottom of this page (Note: Applications will only be open from the first business day in March until the last business day in April each year). 

EFDA Selective Admissions minimum criteria:

  • Eligible candidate as defined above
  • Sponsor (Dentist) commitment that includes an agreement to provide 80 hours of direct supervision on patients within his or her practice.
  • Essay - consists of 200 words or less: "Describe what characteristics you possess that will help you to become a successful EFDA."  
  • Resume - should include any relevant certifications and years of dental experience. Please note that dental assistants should show a minimum of two years of full-time experience in chair side dentistry within the past five years.

Curriculum

Fall Semester:

  • Restorative Dentistry for EFDA 1 (lecture and lab, held face to face on Fridays)
  • Tooth Morphology for the EFDA (online)

Spring Semester:

  • Restorative Dentistry for EFDA 2 (lecture and lab, held face to face on Fridays)
  • Clinical Practicum (off site patient care experience)

Additional Expenses

Student will also be required to purchase additional items for the program, which include the following:

  • Lab fee for Fall and Spring semesters: $360
  • Magnification loupes (one time purchase)
  • Uniform lab coat
  • Board Exam Fee

The costs for these items will be given to the students upon admissions into the program and students must be financially ready to purchase them prior to starting classes.

Program Requirements

Upon acceptance into the program, students will also be required to show proof of:

  • Hepatitis B vaccination and titer, 
  • vision examination, and 
  • current health care provider CPR certification

Tuition Information

Tuition for this program is due each semester based on the credit hours of the course. The courses required for this program are not available for tuition guarantee or loans. To determine the cost of the program, refer to our Tuition and Fees under the Health-Related Programs Tuition and Fees Breakdown.  

Continuing Education Courses

The Dental Hygiene Technology and EFDA programs periodically offer continuing education courses to further the education and qualifications of existing Dental Hygienists and EFDAs. Check out the details on our current CE courses.

ADEAGies Foundation logo

A special thank you to the ADEAGies Foundation for their financial support, which has allowed us to fund much of the startup costs for this Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary Program.

Resources

Contact Information

EFDA Program Contact
Email: ucbaefda@uc.edu
Phone: 513-558-9412