The Orthodontic Assistant Permit (OAP) Course is one of the courses offered under the iEducations Dental Assistant Training Center.

Program Director:  Paola M.
Program Instructor: Glenda C.
Program Inquiry: [email protected] or 650-448-9471

Orthodontic Assistant Permit (OAP) Course Description:

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Course Learning Objectives:

  • Prepare teeth for bonding, and select, preposition, and cure orthodontic brackets after their position has been approved by the licensed dentist.
  • Remove only orthodontic brackets and attachments with removal of the bonding material by the supervising licensed dentist.
  • Size, fit, and cement orthodontic bands.
  • Remove orthodontic bands and remove excess cement from supragingival surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument.
  • Place and ligate archwire.
  • Remove excess cement with an ultrasonic scaler from supragingival surfaces of teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Students will be required to bring all orthodontic instruments, some orthodontic supplies that are commonly utilized in an orthodontic practice.  Armamentaria such as orthodontically banded typodonts; regular typodonts, bench mounts and some consumable orthodontic materials will be provided by iEDUCATIONS. A list of the required materials will be sent to you after you have registered in the course.

The written final examination is part of the home study program and will be due 10 days after you receive the home study program. Practical examinations will be given throughout the course. The home study syllabus is very comprehensive and will prepare you for the state OA written examination. Your continued study is the key to successfully becoming a permitted OA.

Permit Information:

Orthodontic Assistant Permit (OAP) Examination Modifications
In April 2021, an Occupational Analysis of the Orthodontic Assistant Practice was conducted by the Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES). The purpose of the Occupational Analysis was to define orthodontic assistant practice in terms of critical tasks that practitioners must be able to perform safely and competently when they are issued a permit. The results of this Occupational Analysis provided a description of practice for the orthodontic assistant profession that was then used to construct and update the California Orthodontic Assistant Examination.
On September 1, 2021, the OAP examination was modified to adjust the examination content which resulted in an increase to the number of questions and the examination time. The revised examination now has 75 scoreable questions and 25 pretest questions and candidates will now have 120 minutes to take the exam. The updated Candidate Information Bulletin for this examination can be found by clicking the following link Orthodontic Assistant Permit Candidate Information Bulletin.

How to Become a Orthodontic Assistant Permit Holder
On and after January 1, 2010, the board may issue an orthodontic assistant permit to a person who files a completed application including a fee and provides evidence, satisfactory to the board, of all of the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Completion of at least 12 months of work experience as a dental assistant.
  2. Successful completion of a Board-Approved course in the Dental Practice Act and a Board-Approved, course in infection control.
  3. Successful completion of a course in basic life support offered by an instructor approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, or any other course approved by the Board as equivalent.
  4. Successful completion of a Board-Approved orthodontic assistant course (is offered from iEDUCATIONS), which may commence after the completion of six months of work experience as a dental assistant.
  5. Passage of a written examination administered by the Board after completion of all of the other requirements of this subdivision.
  6. Submit fingerprint clearances from both the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. This process can take 60 days or more.

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iEDUCATIONS IS A CALIFORNIA DENTAL BOARD-APPROVED COURSE PROVIDER FOR ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT PERMIT.