Support Registration and Minimum Educational Standards for Dental Assistants in North Carolina

Dental care is an essential part of healthcare, and every patient deserves safe, high-quality treatment. Yet North Carolina remains one of the few states that does not require dental assistants to be registered or meet consistent minimum educational standards.

This lack of oversight creates unnecessary risks for patients—especially children, older adults, and other vulnerable populations who rely on dental professionals for safe, compassionate care.

Currently, individuals can work as dental assistants without a background check, standardized education, or comprehensive clinical training. Background checks are a standard safeguard throughout healthcare because they help protect vulnerable patients and build public trust. Parents should have confidence that the individuals caring for their children have been appropriately vetted, and older adults—many of whom may have physical or cognitive limitations—deserve the same level of protection.

Infection prevention is another critical component of patient safety. Dental assistants are responsible for cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing instruments, maintaining aseptic technique, and preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. However, training requirements in North Carolina vary widely, with some programs providing only a few hours of infection control education and little or no hands-on clinical experience. Without consistent competency standards, there is no assurance that every dental assistant has the practical skills necessary to safely protect patients, coworkers, and themselves from cross-contamination.

Likewise, many dental assistants perform or are expected to perform expanded functions, yet training requirements can vary significantly. Establishing statewide minimum education and competency standards would help ensure that dental assistants possess the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to perform these duties safely and effectively.

Standardized registration or certification would also help protect students. Across North Carolina, prospective students may enroll in programs with varying educational quality and significant financial costs without fully understanding the differences in training or career opportunities. Consistent statewide standards would provide greater transparency, promote educational quality, and better prepare graduates for successful employment.

Finally, a statewide registry would provide valuable workforce data, allowing North Carolina to better understand dental assistant shortages, identify areas of greatest need, and develop strategies to strengthen the oral healthcare workforce.

By establishing registration and minimum educational standards for dental assistants, North Carolina can improve patient safety, strengthen workforce development, promote educational accountability, and ensure that every patient receives care from a well-trained and appropriately vetted member of the dental team.

Please sign this petition and help us advocate for safer patient care, stronger educational standards, and greater accountability for dental assistants across North Carolina.