ABOUT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AIDE PROGRAM
DHA Providers
Information and tools to help you understand the types of dental health aides and requirements for certification and recertification.
DHA Levels of Practice and Certification Requirements
Dental Health Aide certification is overseen by the Community Health Aide Program Certification Board (CHAPCB) and includes four types of DHAs:
- Primary Dental Health Aide I and II (PDHA I & II),
- Expanded Function Dental Health Aide I and II (EFDHA I & II),
- Dental Health Aide Hygienist (DHAH),
- Dental Health Aide Therapist (DHAT), and Dental Health Aide Therapist Practitioner (DHATP).
Each level has specific education, training, preceptorship, supervision, and continuing education requirements.
To become certified, applicants must complete the required coursework and clinical training, submit documentation to the CHAPCB, and receive formal approval. Maintaining certification requires ongoing continuing education and clinical competencies to ensure safe, high-quality care across Alaska’s Tribal Health System.
Certification Types
Primary Dental Health Aide
PDHA I/II
Primary Dental Health Aides provide patient education and preventative services such a fluoride and oral hygiene education. They can also be trained to take radiographs, provide cleanings, complete atraumatic restorative treatment and place sealants.
Primary Dental Health Aide I
- Obtain BLS certification
- Must complete DHA Core Curriculum Course
- Trained to provide oral health instruction, diet education and topical fluoride application
- These skills are taught in one course and requires the completion of a preceptorship
- Requires Standing Orders
Primary Dental Health Aide II
- Obtain BLS certification
- Must complete DHA Core Curriculum and Advanced Dental Procedures courses, and a course in one of the following areas:
- Dental radiology
- Dental prophylaxis
- Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART), or
- Sealants
- These are four separate courses and each requires a preceptorship. Students can complete one or all four courses
- PDHA II’s can work under indirect or general supervision after taking the Village Based Dental Practice course.
- Requires Standing Orders
PDHA Certification
All Dental Health Aides earn certification from the Alaska Community Health Aide Program Certification Board (CHAPCB). Below are required forms for certification and recertification as well as the link to the CHAPCB Application.
PDHA Preceptorship Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
PDHA 8-Procedure Recertification Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
PDHA II Prophylaxis and Sealant Skillsets Recertification Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
CHAPCB Application
The CHAPCB office receives, screens, and tracks all applications for certification. Applications are accessed via the CHAPCB webpage.
For more information and specific education, preceptorship, supervision and scope of practice please see the corresponding section in Chapter D-2 of the Standards and Procedures.
Expanded Function Dental Health Aide
EFDHA I/II
Expanded Function Dental Health Aides can be educated to place restorations, provide cleanings, place sealants, place stainless-steel crowns on primary teeth and perform atraumatic restorative treatment.
Expanded Function Dental Health Aide I
- Obtain BLS certification
- Must complete DHA Core Curriculum
- Trained to provide a dental prophylaxis (cleaning) or basic restorative function, which is the placement fillings. The types of fillings that the training focuses on are Class I, Class II, Class III and Class V restorations.
- These are two separate courses and each require a preceptorship. A student can complete one or both courses.
- A certified EFDHA has the option to take courses for sealants, dental radiology, atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) or stainless steel crown placement on primary teeth. These are all separate courses and each require a preceptorship.
- An EFDHA I can work under indirect or general supervision depending on the skillset specifications after completing the Village Based Dental Practice course.
- Requires Standing Orders
Expanded Function Dental Health Aide II
- Obtain BLS certification
- Must complete DHA Core Curriculum and EFDHA I Basic Restorative Function courses
- Trained to provide advanced restorative function, which is the placement of complex restorations (fillings). Requires a preceptorship.
- An EFDHA II can work under indirect or general supervision depending on the skillset specifications after completing the Village Based Dental Practice course.
- Requires Standing Orders
Expanded Function Dental Health Aide Certification
All Dental Health Aides earn certification from the Alaska Community Health Aide Program Certification Board (CHAPCB). Below are required forms for certification and recertification as well as the link to the CHAPCB Application.
EFDHA Preceptorship Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
EFDHA 8-Procedure Prophylaxis & Sealant Recertification Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
EFDHA 8-Procedure Prophylaxis Recertification Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
Standing Orders Example – EFDHA I Prophy
Standing Orders Example – EFDHA I Prophy & Sealants
Standing Orders Example – EFDHA I Prophy, Sealants & Village-Based Dental Practice
CHAPCB Application
The CHAPCB office receives, screens, and tracks all applications for certification. Applications are accessed via the CHAPCB webpage.
For more information and specific education, preceptorship, supervision and scope of practice please see the corresponding section in Chapter D-2 of the Standards and Procedures.
Dental Health Aide Hygienist
DHAH
Dental Health Aid Hygienists can work under indirect or general supervision depending on the skillset
Dental Health Aide Hygienist
- Obtain BLS certification
- Must have a current dental hygiene license in one of the states or territories of the United States
- Must complete the DHA Core Curriculum course
- Have a hygiene license that allows administration of local anesthesia or take a local anesthesia course approved by the board
- Complete required preceptorship
- Requires Standing Orders
Dental Health Aide Hygienist Certification
All Dental Health Aides earn certification from the Alaska Community Health Aide Program Certification Board.
CHAPCB Application
The CHAPCB office receives, screens, and tracks all applications for certification. Applications are accessed via the CHAPCB webpage.
For more information and specific education, preceptorship, supervision and scope of practice please see the corresponding section in Chapter D-2 of the Standards and Procedures.
Dental Health Aide Therapist
DHAT/P
Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) receive three academic years of education through the Iḷisaġvik College/ANTHC Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program (ADTEP) or another Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited program. DHATs can provide diagnosis and treatment planning, cleanings, sealants, fillings and emergency care.
Dental Health Aide Therapist Certification
All Dental Health Aides earn certification from the Alaska Community Health Aide Program Certification Board (CHAPCB). Below are required forms for certification and recertification as well as the link to the CHAPCB Application.
DHAT 80-Hour Recertification Checklist – DARC Approved 4/30/26
Standing Orders Example (DHAT)
DHAT Procedure Log – DARC Reviewed 4/30/26
CHAPCB Application
DHATP Credential
The CHAPCB office receives, screens, and tracks all applications for certification. Applications are accessed via the CHAPCB webpage.
For more information and specific education, preceptorship, supervision and scope of practice please see the corresponding section in Chapter D-2 of the Standards and Procedures.
The goal of the Dental Health Aide Therapist Practitioner (DHATP) credential is to recognize Dental Health Aide Therapists who have proven over time that they are reliably providing competent care for their patients. The result is a change in the supervision requirements to allow them to practice more efficiently, while putting other safety mechanisms in place to ensure that these providers continue to deliver high quality dental health care to Alaska residents accessing dental care through Tribal Health Organizations.
DHATP Credentialing Guidelines – DARC Reviewed 5/14/25
SAMPLE DHATP Letter of Recommendation – DARC Reviewed 11/9/23
DHATP Credentialing Documents as outlined in Credentialing Guidelines can be submitted to: akadhat@anthc.org.
Dental Health Aide
DHA Continuing Education
Requirements for all Dental Health Aides:
20 continuing education hours are required for recertification
- All continuing education courses must be no less than 1 hour in length
- At least 10 hours of the subject matters must be listed in the education section of one of the DHA levels in Chapter D-2 Standards for Dental Health Aides
- All other hours must be related to the practice of dentistry
Board Approved CE Sponsors:
- Certified CHA/P Training Center
- American Dental Association (ADA CERP)
- Academy of General Dentistry (AGC PACE)
- Alaska Dental Society (ADS)
- Alaska Dental Hygiene Society (ADHS)
- Accredited postsecondary educational institution
- Indian Health Service (IHS) or other agencies of the Federal government
Popular sites that offer free Dental CE:
- Indian Health Service Continuing Dental Education – The IHS offers virtual and in-person dental CE on a wide range of topics. You can create an account and access these CE courses if you are an IHS, Tribal, Urban, or Contract dental personnel. Visit IHS Continue Dental Education for more information and to create/log in to your account.
- Colgate Oral Health Network – Free dental CE on various topics. Visit the Colgate Oral Helath Network for Continuing Education
- Crest Dental Care CE – Free dental CE on various topics. View the Crest Dental Care Continuing Education