Top 11 Dental Receptionist Certifications

Certifications are important for dental receptionists in the job market because they demonstrate a level of knowledge and proficiency that can give them an edge over other applicants. Certification shows potential employers that the applicant is well-versed in the relevant areas of dental office operations, including patient scheduling, insurance processing, and medical records management. It also demonstrates a commitment to professional development and staying up-to-date with industry best practices. With certification, dental receptionists can show potential employers that they have the skills needed to effectively manage the front desk and provide excellent customer service.

The purpose of this article is to review the top certifications for Dental Receptionists and explain how they can help advance a dental receptionist's career.

What are Dental Receptionist Certifications?

Dental receptionist certification is a formal recognition of the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a dental receptionist. It is typically awarded by professional organizations or educational institutions that specialize in dental reception training. The certification can help in many ways, such as boosting job prospects, increasing salary potential, and providing a sense of accomplishment. By obtaining certification, dental receptionists demonstrate their commitment to the profession and prove they have the required qualifications to provide quality service to patients. This can help them build credibility with employers and gain respect from colleagues. Additionally, those with certification may be eligible for higher-level positions within the field or receive higher pay than those without certification. Certification can also open up more opportunities for advancement within the organization and increase job security. Finally, it can provide an edge over other candidates when applying for positions at other practices or organizations.

Pro Tip: When pursuing dental receptionist certification, make sure to research the most reputable and up-to-date courses available. It is important to choose an accredited program that offers comprehensive training in all aspects of the job, including medical terminology, patient scheduling, filing insurance claims, and more.

Related: What does a Dental Receptionist do?

Top 11 Dental Receptionist Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Dental Receptionists today.

1. Certified Dental Receptionist (CDR)

A Certified Dental Receptionist (CDR) is a professional designation that recognizes the knowledge and skills of an individual who works in the field of dental reception. The CDR certification is awarded by the National Association of Dental Office Managers (NADOM).

The CDR certification program consists of three levels: Level I, Level II, and Level III. To become certified at each level, applicants must pass an exam that covers topics such as dental terminology, patient scheduling, insurance processing, HIPAA compliance, and financial management.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to complete all three levels of the CDR program. The cost for each level varies depending on whether you are a NADOM member or not. For non-members, the cost is $225 for Level I; $250 for Level II; and $275 for Level III. For NADOM members, the cost is $175 for Level I; $200 for Level II; and $225 for Level III.

To get started with the CDR program, applicants must first register with NADOM and submit their application materials online or via mail. Once approved by NADOM, applicants will receive instructions on how to access their exams online or through a testing center. After completing each exam successfully, applicants will receive their official certificate from NADOM verifying their status as a Certified Dental Receptionist (CDR).

2. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is a professional certification for individuals who provide administrative support to medical offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. The CMAA credential is designed to recognize the knowledge and skills of those working in the field of medical office administration. This certification demonstrates that an individual has the necessary skills to effectively manage a medical office.

It typically takes about 6-12 months to complete the requirements for earning a CMAA credential, depending on how quickly you can study and complete the exams. To become certified, you must first meet the eligibility requirements set by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). These include having at least two years of experience in a medical office setting or completing an accredited program in medical office administration. After meeting these requirements, you must then pass two exams: one on general medical office management and one on coding and billing procedures.

The cost of becoming certified as a CMAA varies depending on which exam provider you choose. Generally speaking, it costs around $200-$400 for both exams combined. Additionally, there may be additional fees for study materials or practice tests if you choose to use them as part of your preparation process.

Overall, becoming certified as a CMAA is an important step in advancing your career in medical office administration and can open up new opportunities for professional growth and development.

3. Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is a certification offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a mastery of medical coding principles and practices. The CPC certification is designed to certify individuals who are proficient in coding diagnoses and procedures for medical services and procedures.

To become a Certified Professional Coder, you must pass the CPC exam. This exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, ICD-10-CM/PCS coding, HCPCS Level II coding, and CPT coding. The exam typically takes four hours to complete.

In order to sit for the CPC exam, you must meet certain eligibility requirements set forth by the AAPC. These requirements include having at least two years of professional experience in medical coding or completion of an accredited program in medical coding. Additionally, applicants must have completed an approved course in ICD-10-CM/PCS and HCPCS Level II prior to taking the exam.

The cost of the CPC exam varies depending on whether you are a member or nonmember of the AAPC. For members, it costs $399 USD; for nonmembers it costs $449 USD.

4. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

A Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) is a professional who has been trained and certified to maintain, manage, and secure electronic health records. This certification is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

It typically takes about 8-10 weeks to complete the CEHRS program. The program consists of two parts: an online course and a competency-based exam. The online course covers topics such as medical terminology, coding systems, privacy regulations, and more. Once you have completed the course, you can take the competency-based exam which will test your knowledge of the material covered in the course.

To get certified as a CEHRS, you must first register for the NHA’s CEHRS program on their website. You will then need to purchase the CEHRS study materials from NHA for $150 USD. After studying for 8-10 weeks using these materials, you can then take the competency-based exam at an approved testing center near you. Once you pass this exam with a score of 70% or higher, you will receive your CEHRS certification from NHA.

The cost of becoming a Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) is $150 USD for the study materials plus any additional fees associated with taking the exam at an approved testing center near you.

5. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) is a professional certification for individuals who manage medical offices. The certification is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It is designed to recognize and validate the knowledge and skills of medical office managers in areas such as managing personnel, financial management, patient relations, health information management, insurance processing, and compliance with regulations.

To become certified as a CMOM, an individual must first pass an exam administered by the AAPC. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics related to medical office management. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete and costs $299 USD.

In addition to passing the exam, applicants must also have at least two years of experience working in a medical office setting or have completed an approved training program within the past five years. Once these requirements are met, applicants can submit their application for certification along with documentation verifying their experience or training program completion.

The cost for the CMOM certification is $250 USD per year for members of the AAPC or $350 USD per year for non-members.

6. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

A Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) is a dental professional who has completed additional training and passed an exam to become certified by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). RDAs are responsible for providing chairside assistance to dentists during procedures, taking x-rays, sterilizing instruments, and performing other tasks related to patient care.

To become an RDA, you must first complete an accredited dental assisting program. Depending on the program, this can take anywhere from nine months to two years. After completing the program, you must pass the DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam. Once you have passed the exam, you can apply for your RDA license.

The cost of becoming an RDA varies depending on which state you live in and which school you attend. Generally speaking, tuition for a dental assistant program ranges from $2,000-$10,000 depending on the length of the program and whether it is online or in-person. Additionally, there is a fee associated with taking the CDA exam which is currently $200.

7. American Association of Dental Office Managers Certification (AADOM-C)

The American Association of Dental Office Managers Certification (AADOM-C) is a certification program for dental office managers. It is designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of those who manage dental offices. The AADOM-C certification is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated a mastery of the core competencies needed to effectively manage a dental practice.

To obtain the AADOM-C certification, applicants must complete an online application and pass a comprehensive exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as patient relations, insurance coding, human resources management, financial management, and practice operations. Applicants must score at least 70% on the exam in order to receive their certification.

The entire process typically takes between 6-8 weeks from start to finish. In addition to completing the application and passing the exam, applicants are also required to submit proof of current CPR/BLS certification or equivalent training.

The cost for the AADOM-C certification is $395 for members of AADOM and $495 for non-members. This fee includes access to the online application form, study materials, and one attempt at the exam.

8. National Healthcareer Association’s Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (NHA-MAAC)

The National Healthcareer Association’s Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (NHA-MAAC) is a nationally recognized certification program for medical administrative assistants. This certification provides individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a variety of healthcare settings. The NHA-MAAC certification demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge and competency to perform medical administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, filing insurance claims, and managing patient records.

The NHA-MAAC certification process typically takes about three months to complete. To earn this certification, applicants must pass an online exam consisting of 150 multiple choice questions. The exam covers topics such as medical terminology, coding, billing, customer service, and more. Applicants must also have at least one year of experience working in a healthcare setting or have completed an accredited medical administrative assistant program.

The cost of the NHA-MAAC certification is $199 USD for members of the National Healthcareer Association and $249 USD for non-members. The fee includes access to study materials and practice exams as well as the exam itself. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their certificate within 4–6 weeks via mail or email.

9. American Academy of Professional Coders Certification in Medical Coding and Billing (AAPC-MCB)

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Medical Coding and Billing (MCB) certification is a professional credential that demonstrates expertise in medical coding and billing. This certification is designed to give coders the knowledge and skills they need to accurately code diagnoses, procedures, and services for medical claims. The AAPC-MCB certification requires successful completion of an exam that covers topics such as ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, modifiers, guidelines, and reimbursement methodologies.

It typically takes about 6 months to prepare for the AAPC-MCB exam. During this time, you should take a course or study guide related to medical coding and billing. You can also purchase practice exams to help you get familiar with the content of the actual exam.

To get certified by the AAPC-MCB, you must first become a member of the AAPC. Membership costs $175 annually or $425 for three years. Once your membership is approved, you can register for the exam online or through mail. The cost of taking the exam is $399 for members and $499 for non-members. After passing the exam, you will receive your official MCB certification from AAPC within 8 weeks.

10. National Healthcareer Association’s Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist Certification (NHA-CEHRS)

The National Healthcareer Association’s Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist Certification (NHA-CEHRS) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the use of electronic health records (EHRs). This certification is designed for professionals who are responsible for managing, implementing, and maintaining EHR systems.

To become certified, individuals must pass an exam that covers topics such as EHR system design and implementation, data management and security, privacy regulations, patient safety and quality assurance, and legal considerations. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete.

In order to be eligible to take the NHA-CEHRS exam, applicants must have at least one year of experience working with EHRs or completing coursework related to EHRs. Additionally, applicants must submit proof of their education or experience in the form of transcripts or letters from employers.

The cost of the NHA-CEHRS certification exam is $199 USD. Once an individual has successfully passed the exam, they will receive a certificate from the National Healthcareer Association that is valid for two years.

11. American Health Information Management Association’s Certified Coding Associate Certification (AHIMA-CCA).

The American Health Information Management Association’s Certified Coding Associate (AHIMA-CCA) is a professional certification for individuals who are interested in coding and classifying medical records. The AHIMA-CCA credential validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in coding and classification of diagnoses, procedures, services, supplies, and equipment for reimbursement purposes. This certification is designed to help ensure accuracy in the coding process.

It typically takes about six months to complete the requirements for the AHIMA-CCA certification. To become certified, applicants must first pass an exam that covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, ICD-10-CM/PCS coding systems, HCPCS coding systems, CPT coding systems, reimbursement methodologies and more. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions that must be completed within four hours.

To be eligible to take the exam applicants must have either a high school diploma or GED plus one year of experience in health information management or a two year associate degree or higher in health information technology from an accredited college or university plus six months of experience in health information management.

The cost of the AHIMA-CCA certification exam is $299 for members of AHIMA ($399 for nonmembers). After passing the exam applicants will receive their certificate within 6 weeks.

Do You Really Need a Dental Receptionist Certificate?

Whether or not you need a dental receptionist certificate depends on the requirements of the job you are applying for. Some employers may require that their dental receptionists have a specific certification, while others may not. It is important to research the individual requirements of any job before applying so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not a certificate is necessary.

Generally speaking, having a dental receptionist certificate can give you an edge when it comes to getting hired. It shows potential employers that you have taken the time to learn and understand the skills needed to be successful in this role. Additionally, it may help you stand out from other applicants who don't have this certification and demonstrate your commitment to excellence in all aspects of your job.

In conclusion, whether or not you need a dental receptionist certificate depends on the individual job requirements; however, having one may give you an advantage when seeking employment in this field. It is important to do your research beforehand to make sure that you are properly prepared for any position you apply for.

Related: Dental Receptionist Resume Examples

FAQs About Dental Receptionist Certifications

1. What is a dental receptionist certification?

Answer: A dental receptionist certification is a professional credential that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and experience in providing administrative support to dental offices. It typically includes a comprehensive course of study in areas such as patient records management, scheduling appointments, insurance billing, and understanding the legal aspects of working in a dental office.

2. What are the requirements for becoming certified?

Answer: To become certified, you must complete an accredited training program specific to dental receptionists and pass an exam administered by an approved organization. You may also need to demonstrate experience or education in other related fields, such as medical office administration or customer service.

3. How long does it take to get certified?

Answer: The length of time required to become certified depends on the program you choose and your current level of knowledge and experience. Generally speaking, most programs can be completed within 1-2 years depending on how much time you are able to devote to studying.

4. What type of job opportunities are available with a certification?

Answer: Once you have obtained your certification as a dental receptionist, you will be eligible for entry-level positions in both private practices and corporate settings. You may also have the opportunity to advance into supervisory or managerial roles after gaining additional experience and training.

5. Are there any continuing education requirements associated with my certification?

Answer: Yes, many certifying organizations require that their members complete certain continuing education courses each year in order to maintain their credentials. This ensures that they stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in the field of dentistry receptionism.