You’ve graduated from dental school and are up to be a registered dental assistant. A college or accredited dental assistant programs diploma is not enough for professions that go through licensure exams (lawyers, nurses, and teachers). Dental assistants also have to take the registered dental assistant (RDA) exam to pass as practitioners, especially since the state requires it.
Just how can you ace this test with flying colors? Here are amazing study hacks to be the best dental assistant:
Always Review the Test Format
Knowing a test’s structure is key to reviewing and answering. For instance, the DBC’s RDA test is composed of two sections:
- Hands-On Assessment: Exam takers will demonstrate dental techniques on a typodont (model of an oral cavity) under the supervision of a moderator.
- Written General, Law, Ethics Test: This written portion is made up of 125 questions and 25 non-scored multiple-choice questions that cover the following:
- Patient treatment and care
- Direct and indirect dental procedures such as restorations and prevention
- Special dental procedures such as endodontics, periodontics, and orthodontics
- General safety precautions for infection control, radiation safety, and occupational safety
Cramming Is a Horrible Idea
The RDA test covers everything students have learned from accredited dental assistant programs. Skip cramming altogether since it is technical in the hands-on and written portions of the test.
Plan instead for a weekly study schedule. Study for eight hours a day to give your brain enough time to absorb and process information.
You can also complement your study time with the following visual aids:
- Flowcharts: Help you emphasize dental processes and their goals
- Diagrams: Help you connect various dental concepts that seem distant.
- Flashcards: Help you test yourself on pertinent terms and their proper definitions.
Keep in mind that visual aids are processed 60,000x faster than plain text.
Psych Yourself to Pass
It’s not just enough to study for your RDA exam. Encourage yourself by visualizing you’ve passed the test!
Visualization is another great way to prepare yourself mentally. Take a few minutes from your day imagining you took the test, answered each portion confidently, and got passing marks. Bear in mind as well that you passed one of the accredited dental assistant programs you chose to tell yourself, “I did it once, and I can do it again!”
Focus on your breathing, too. Deep breathing during visualization time evenly distributes oxygen to your body and enables you to remain calm and relaxed as you study and, eventually, take the test.
Create a Mock Test
Once you have studied and practiced the techniques, prepare for the actual test by creating a mock RDA exam! Since you have reviewers on the dental procedures and know the written portion contains 130 questions, simulate an exam environment to see how you fare!
This tip prepares you to focus all your knowledge on the application as you engage in the assessment and respond to all test items. Don’t forget to score yourself honestly, too, so you can keep on practicing until you reach the grade you want.
Interview a Registered Dental Assistant
If you want a real-life perspective on the exam, get in touch with a registered dental assistant who passed and chat about the experience over snacks or coffee. Ask what they felt, how they reviewed, and what other tips they have to ace the test. You might be surprised to hear some of the tips we listed here!
To Close
Studying for your RDA test doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience. Just follow these five hacks, and you’ll ace it with good marks or even flying colors! Remember, you passed the course. You can pass your licensure!
Call the admissions office at Northwest Suburban College for accredited dental assistant programs near Schaumburg, Illinois. We’re an educational institution with a strong focus on healthcare career training and various health sciences in our curriculum. Contact us for more info!
