EFDA INFORMATION FOR PERMANENT CERTIFICATION


Well, the time has at last come. The task analysis has been accomplished. All of the EFDA programs within the Commonwealth have been consulted, the priorities and importance of topics has been analyzed and the test is about ready to roll after 13 years of anticipation. By now, those of you with a temporary certificate have been notified that the State Board of Dentistry is ready to roll out that much anticipated examination. Are you prepared? We can help.

You should have received an official notice from the State Board of Dentistry through the mail. Be sure to follow their directions. The paperwork must be submitted to the Board by February 14th. That doesn’t mean that is the day you are scheduled for the exam. It will cost you $20.00 for the application, $10.00 for the criminal background check, and $90.00 for the examination. If you did not receive a copy, then you may have forgotten to notify the board of a name or address change. Worse yet, you may not actually have a certificate which means at this time, you cannot work as an EFDA without going through a formal program. If you have a question regarding whether or not you are certified, you can determine if you have a certificate by going to the State Board of Dentistry web-site. http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/site/default.asp

Once you are there, go to Health Related Boards, click on Dentistry, then License Verification on the side bar, and then complete the form. If you are officially an EFDA, you number will appear on this site. If you don’t see it, then you are not an EFDA with a temporary permit to practice.

If your certification number is there, but you did not receive official notification, please contact the State Board of Dentistry and let them know. You will probably need to update name/ address information.

The testing agency selected is PSI (Psychological Services, Inc) with testing offices in a number of locations. This is a computerized examination. The information for the exam can be found on http://candidate.psiexams.com/index.jsp Once you are there, select state and the then Licensing Agency. On the next page, you can download the testing information booklet. The test question breakdown and a few sample test questions can be found in this booklet.

The initial steps for this registration process are:
1. Go to the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry web-site www.dos.state.pa.us/dent
2. Open Board newsletter (Read page 3) “Attention EFDA Temp permit Holders”.
3. Go back to the main page for the State Board and go to “Licenseure Information”.
Scroll down to”application for Permanent EFDA Certification Exam, Temporary Permit Holders only”.
a. Read instructions carefully concerning registration and requirements and begin the process of collecting all the required documentation.
b. Be sure to submit for “Criminal Background Check” ASAP because sometimes this can take awhile. This is now required of all licensure applicants.
c. Be sure you have current CPR Certification (Infant, Child, Adult, AED) known as “Healthcare Provider”.

4. BE SURE TO READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH WHICH EXPLAINS THE PROCESS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ONCE ALL DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD.

5. Go to the PSI website for specific test information. You cannot register until you hear from PSI following your board submission credentials.

Above information provided by Kathy Schlotthauer from Harisburg Area Community College. Thank you Kathy : )