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DANB Executive Director Joins Other Leaders on Capitol Hill
To Discuss Importance of Certification
On March 17, 2004, DANB Executive Director Cindy Durley joined other members of
the National Organization for Competency Assurance’s (NOCA’s) Board of Directors and National
Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) Commissioners at NOCA’s 2nd Annual Legislative Fly-In Day.
This day was set aside to meet with key legislative staff for Senators and Representatives
who are members of Committees with jurisdiction over healthcare, education, and workforce
issues on the national level. The NOCA Board of Directors and NCCA Commissioners had
appointments with legislative staff of Representatives Johnny Isakson (R- Georgia),
John Tierney (D-Massachusetts), and Rush Holt (D-New Jersey). These certification leaders
also met with legislative staffers for Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Patty Murray
(D-Washington), John Edwards (D-North Carolina), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York),
and John Kerry (D-Massachusetts).
Ms. Durley and her group of three other Executive Directors of certification
organizations (respiratory technologists, medical technologists and biofeedback technicians)
were allotted three, one-hour appointments to speak to aides to Senators Kerry, Clinton
and Roberts. They introduced these legislative offices to the importance of certification
in ensuring professional competency in America. The group of Executive Directors described
why certification is important to the economy of the United States.
They discussed how certification enhances employment opportunities and helps employers
to hire the most qualified individuals. They also explained how certification assists
consumers in making informed decisions about competent professionals and how it enhances
public protection.
Ms. Durley described how Certified Dental Assistants (CDAs) remain in the profession nearly
three times as long as those who are not certified, thus reducing employee turnover and
enhancing productivity. She explained that many state boards of dentistry look to DANB
Certification as the baseline for delegating expanded functions to dental assistants.
This is especially important in light of the 2000 Surgeon General’s Report on the State of
Oral Healthcare in America, highlighting nationwide access to care concerns.
Ms. Durley also pointed out that DANB is registered in each state as eligible to provide
certification services to dental assistants transitioning from the military to the civilian
sector under the Montgomery GI Bill’s GIs-to-Jobs program.
The Senators and Representatives who met with Ms. Durley and the other certification leaders
were instrumental in passing the bi-partisan Workforce Investment Act. Eligible providers of
this Act will be State Governors, who, after consultation with their State Regulatory Boards,
will be the ones to establish criteria and procedures regarding training service providers.
These service providers use, among other things, industry-recognized standards and
certifications.
Once written into law, the Workforce Investment Act will provide $30 million in funding to
conduct a Department of Labor study on the role and benefits of credentialing and
certification to the U.S. economy. Currently, this Act has been passed by both House and
Senate, but is in ‘political limbo’ in terms of being voted into law, with current terrorism,
jobs, and election issues taking higher priority. Future editions of DANB’s Certified Press
will include additional articles as progress is made in this important area.
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