CALAOMS has taken the OMSA Course Online and it is now Available Year Round
It is our desire to provide a meaningful, relevant, and well-supported educational experience for each assistant, regardless of his/her experience level. Please read the following important OMSA course information.
The California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon’s OMSA certificate received by taking this course is an "Industry recognized certificate of completion" and not a State or Board recognized certification, permit, or license. The OMSA certificate does not allow the dental assistant to perform any additional duties other than those allowed by the Dental Practice Act.
Format for the new OMSA online Course:
You will have up to 4 months to complete the OMSA Course.
To be eligible to participate in the OMSA Course, you must have a current BLS (Basic Life Support) certificate (or ACLS certificate)*. Re-Certs must also have a current OMSA Certificate. You must possess current certificates before registering for this course. Registrations will not be processed without these documents. After your registration is complete, you will be emailed your confirmation of registration packet and login instructions with password to access the CALAOMS CE Portal and begin the OMSA course. Please Fax BLS (or ACLS) and OMSA certificates to CALAOMS at 916.772.9220 when you register for the courses.
*Classroom-based BLS (or ACLS) courses or online BLS (or ACLS) course work with in-person skills testing is accepted. Online only BLS (or ACLS) courses are not accepted.
“OMSA Initial Certification”: (For first time OMSA course takers or those with expired OMSA certificates.)
Now comprised of 3 courses:
1. Required ~ "OMSA Initial Certification Course" - Didactic self-study curriculum composed of narrated PowerPoint Presentation videos. There are multiple videos for each “System” below:
- Cardiovascular System
- Conduction System
- Endocrine System
- Immune System
- IV Therapy
- Office Anesthesia Emergencies
- Outpatient Anesthesia
- Pharmacology
- Respiratory System
Each video will have short quizzes that must be completed before continuing to the next video. After viewing all the videos and completing all the quizzes, students will be required to take an online "Practice Final" to ensure that they understand the material that was presented. You will have up to 90 days to complete this first course in the 3-part program.
2. Required ~ View the narrated “OMSA Final Exam Review Course” lecture videos. After viewing these videos in their entirety, you will have access to the “OMSA Final Exam”. You will have up to 30 days to complete this second course in the 3-part program.
3. Required ~ The "OMSA Final Exam" will be taken online, and it will be Proctored. You will be required to take the final exam from a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or Apple operating systems with:
- Webcam (internal or external)
- Functioning Microphone (often incorporated in your webcam)
- Latest version of “Google Chrome” or “Mozilla Firefox” web browser installed
- Government issued photo ID
You will have up to 21 days from the date you were added to the "OMSA Final Exam" course to schedule and take the online exam with our proctoring company. Upon completion of the first and second courses of the program, you will be given more detailed instructions for "Scheduling Your Final Exam with ProctorU".
CALAOMS designates this activity for 36 continuing education credits. Upon successful completion of the “OMSA Initial Certification Course” and the final exam, the assistant will receive an OMSA certificate and an OMSA lapel pin.
“OMSA Re-Certification”: (For those renewing current OMSA certificates.)
Now comprised of 3 courses:
1. Optional (strongly recommended) ~ "OMSA Re-Certification Course" - Didactic self-study curriculum composed of narrated PowerPoint Presentation videos. There are multiple videos for each “System”. You will have up to 90 days to review the material in this first course in the 3-part program.
2. Required ~ View the narrated “OMSA Final Exam Review Course” lecture videos. After viewing these videos in their entirety, you will have access to the “Final Exam”. You will have up to 30 days to complete this second course in the 3-part program.
3. Required ~ The "OMSA Final Exam" will be taken online, and it will be Proctored. You will be required to take the final exam from a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or Apple operating systems along with:
- Webcam (internal or external)
- Functioning Microphone (often incorporated in your webcam)
- Latest version of “Google Chrome” or “Mozilla Firefox” web browser installed
- Government issued photo ID
You will have up to 21 days from the date you were added to the "OMSA Final Exam" course to schedule and take the online exam with our proctoring company. Upon completing of the first and second courses of the program, you will be given more detailed instructions for "Scheduling Your Final Exam with ProctorU".
CALAOMS designates this activity for 12 continuing education credits. Upon successful completion of the “OMSA Re-Certification Course” and the final exam, the assistant will receive a new OMSA certificate.
- Important! Starting June of 2021, when you renew your OMSA Certificate (Re-Certification) or take the OMSA course for the first time (Initial Certification), your OMSA Certificate will now have an expiration date of 2 years. You must Recertify by the end of the year that your OMSA Certificate expires. Once your OMSA certificate expires, you will be required to register in the "OMSA Initial Certification Course" and complete the Initial course again. Extensions are not granted. (We will honor the expiration date on your current certificate.)