I am writing in support of the proposed regulation change (petition 313) requiring dental assistants to be infection control and radiology certified through DANB or NELDA before they are allowed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Having graduated from an accredited dental assisting program as a CDA in December of 2018, I am well aware that dentistry, like other medical fields, has its potential for health altering hazards.  My education and subsequent DANB certifications have provided me with the knowledge I need to protect my patients, myself, my team, and my community from injury and communicable disease.  An on-the-job trained dental assistant without certifications, however, will likely have no idea what airborne or bloodborne pathogens are, what standard precautions are, or even that there is a difference between disinfection and sterilization.  All of which are paramount knowledge in the avoidance of maleficence.  Patients and people, in general, have immense societal trust in their healthcare providers; dentists and their team members included.  Let’s not ever let anyone down!  Allowing substandard practice is unacceptable.  I ask you to please see the validity and criticality of this proposed change.  The patients and dentists in the Commonwealth of Virginia deserve competent certified dental assistants.