Dental assistants (NOC 3411)

Education, training & qualifications

In B.C., there are two types of dental assistants – Level I and Level II. Level I dental assistants:

• do not need to be certified and do extra-oral and office duties only
• are generally required to have a secondary school diploma and complete on-the-job training

Most dentists prefer Level II dental assistants who are able to perform a wider variety of duties than Level I dental assistants.

Level II dental assistants:

• are licensed to perform intra-oral duties, such as polishing teeth, applying fluoride and sealant and taking preliminary impressions
• must be certified by the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC)
• must complete an approved Level II dental assisting program to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) with CDSBC, apply to CDSBC within three years of completion and have Level C CPR certification
• complete programs that take nine months to one year
• who have completed an accredited Level II dental assisting program outside of the province can submit their qualifications to CDSBC for approval for certification
• who have completed an approved Level II program more than three years ago or have foreign qualifications can apply to take the National Dental Assisting Examination Board exam

There are currently three expanded training programs for CDAs: an orthodontic module, a prosthodontic module and a dental radiography module. The orthodontic and prosthodontic modules provide the CDA with additional education and training in these two dental specialties. The dental radiography module prepares dental assistants to expose dental radiographs. A CDA must have 36 continuing education credits within a three-year cycle to maintain their CDA licence.

For more information see the CDSBC website at www.cdsbc.org or the Certified Dental Assistants of BC website at www.cdabc.org.

As of July 1, 2017 when the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) came into force, you will not need significant additional training, experience, testing or assessment if your qualifications or certificates are recognized by a Canadian regulatory authority. This applies whether you were trained in Canada or internationally. Learn about labour mobility at www.workersmobility.ca. For information about labour mobility and foreign qualifications recognition, contact the B.C. regulator for your occupation.

Education programs in B.C.

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.