Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting Program is a 10-month full-time program that prepares the graduate for a career as a Certified Dental Assistant. The program commences each September and consists of academic and clinical courses, with a strong field experience and practicum component.
*See Recommended Course Sequence for specific courses offered.
Department Website
For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.
Career/Further Educational Opportunities
Students entering this program should have an interest in working with people, a desire to provide professional health care services, an aptitude for working independently and as part of a team, a sense of responsibility and the ability to problem solve while working quickly with accuracy and neatness.
Certified Dental Assistants work in various settings which include general and specialty dental practices, hospital dental clinics, community health agencies and educational institutions. Most Certified Dental Assistants are employed in private dental practice.
Location
New Westminster Campus
Intake Dates/Application Deadline
Enrolment in the Dental Assisting Program is limited to one intake per year. Applications must be submitted by February 15 of each year. All applicants must meet the minimum application requirements. Students who are able to obtain “points” from the preferential admission requirements will be admitted ahead of students with only minimum requirements. In the event of two students having met the basic admission requirements, and having equal preferential admission requirements, the date of application will be used. Therefore, early application is recommended. This closed enrollment professional program can accommodate only a limited number of students; applicants may not be admitted to the semester of their choice.
Other Information
This program offers a free Information Session.
The program, including field experiences and practica is a 10-month full-time program consisting of three consecutive semesters. Students begin class in September (May) and conclude the following year in June (Feb). All students are required to spend specific days during each semester in a dental office.
Scrub uniforms, infection control cover-ups, white duty shoes with non-marking soles, name tags (with first name only) and personal safety glasses must be purchased and worn to all clinical and lab sessions. The infection control cover-ups will be worn over uniforms during all patient care clinical sessions.
Upon entering the program, students must provide a dental screening form signed by his/her dentist. Students are required to have taken a First Aid/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation course. This course costs each student an additional $135 (approximately) and is non-credit. Each student is expected to provide approximately eight (8) patients for the following intra-oral procedures:
- rubber cup polish
- fluoride treatment
- radiographs (x-rays)
- fissure sealants
In addition to tuition fees, the following estimated costs are required:
| Clinical Attire and Laboratory Fees | $300 |
| Textbooks | $600 |
| CPR/First Aid Course | $135 |
| Safety Glasses | $50 |
| Registration and Licensing Fee | $450 |
Note: Specific information about the purchase of clinical attire, textbooks and other items is provided at the mandatory orientation session. On completion of the program, students are eligible to apply to the College of Dental Surgeons of BC to obtain a licence in order to practise as a Certified Dental Assistant in British Columbia. Before becoming licensed, the student must have:
- successfully met the requirements of the program
- a current First Aid /CPR Certificate (Level C)
- a current criminal record search
- passed the National Dental Assisting Examining Board Written Exam (clinical exemption)
Admission Requirements
The College admits students on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis whereby students must satisfy all admissions criteria to establish eligibility and are then offered places by date of eligibility, except in programs that use selective admission processes that rank order qualified applicants. This program also uses a Preferential Admission process.
- Douglas College General Admission Requirements.
- English 12 with a minimum grade of "C" or approved substitution. Applicants using EASL 0360, EASL 0375 or EASL 0376 as an English 12 with a minimum “C” grade substitution must also successfully complete the courses listed in row A, B, or C in the chart below:
You must obtain a Mastery grade in a course(s) in column one and plus either column two or three:
Column One plus either Column Two or Column Three Column Two Column Three *Offered prior to 2010 A EASL 0360 EASL 0350 EASL 0345 and EASL 0355 B EASL 0375 and 365 EASL 0350 EASL 0345 and EASL 0355 C EASL 0376 and 365 EASL 0350 EASL 0345 and EASL 0355
- Completion of Biology 12 with a grade of "C" or better, or UT Biology course with a min. grade of "P".
- 18 years of age or older by the end of the first semester in the program.
- Submission of signed forms proving a minimum of two days of observation in one or more dental offices. The purpose of this observation is to provide the applicant with an opportunity to gain a realistic view of the responsibilities of a Certified Dental Assistant. An introductory letter and forms will be provided for the applicant.
- Participation in a group Orientation Session. This session will be held by a dental assisting instructor during the Spring of the entering year. The orientation is mandatory and is designed to provide the applicant with information about the profession and the program. Applicants will be notified by mail of the Orientation date.
Other Criteria
When offered a seat in the program the following criteria must be satisfied:
- Submission of completed Douglas College, medical, immunization and dental assessment forms.
- Applicants may be required to attend a personal interview that will be used for the purposes of clarifying suitability and readiness for the program.
- Emergency First Aid with CPR level "C".
- Criminal Record Search (CRS) - This program requires students to train in an environment that demands individuals to provide proof of a satisfactorily completed, current Criminal Record Search for the protection of the clients. To meet this requirement, prospective students must submit to a current Criminal Record Search as a condition of entry to the program. Any CRS forms returned with a notation of a record will be reviewed by the Registrar to determine if there is any relevance to the Program applied to. In these cases, final determination of admission rests with the Registrar. All costs related to the completion of this search are the responsibility of the individual student.
Preferential Admission Process
| Criteria | Points |
| Biology 12 with a grade of "B" or higher (i.e. UT Biology with a minimum grade of “P”) | 2 points |
| Related work experience - minimum of 6 months as a level one chair side dental assistant or as a dental receptionist in British Columbia (Dentist must complete a form provided by Douglas College) | 1 point |
| Community Service - (minimum 30 hours within the last 2 years) The community service must occur within a hospice, hospital, mental health or residential care facility with a focus on children or geriatrics or under the auspices of a not for profit organization with a focus on individuals with special needs. (supervisor or administrator must complete a form provided by Douglas College) | 1 point |
| Maximum total achievable | 4 points |
Credentials
Graduates of this program receive a Certificate in Dental Assisting and are eligible for registration and licensure with the College of Dental Surgeons of BC. All graduates from accredited programs in Canada are required to write the National Dental Assisting Examining Board examination. This program is accredited by the Canadian Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
Program Requirements
Semester I
| Credits | ||
| CHDA 1107 | Dental Radiology Theory | 1.5 |
| CHDA 1108 | Applied Dental Sciences | 1 |
| CHDA 1109 | Applied Anatomy for Dental Assistants | 3 |
| CHDA 1118 | Reception Skills for Dental Assistants | 1 |
| CHDA 1111 | Basic Dental Assisting Skills | 9 |
| CMNS 1215 | Interpersonal Communications for Dental Assistants | 3 |
| 18.5 |
Semester II
| CHDA 1212 | Dental Health Education | 3 |
| CHDA 1214 | Plan for Direct Patient Care | 3 |
| CHDA 1215 | Applied Nutrition/Pharmacology | 1.5 |
| CHDA 1216 | Dental Assisting Theory | 1.5 |
| CHDA 1217 | Advanced Dental Assisting Skills | 9 |
| 18 |
Semester III (two months only)
| CHDA 1360 | Provide Direct Patient Care |
5 |