Dental Assistant Program

This program helps to prepare students to provide the services of a certified dental assistant as outlined in the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCHOP)*  Bylaws under the Health Professions Act of British Columbia.

* Previously called College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC).The outcomes and objectives upon which students will learn also include elements of dental assisting practice which are:

• Professional conduct
• Safe, ethical and professional practise
• Communication
• Collaborative practise/teamwork
• Problem solving and critical thinking

• Dental assisting process of care
• Provision of chairside assisting skills and clinical treatment
• Provision of dental office administration skills
• Provision of dental laboratory skills

Request Program Information

Fill out the form below and one of our Student Admissions Advisors will get in touch with you to guide you through enrolling for this program and answer any questions you have.

Job Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible for the National Dental Assistant Examining Board (NDAEB) written exam and clinical practice evaluation.

Certified Dental Assistant

Wages

• Earn up to $33.00* per hour as a Dental Assistant
• All wages taken from the Canada Job Bank

Program Admission Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent and proof of English Language Proficiency.

For English Language proficiency, domestic students are required to have completed Grade 10 English or successfully completed the College’s English language proficiency assessment.

International students will need to submit proof of English language proficiency by meeting one of the following requirements:

• IELTS: 5.5 or
• TOEFL (paper): 550 or
• TOEFL (CBT): 210 or
• TOEFL(IBT): 79 or
• Canadian Language Benchmark Test (CLB): 6
• PTE Academic: 50 or
• Cambridge: CAE or

• Note: Completion of grade 12 Science (especially Biology and/or Physics) is advantageous.

  Prior to practicum start date:

• Standard First Aid and CPR-C with AED or Standard First Aid-Health Care Provider.
• Proof of a negative tuberculosis (TB) skin test.
• All immunizations should be up to date, including: • hepatitis B • tetanus • measles/mumps/rubella • diphtheria • pertussis • varicella • polio • influenza (required annually)

Pathway To British Columbia Institute Of Technology (BCIT)

Students completing the Dental Assistant program at Western Community College who achieve the required academic standing and meet the required admissions criteria will be eligible for admission into the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to enter the second year of the Advanced Diploma in Business Management and get 1 year Post Graduate Work Permit*.

• Grade 12 graduation diploma in a school system in which English is the official language, or
• Successfully completed a pre-Intermediate certificate from a Language Canada-accredited school or
• Successfully completed Western Community College’s English language proficiency assessment, or
• Successfully completed a 24-week ESL program at the College

Program Duration

1120 hours of instruction (40 weeks) including 160 hours work experience practicum (4 weeks).

Financial Assistance

Western Community College offers a variety of financial aid opportunities to ease students’ stress and allow them to focus on their studies. If you need extra support, we have flexible funding to accommodate all our students, no matter their financial situation.

• BC Student Loan
• In-house Financing

• Our dedicated Financial Aid Officers will help you every step of the way.

• Student Line of Credit
• Scholarships