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There are two levels of dental assisting in BC:
Certified Dental Assistants (CDA) are trained in diploma courses held in colleges throughout the province. They are trained to assist the dentist during treatment of the patient and are qualified to carry out some procedures on patients under the direction of the dentist.
Dental Assistants require no formal training because training will be provided “on the job” by the dentist. The duties that can be performed by a chairside assistant are limited, and unlike those of certified dental assistant, do not include procedures carried out on the patient.
Accredited Programs
Non-Accredited Programs
*contact schools for specific entrance requirement
Dental hygienists are trained in oral hygiene procedures which they may undertake in the dental office as directed by the dentist. These include:
In BC a diploma in dental hygiene is required for an individual to work as a dental hygienist. Please note: a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene is NOT required to work as a dental hygienist in BC.
Office personnel in a dental practice will require skills in:
The following colleges/universities offer courses in dental office management and dental reception:
Dental office staff can take the Radiography Module with Vancouver Community College.
CDI College also offers Dental Receptionist training with the Radiography module included.
Dentistry offers a wide and varied selection of choices of career paths. There are a range of job opportunities within the dental team:
Hygienists
Dental Assistant and Certified Dental Assistant
Office Management and Reception
There are many job opportunities in dental offices across BC.
Career opportunities for dentists are listed on our Member Portal.
400 – 1765 West 8 Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 5C6
HOURS
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:00pm
The BC Dental Association office is located on the homelands of the Coast Salish peoples, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. BCDA gratefully acknowledges that BC dentists live and work on the unceded, traditional and ancestral homelands of Indigenous Peoples and Nations across BC.
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