Becoming a CDA in B.C.

In British Columbia (BC), the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) serves as the oral health regulator, setting the standards and continuing competency requirements to ensure that oral health professionals are competent practitioners. When planning your Certified Dental Assisting (CDA) educational path, it is crucial to confirm with BCCOHP if there are any additional requirements for the registration process.  

This page provides an overview of CDA education and credential portability in BC. However, we strongly encourage you to visit the BCCOHP website to explore detailed information, ensuring you meet all necessary requirements and embark on a successful career as a Certified Dental Assistant.   

CDA Alliance stresses the importance of attending an Accredited CDA program as it is important for dental assisting clinical competence and professional development. Further, many employers and regulatory bodies require graduation from an accredited school as a prerequisite for employment and licensure.  

CDA Alliance recommends studying dental assisting in the same jurisdiction where you plan to work. This ensures that your dental assisting education aligns with the specific regulatory requirements, standards, and competencies set by the provincial regulator. In BC, that is the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) in BC. Ensuring your education aligns with provincial standards and competencies can simplify the licensure process, as you will be well-versed in the regional laws, ethical guidelines, and practice standards.  

Attending a non-accredited CDA program means that while you can still gain valuable knowledge and skills in dental assisting, the program has not been formally evaluated or recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). Choosing a non-accredited program requires careful consideration of the potential impact on your career path and additional certification requirements. 

Graduates from non-accredited programs need to confirm eligibility to take the National Dental Assisting Examination Board (NDAEB) and Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE) and any additional steps to meet the necessary standards for certification and practice in BC.  

We recommend checking with the oral health regulator in the province where you intend to work to verify any additional licensing or educational requirements needed for registration. Here is a link to the BCCOHP’s list of colleges recognized. 

Graduates from BC 

Once you graduate from your accredited dental assisting program, you can submit an application to the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) to register as CDA in British Columbia. Their mandate is to protect the public by ensuring that all oral health professionals practicing in BC are capable and competent. Please be aware that all practicing CDAs must meet the registration requirements with the BCCOHP before beginning work. 

BCCOHP Guide to CDA Services outlines the Scope of Practice in BC. Please see the following link for that document: 

The British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) regulates oral health professionals in BC in BC and maintains a current registry of all oral health professionals registered and able to practice in BC. Here are some resources to help you navigate registration in this process. We recommend reaching out to BCCOHP directly for complete registration information.  

In BC, completion of Dental Assistant program is required. Without CDA certification a dental assistant can only perform chairside duties.  

For applicants coming from another country, they are required to apply for an assessment of credentials to determine your eligibility for CDA certification. Graduates of dental assisting programs in the United States and/or internationally trained dental healthcare professionals who have successfully completed the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) exams (both written and clinical) may be eligible for BCCOHP certification pending an assessment of credentials.  

  For information about NDAEB exams, they may contact NDAEB @ 613-526-3424 or visit their website at www.ndaeb.ca.  

Once they successfully completed both exams, they can download the CDA Assessment Application Package from CDA Registration Information – British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (oralhealthbc.ca) by clicking on Coming from Another Country. The assessment package contains information about requirements and fee.   

The assessment is approximately ten business days. Once completed, a letter will be sent to the applicant stating eligibility, either Limited CDA or Full CDA, and instructions on how to apply. There are five skills practiced by CDAs in BC that are over and above the NDAEB CPE exams which will determine eligibility for Limited or Full CDA. The application for certification can take 5-6 weeks as it requires criminal record check which takes the Ministry 3-4 weeks.  

Return to Practice Info After a Leave of Absence.  

 CDAs may be considered for reinstatement of full certification if they fulfill one of the following:   

1.  Been away from clinical practice for less than 5 years,   
2. completion of an approved CDA refresher program or   
3. Completed an approved guided clinical mentorship (minimum 3 months/20 hours per week) in a general dental practice may be considered for reinstatement of full certification.   

Please consult the BCCOHP for a guided mentorship   

CDAs who have been away from clinical practice for 5 to 9 years,   

1. Completion of an approved CDA refresher program or   
2. Successful completion of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board written and clinical examinations will be accepted for reinstatement of full certification.  

CDAs who have been away from continuous practic 10 or more years,   

1. Successful completion of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board written and clinical examinations will be accepted for reinstatement of full certification.  

Note: Orthodontic and Prosthodontic Modules are not recognized after an absence from clinical practice of 5 or more years.  

Registration/licensure requirements, scope-of-practice, etc. vary between jurisdictions. Dental assistants seeking information on regulatory issues in various provinces/territories are urged to contact the CDARA as listed below. Ensuring you re aware of regulatory requirements and registration/licensure issues may alleviate unseen barriers entering the workforce in another jurisdiction.  

Dental assisting is not regulated in Ontario. The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) requires their members to assign Level II duties to dental assistants holding the NDAEB certificate. 

For information regarding certification in Ontario, please contact the Ontario Dental Assistants’ Association at info@odaa.org or call (800) 461-4348.  The Ontario Dental Assistants Association is the Membership and Certifying body for dental assistants in Ontario.  ODAA Membership and Certification is recommended. 

Candidates are advised that the issuance of the NDAEB Certificate does not represent HARP Certification in Ontario. The HARP Certificate is a separate provincial requirement in Ontario. For more information, please contact the X-Ray Inspection Service (XRIS) department, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care by phone at (416) 327-7937,  by fax at (416) 327-8805 or by email at xris@ontario.ca. 

Planning a move to the United States? Dental assisting in the USA is state regulated in a manner similar to provincial regulation in Canada. For information on dental assisting in the USA, contact the American Dental Assistants Association in Chicago, Illinois at: (312) 541-1550 or the dentistry regulatory body in the state you wish to work in.