Dental Assistant
OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Who is the licensing body responsible for Dental Assistants in Alberta?
- What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Dental Assistants?
- What are the educational requirements for Dental Assistants in Alberta?
- What information resources are available for Dental Assistants in Alberta?
Who is the licensing body responsible for Dental Assistants in Alberta?
In Alberta, you must be registered with the College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA) to practice as a Dental Assistant. Only registered members may call themselves Dental Assistant.What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Dental Assistants?
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The National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Certificate is a requirement for registration.
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Applicants need to have their dentistry theoretical and clinical training assessed by the International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS)
A Description of Course Work Assessment is required. -
The NDAEB is responsible for the administration of the national examination of Dental Assistants in Canada. Exam eligibility criteria for international graduates are outlined on the NDAEB website under International Applicants.
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If eligible, the NDAEB will send an exam application. Applicants are encouraged to be aware of exam fees, frequency, location and turnaround time for exam results.
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Applicants are also required to complete an NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation prior to registration as a dental assistant in Alberta. The evaluation is available at an educational institute in Edmonton or Calgary. Note: Candidates who choose to re-take intra-oral skills at an accredited dental assisting program are not required to complete the Clinical Practice Evaluation.
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Submit an application form for CADA for registration.
Note: Foreign trained candidates that have completed an initial National Dental Assisting Examining Board Clinical Practice Evaluation and were successful in at least one skill are now eligible for Provisional Registration.
What are the educational requirements for Dental Assistants in Alberta?
(Note: Licensing bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards)
In Alberta, the following post-secondary institutions
offer dental assisting programs that are accredited by the Commission
on Dental Accreditation of Canada:
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) (in Calgary)
- Columbia College (in Calgary)
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) (in Edmonton)
- KDM Dental College International Inc. (in Edmonton and Calgary)
Additional Occupational Information
For more information on occupational duties and wages, visit the
Alberta Learning Information Service at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and
search for Dental Assistant under occupational information.
What information resources are available for Dental Assistants in Alberta?
EDinfowebsite: www.alis.gov.ab.ca/edinfo
College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA)
website: www.abrda.ca
Canadian Dental Assistants Association (CDAA)
website: www.cdaa.ca
Edmonton Dental Assistants Association (EDAA)
website: www.edaa.ab.ca
Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA)
website: www.hsaa.ca
National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB)
website: www.ndaeb.ca
