Information you need to know to work as a Dental Assistant

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 Registered Dental Assistants (RDA).

What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Dental Assistants?

The registration process for internationally educated Dental Assistants begins with the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB). You must submit the following to the NDAEB:

1. A completed education assessment from International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), World Education Services - Canada (WES), or International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES).
2. The international assessment fee, payable in Canadian dollars to NDAEB by money order or bank draft only.
3. Certified true copies of academic transcripts and diploma, translated to English or French if necessary, plus a certified true copy of the original document in another language if it was translated. Copies of academic records and other required documents must be certified or notarized as true copies in Canada by a notary public, lawyer, commissioner of oaths or at a provincial government office. Documents notarized in another country are not acceptable except those that were certified /notarized by Canadian staff at a Canadian embassy or consulate abroad.
4. A completed Dental Assisting Course Work Report (DACWR). Note: IQAS requires you to submit the Dental Assisting Course Work Report (DACWR) to them along with your transcripts for assessment.
5. A signed consent form permitting the NDAEB to gather and disclose your personal information to members of the Candidate Eligibility Assessment Committee (CEAC). Note: NDAEB requires your consent before being able to register you for the NDAEB Exam or Clinical Practice Evaluation.
6. If the name appearing on the academic records or other documents is different than the name of the applicant, a certified true copy of a marriage or divorce certificate or sworn affidavit is required for NDAEB to verify and reconcile the name of the applicant with the name appearing on the documents being submitted.

Note: If you are an internationally educated Dentist and have been granted exam eligibility by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), you do not need to submit an education assessment to the NDAEB. Instead, submit proof of registration with the NDEB, along with certified true copies of your academic records, a completed Dental Assisting Course Work report, signed consent form and application fee.

If your dental assisting education does not meet the standard required for exam eligibility, you may wish to attend an educational upgrading program in Canada. Should you decide to attend upgrading in Canada, you are urged to attend a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada as some Dental Assisting Regulatory Authorities require graduates of Canadian non-accredited programs to undergo the CPE prior to being considered for licensure/registration/certification. Please refer to the list of accredited dental assisting schools available on the NDAEB website.

If your dental assisting education does meet the standard, you will be granted eligibility to register for:

• the NDAEB Written Examination consisting of 200 multiple choice questions. Details are available in the Written Exam section of the NDAEB website and the Candidate Handbook for the Written Exam.
• the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE) consisting of a half-day clinical evaluation of nine (9) intra-oral skills performed on a mannequin. Details are available in the Clinical Practice Evaluation section of the NDAEB website and the Candidate Handbook for the CPE. Note: International applicants considered eligible for the NDAEB examination may wish to attend upgrading in the clinical component (9 intra-oral skills) rather than sit the Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE). Applicants successfully completing intra-oral upgrading at an accredited Canadian school will not be required to complete the CPE by the NDAEB but will be considered graduates of a Canadian program.Please refer to the list of accredited dental assisting schools available on the NDAEB website.

Once you have passed the NDAEB Written Exam, and either passed the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation or completed intra-oral upgrading, the second step is to apply for Registration and a Practice Permit with the College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA).

• Submit the Registration Application - With NDAEB and pay the applicable fees.
• Include a copy of your NDAEB Written Exam results letter.
• Include a copy of your NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE) results letter, or complete the Intra-Oral Training section of the application form if you successfully completed intra-oral upgrading at an accredited Canadian school.

What are the educational requirements for Dental Assistants in Alberta?

Note: NDAEB compares 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:

• SAIT Polytechnic (SAIT) in Calgary
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton
• KDM Dental College International Inc. in Edmonton and Calgary
• Columbia College in Calgary

What are the accepted English language proficiency tests and where can I be tested?

There are no formal English requirements for Dental Assistants; however, Dental Assistants must have a high level of English in order to successfully complete the NDAEB exams, communicate with patients and maintain patient records. To learn more about where to take an English language proficiency test in Alberta, visit English Language Proficiency Tests and Locations.

What resources and supports are available for internationally educated health care professionals?

Directions for Immigrants offers workplace communication groups to help you integrate into the Canadian work environment. The Clear Communication for Health Professionals (CCHP) workplace communication group is designed to help internationally educated health care professionals fine-tune their communication skills with patients, supervisors, and colleagues. In one week, you will learn through role-play and scenarios the nuances and expectations of Canadian patients, inter-disciplinary teams, and other health care industry participants. Topics include overcoming communication barriers, professional workplace interaction/behaviour, Canadian workplace culture, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Visit Clear Communication for Health Professionals for more information.

What information resources are available for Dental Assistants in Alberta?

• Calgary Dental Assistants Association (CDAA)
• Canadian Dental Assistants Association (CDAA)
• College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA)
• Edmonton Dental Assistants Association (EDAA)
• National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB)

Additional Occupational Information

For more information on occupations, duties, and wages, visit:

• Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) / Dental Assistant
• Opportunity Alberta
• Occupations in Alberta
• Registration Eligibility Flow Chart