Certificate in Dental Assisting

General Information

Curriculum

The School of Dentistry offers a 10-month program leading to the Certificate in Dental Assisting. The curriculum for this certificate program is presented in a sequential progressive format, building on foundational knowledge and skills, and including learning in simulation and clinical environments.

Technical Standards

All students considering application to the Dental Assisting Certificate program should review the School of Dentistry Technical Standards Policy. This policy defines the necessary knowledge, skills, professional behaviors, and attitudes expected of students to demonstrate competency and to demonstrate successful completion of the program.

Library

The new Geoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library contains a comprehensive selection of reference materials and textbooks on dentistry and related subjects. In addition, it contains most current dental journals in English and other languages, and the Index to Dental Periodical Literature, an index to all dental periodicals since 1839. The Sperber library offers a wide range of services, including an Indigenous learning space, Teaching and Learning Lab, a Maker Lab with 3D printing available, a VR Lab, bookable spaces for studying, and more.

Orientation

It is mandatory that each student, after acceptance into the program, attend all identified orientation sessions indicated in the student schedule. Orientation is scheduled at the beginning of the program.

Program Requirements (10 Months, 32 units)

Clinical Rotations and Practicum Requirements

The Dental Assisting program will include internal clinical rotations and an external practicum rotation.

The Internal Clinical rotations will begin in course DA 103 , and continue throughout courses DA 104 and DA 105 , sequentially building on foundational knowledge as students’ skill set increases in each course. The internal clinical rotations integrate Dental Assisting students into the School of Dentistry’s Oral Health Clinic, including assisting Dentistry (DDS) students in the School of Dentistry.
The Dental Assisting students are required to meet the internal clinical hour requirements of each course in order to progress onto the next course.
Each student will complete one 2-week off-site practicum in a Private Dental Practice, or Community Dental Practice - minimum of 70 hours (7 hours a day).

Program Completion Requirements

Complete all of the required program courses with the minimum passing grade outlined in each course syllabus.
Successfully complete all assessments and mandatory clinical hours as per each course syllabus.
Complete the required Practicum hours and submit Practicum Log and Evaluation.