Licensed dental assistants must be licensed with BCCOHP to provide the services of a LDA in B.C.
Information about the delegation of aspects of practice to LDAs and dental assistants, including definitions, can be found in Part 10 of the Consolidated BCCOHP Bylaws. This page contains license information not covered in other pages.
If your licence was not renewed at annual renewal and it has been less than 60 days and you wish to reinstate, please complete the annual renewal form by logging into your BCCOHP account.
If your licence was not renewed at annual renewal and it has been more than 60 days and you wish to reinstate you must:
If it has been more than three years since you became a former licensee, you may be required to show proof of continued competency. Please refer to section “Returning to practice” below for more information.
Dental assistants from outside of British Columbia may be eligible for BCCOHP certification pending an assessment of your credentials.
LDAs licensed or certified in another Canadian jurisdiction recognized under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), are eligible to apply for an assessment to practice in British Columbia. All information required for assessment are noted in the application instructions and forms.
After the assessment process, and once your eligibility has been determined, you will need to apply for LDA licence. If you are currently or have previously been licensed or certified in another Canadian jurisdiction, BCCOHP requires a Certificate of Standing from that jurisdiction for your application for LDA Licence.
The Certificate of Standing is valid for up to 60 days from the date that it was signed. If you do not have your certification process completed within the 60 days, a new Certificate will be required.
For more information on the BC’s Labour Mobility Act, please visit their website here.
For more information on the CFTA click here.
Graduates of dental assisting programs in the United States and/or internationally-trained dental healthcare professionals who have National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) certificate may be eligible for BCCOHP certification pending an assessment of your credentials.
Please complete and submit the LDA Assessment Application Package (PDF).
If you have questions about applying for assessment, please contact us.
If you have been away from clinical practice for 3 to 5 years, completion of an approved CDA refresher program or an approved guided clinical mentorship (minimum 3 months/20 hours per week) in a general dental practice may be considered for reinstatement.
If you have been away from clinical practice for 5 to 9 years, completion of an approved LDA refresher program or successful completion of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board written and clinical examinations will be accepted for reinstatement.
After an absence from practice of 10 or more years, successful completion of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board written and clinical examinations will be accepted for reinstatement.
If you have any questionsabout returning to practice, please contact us.
Note: Orthodontic and Prosthodontic Modules are not recognized after an absence from clinical practice of 5 or more years.
Contact the regulatory/licensing body you are going to as you may need a Certificate or Letter of Standing from BCCOHP.
To request a Certificate or Letter of Standing, please complete and submit the LDA Consent for Release of Information Form (PDF). You may submit your completed form via our contact form . There is an administrative fee of $26.00. You will be notified to make payment via email when ready.
Please allow 20 business days for processing.
Note that we send your Certificate or Letter of Standing directly to the regulatory/licensing body on your behalf.
LDAs requiring a Letter of Standing for employment purposes must complete and submit the LDA Consent for Release of Information Form (PDF).
You may submit your completed form via our contact form. There is an administrative fee of $26. You will be notified to make payment via email when ready.
Please allow 20 business days for processing.
Note that we will send your Letter of Standing directly to your employer on your behalf.
If you have recently moved or changed any of your contact information, you must inform BCCOHP.
You can update your address, phone number, email address or any other contact information online by logging into your account.
If you’ve changed your name, please submit your name change request in writing, along with a copy of your legal name document or marriage certificate, to the College via our contact form or mail.
Please allow up to 3 business days for the changes to appear on your profile.
Graduates of accredited programs must successfully complete the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Written Examination to be eligible for a licence in BC.
For a list of programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), please visit CDAC’s website.
Graduates from non-accredited programs must successfully complete the NDAEB Written Examination, NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation and meet eligibility requirements for a licence with BCCOHP.
BCCOHP advises students and potential students of non-accredited programs to contact the NDAEB in advance to confirm their eligibility to take the exams.
Please contact us if you have any further questions.
