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Certified dental assistants must be certified with BCCOHP to provide the services of a CDA in B.C.
Information about the services that CDAs are authorized to provide is contained in the BCCOHP Bylaws and in the Guide to CDA Services (PDF).
Please use the sections below to browse through information about CDA certification.
If your certification 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 certification was not renewed at annual renewal and it has been more than 60 days and you wish to reinstate you must:
If you want to reinstate from non-practising to practising get in touch with the Registration department via our contact form for next steps.
Dental assistants from outside of British Columbia may be eligible for BCCOHP certification pending an assessment of your credentials.
CDAs 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 CDA certification. If you are currently or have previously been registered in another Canadian jurisdiction, BCCOHP requires a Certificate of Standing from that jurisdiction for your application for CDA certification.
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.
CDAs that want to return to practice must meet the quality assurance requirements which include having a current CE cycle and the minimum total of 600 continuous practice hours within their QAP cycle.
If you have been away from clinical practice for less than 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 of full certification. To participate in a guided mentorship, please submit the Continuous Practice Request Form.
If you have been away from clinical practice for 5 to 9 years, completion of an approved CDA refresher program or successful completion of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board written and clinical examinations will be accepted for reinstatement of full certification.
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 of full certification.
Note: Orthodontic and Prosthodontic Modules are not recognized after an absence from clinical practice of 5 or more years.
CDA Continuous Practice Request Form
To meet the continuous practice requirement, CDAs must work approximately 17 hours per month (within their QAP cycle).
In order to fulfill this requirement, a CDA must perform the restricted activities that a CDA may perform under the BCCOHP Bylaws. If you work in both an administrative and clinical capacity, you should keep track of your clinical hours for your records and as a reference for your annual renewal process. Dental reception hours are not eligible for your continuous practice requirement.
More information about the continuous practice requirement is available 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 CDA Assessment Application Package (PDF).
If you have questions about applying for assessment, please contact the Registration Department.
Contact the regulatory/licensing body you are going to as you may need a Letter of Standing from BCCOHP.
To request a Letter of Standing, please complete and submit the CDA Consent for Release of Information Form (PDF). You may submit your completed form via our contact form or mail to registration. There is an administrative fee of $25.00. You will be notified to make payment via email when ready.
Please allow 15 business days for processing.
Note that we send your Letter of Standing directly to the regulatory/licensing body on your behalf.
CDAs requiring a Letter of Standing for employment purposes must complete and submit the CDA Consent for Release of Information Form (PDF).
You may submit your completed form via our contact form or mail. There is an administrative fee of $25.00. You will be notified to make payment via email when ready.
Please allow 15 business days for processing.
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.
Seven public colleges and four private colleges in BC offer dental assisting programs.
Graduates of accredited programs must successfully complete the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Written Examination to be eligible for certification in BC.
Graduates from non-accredited programs must successfully complete the NDAEB Written Examination, NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation and meet eligibility requirements for certification 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 the Registration Department via our contact form if you have any further questions.