Dental Assistant Professional Diploma

Full-Time Day Program

• An accelerated program! Finish quickly and be out earning a salary!
• 2 start dates every year.
• Class sizes are limited to 40 students.
• 31 week program of intensive training and education with classroom learning integrated into a dental clinic setting
• Students attend classes at the Columbia College Campus for the first 27 weeks and complete their Practicum during the final 4 weeks in a General Dental Practice.
• Students attend classes mostly ½ days, to permit time for *pre-class/ clinic learning.
• Clinics/Labs are delivered in 2 shifts. (AM and PM shifts alternate for all students every other week- varying from 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.)
• Final Examinations are scheduled Saturday mornings.
• Facilitator to student ratio in clinic is typically 1:6.
• Students coordinate their own Practicum which often leads to employment.
• The College provides career and employment support.
• Students in this program require a personal computer and the internet in order to:
  • Complete Daily Tests delivered through the Learning Portal Moodle.
    • A personal laptop is required on campus during the final 30 minutes of each class, and for all dental computer software classes.
  • Access required course materials and complete assignments posted on our “Moodle” learning platform.
  • Access required course materials available online through the publisher of the Textbook (Evolve).
  • Preview clinical demonstration videos posted on the Columbia College Learning Portal as a required part of their pre-clinic learning.
  • Conduct research, develop, and print documents for various assignments and presentations.

*In our Mastery Learning model, students need to be prepared to spend between 4-6 hours before each class completing pre-class learning activities.

Ortho Module

Columbia College Dental Assistant Professional Diploma Program is excited to offer the theory portion of the Ortho Module to students in the DAPP who are in good academic standing in each Semester. The clinical portion of the Ortho Module is offered once they have successfully written the NDAEB exam and become a Registered Dental Assistant

There are two basic options for admission into a Columbia College Professional Diploma Program:

High School Diploma

• A Canadian grade 12 high school diploma;
• Credit in English 30-1 with minimum final mark of 60%; or English 30-2 with minimum final mark of 70%; or equivalent;
• has submitted a completed Columbia College application;
• successfully pass an admissions interview(s) to determine suitability for the profession and opportunity for success in the program;
• Met all other program requirements.

OR

Mature Student Status

An applicant who does not possess a high school diploma may be considered for admission as a mature student if he/she:

• is 19 years of age prior to the date of registration;
• out of high school for one year
• has submitted a completed Columbia College application;
• has achieved an acceptable mark on a Columbia College assessment or equivalent;
• successfully pass an admissions interview(s) to determine suitability for the profession and opportunity for success in the program;
• Met all other program requirements.

Please note: Students who submit transcripts to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement may still be required to write the Academic Assessment as a result of reviewing their admission file and a formal interview with the Program Manager.

Please click here to view the general Admission Process and Information.

Additional Requirements

• Attend Columbia College’s Dental Assistant Professional Program Orientation prior to the start of the program.

Once an applicant has met the academic admission requirements, the student will be required to provide proof of the following prior to the start of classes/clinic.

• Submit a CPR Level BLS (Basic Life Support Provider) certificate (current for the duration of the program) – (Note: a 1 day course is offered at the College  before the program start date. A fee is assessed. A student may also take this training at another institution prior to the first day of clinic.)
• Dentist verification that all immediate dental treatment has been completed and that the student is in good oral health – within 4 months of program start.
• Verification from health professional that the student has been immunized against: Hepatitis B, and Rubella (MMR-measles, mumps, rubella vaccine)

Other Admission Considerations

• Students will be required to obtain a clear Criminal Record Check and a Vulnerable Sector Check upon completion of the program in order to register for the Provincial License.
• Do your academic skills need to be upgraded to meet admission entry requirements?
  After applying to your program, if your academic skills need to be improved in one or more areas, you may be offered Columbia College’s Academic Preparation – College Prep courses for FREE. See Continuing Education – Academic Preparation – College Prep.
• Are you working or have worked in this field?
  Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) recognizes this non-formal learning, and you may not need to take all the courses in this program. We will assess your experience in determining what courses you need to take to become certified. Read more in the PLAR Guidelines 2016 document.
• Do you have courses to transfer from another college or university?
  If you have taken courses at another college or university, these courses may be transferrable to this diploma program.
• There are no additional selection requirements. Admission is offered on a first-qualified, first-accepted basis. A waitlist may be established. The Dental Assistant Professional Diploma program is very competitive; therefor, Columbia College reserves the right to grant or refuse admission to any applicant.