CBBC Career College
Dental Assisting (Distance)
No Waitlists. Become a Dental Assistant.
Sydney
Program Length:
47 Weeks
Program Hours:
1496
Online Learning
Program Length:
Hybrid
Upcoming Start Dates
Sydney:
July 6, 2026
January 4, 2027
July 5, 2027
Request Brochure
No Waitlists. Become a Dental Assistant.
Explore the accredited Dental Assisting Program at CBBC Career College, approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation Canada (CDAC). This comprehensive program is designed to equip students with the skills needed to assist dentists in various dental procedures within a general dental practice. As part of the program, students also learn to provide personalized patient education and treatment within the scope of practice for dental assistants in Nova Scotia.
The Dental Assisting Distance program seamlessly integrates online learning, clinical instruction, and a work term placement. Successful completion of these components qualifies students for a CBBC Career College diploma. Additionally, students are prepared to write and pass the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Examination, with the cost of the written exam included in the tuition.
What to Expect:
- Structured full-time education with a blend of online learning, on-campus clinical training, and practicum placement.
- Two days per week in a work-term placement at a dental practice, complemented by three days per week of remote, instructor-led online learning.
- Five weeks at CBBC’s dental clinic, reinforcing practical skills.
- Mandatory clinical placement hours at a dental office, providing hands-on experience.
- Online theory courses utilizing the MOODLE learning management system, featuring various learning activities, assessments, study materials, assignments, and exams.
- Clinical competencies developed sequentially on manikins, peer-to-peer, and real patients at CBBC Career College’s Dental Clinic.
- Exposure to different dental offices and practice areas.
The dental assistant courses cover essential areas including Chair Side Procedures, Communications, Dental Office Administration, Dental Laboratory Techniques and Procedures, Dental Specialties (endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, etc.), Dental Radiography, Microbiology, and Infection Control.
Join the Dental Assisting Program at CBBC Career College to receive accredited training, prepare for the NDAEB Examination, and embark on a fulfilling career as a dental assistant. Enroll now to gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Contact us today to learn more about our Dental Assisting program and take the first step toward a successful future in dental healthcare.
Hear from one of our expert instructors about what makes our Dental Assisting program a standout choice!
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Job Market
Due to the rising number of dental practices across Nova Scotia, there is now a shortage of dental assistants in the province. According to jobbank.gc.ca, the job market for dental assistants is projected to grow for the next number of years.
Salary Information
Nova Scotia
Average Wage ($/hr) – $22.12
High Wage ($/hr) – $28.99
Canada Wide
Average Wage ($/hr) – $25.44
High Wage ($/hr) – $33.00
Program Outline
Please click on the course title to see the course description.
This course will introduce students to the career opportunities available to dental assistance, as well as licensing, the need for continuing education and duties of each member of the dental health care team. This course provides the students with the ability to effectively communicate with their patients and co-workers. It will also look at the professional code of conduct expected of a dental assistant and it allows the students, through classroom role playing experiences, to experience real life situations that require effective communication and ethical decision making, as well as how to deal with difficult conflicts by taking the course Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. This course will also help students develop a professional resume and cover letter that they may use and update as new skills are learned.
Students will be introduced to the clinical setting, proper clinic protocol, and procedure. Students will be familiarized with chair side skills. This will be introduced to the student by using textbooks, pictures, and videos via Moodle. These skills will be reinforced when students participate in DA-600 Dental Office Practicum.
This course will provide the students with the ability to effectively communicate with their patients and co-workers. It will also look at the professional code of conduct expected of a dental assistant and it allows the students, through classroom role-playing experiences, to experience real life situations that require effective communication and ethical decision making. It will also demonstrate the proper procedures required to effectively operate the front office of a dental practice and it will emphasize the importance of the front office staff. Students will be exposed to insurance forms, claim procedures, basic information regarding account management, as well as being exposed to some of the specialized computer software and programs used in the dental office setting.
This DA-206 module will offer the student online instruction regarding impression taking, model/cast pouring and trimming, and custom tray fabrication.
The students will be placed for 71 days (497 hours) at a dental office for this Module. This practicum placement will commence during week 5 and continue for 2 days per week (sometimes 1 day per week depending on statutory holidays) for the duration of the 47-week program. It is the student’s responsibility to secure this placement prior to admission to the program.
The dental assistant’s skills for this practicum are broken into 2 categories. Category one, Chairside skills; category two, intra-oral skills.The student’ s chairside skills (Category one) portion of this DA Program will be introduced from the beginning of this Dental Assisting program. Students will initially observe and then perform these chairside skills at the dental office practicum. It isn’t until the student completes Module DA-205 (A) after week 24 that the students observe and then perform intra-oral skills (Category two).Throughout this entire DA-600 Module, the students will be required to observe and perform those skills learned in all modules of the online and on-site clinic components of the program to gain practical experience and enhance knowledge in both chair side and intra-oral skills.This placement is mandatory. Attendance will be taken daily at the dental office where the student is placed. The student will have a Competency Assessment Tool (CAT), which breaks down all the skills that are required by Registered Dental Assistants (RDA) to perform. This CAT will be a tool that records both observation and hands-on chairside and intra-oral skills.CBBC’s Dental Assisting instructor will randomly visit the student’s practicum placement a minimum of 5 times during their student’s Dental Office Practicum.
This course will encompass the study of basic dental terminology, introductory anatomy and physiology with special emphasis on head and neck anatomy, the natural dentition, and the occlusion and development of the teeth, as well as an introduction to the oral cavity and its structures in a healthy normal state. This course will allow the student to identify abnormal dental conditions caused by oral diseases or systemic diseases with oral manifestations.
This section of the dental assisting course will provide the students with a series of lectures, seminars and office rotations offered by dental professionals who specialize in various areas of dentistry. The role of the dental assistant in the areas of Pedodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics, Prosthodontics, and Oral Surgery will be discussed.
Students will be educated in the importance of proper aseptic technique from basic hand washing procedures to disinfection and sterilization techniques. They will also be introduced to common microorganisms present in the oral cavity and their role in the prevention of patients’ oral health as well as their role in infectious diseases and understanding standard precautions. This course will also include WHMIS and OH&S.
This course will provide the student with the basic knowledge and skills required to successfully assist in all clinical procedures. The students will be expected, in a clinical situation to practice and demonstrate such intra-oral skills as placement and removal of a rubber dam, placement of cavity liners, and insertion and removal of matrices and wedges etc. The student will be expected to demonstrate proper infection control when practicing all procedures. This DA 205 (B) theory module comes after the DA-205 (A) Intra-Oral Procedures/Rad/Lab Skills (Clinic 1). This DA-205 (A) clinic module introduces the hands-on skills before the theory DA-205 (B) theory is introduced.
This course will provide the student with the basic knowledge and skill required to successfully assist in all clinical procedures. The students will be expected, in a clinical situation to practice and demonstrate such intra-oral skills as placement and removal of a rubber dam, placement of cavity liners, and insertion and removal of matrices and wedges etc. The student will be expected to demonstrate proper infection control when practicing all procedures. This DA 205 (B) theory module comes after the DA-205 (A) Intra-Oral Procedures/Rad/Lab Skills (Clinic 1). This DA-205 (A) clinic module introduces the hands-on skills before the theory DA-205 (B) theory is introduced.
The student will be educated in the theory and technique regarding dental radiographs. The course will emphasize the importance of dental radiographs, proper radiograph techniques and methods, common technique and processing errors, safety precautions, and proper use of radiograph and processing equipment. 17 hours of this DA-202 80-hour module occurs before DA-205 (A) Intra-Oral Procedures/Rad/Lab Skills (Clinic 1) and 33 hours of DA-202 Module will occur after the DA-205 (A) Intra-Oral Procedures/Rad/Lab Skills (Clinic 1).
This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to properly prevent, assess, and handle medical emergency situations. Students will learn about different medical conditions, the emergencies that can arise as a result and the proper ways to manage the emergency. The course will also provide knowledge of common drugs used in dentistry and the effects of certain drugs as relevant in dentistry. Students will also be required to research and present a medical condition and how this relates to dental health.
The students will be placed for one day at a dental office. This placement is an observation only and will take place in early October. At this point in the program students will have gained limited knowledge and concepts with infection control, dental terminology and some chair side topics. Students are not permitted to perform any activities on this placement, only to observe. This will provide the student with a beneficial opportunity to gain a better perspective and appreciation for the profession. It is the student’s responsibility to find this placement for DA-405. This dental office placement will be the same dental office placement location as DA-600, which is also the student’s responsibility to find.
This is a hands-on clinic where students will provide care for real patients from the community in a supervised clinical setting. This will allow the student to bring together all aspects of the curriculum and demonstrate their competency, knowledge and acquired skills. The lecture portion will simply be a time to reflect on the students’ clinical experiences for that week and work out any issues of concern involving the clinic.
This course will cover the importance of keeping a detailed and thorough patient record. The student will be educated in the importance of reviewing and maintaining an accurate health history for the patient, proper charting technology, how to read, interpret and explain the contents of a dental chart, as well as the legal aspects associated with the patient record and chart. 23 hours of this DA-106 50-hour module occurs before DA-205 (A) Intra-Oral Procedures/Rad/Lab Skills (Clinic 1) and 27 hours of DA-106 module will occur after the DA-205 (A) Intra-Oral Procedures/Rad/Lab Skills (Clinic 1).
Admissions Requirements
- Academic Grade 12 graduation consisting of a Grade 11 science or integrated Grade 10 science
- English Language Proficiency (TOFEL or IELT) for international students
- A signed agreement (Dental Clinic Verification form) with a sponsoring dentist verifying two days (14 hours) per week clinical dental assisting experience in general dentistry or specialty dental practice for
the duration of the program - Admission interview, either in person or phone call – Before any student can be accepted into the Dental Assisting Distance program, they must submit the following documentation to CBBC Career College:
- Official transcripts and educational documents as required by their course or program
- A Criminal Record Check (Vulnerable Sector) under the Criminal Records Review Act
- A current “C” certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)or paid proof of registration for this certification. It is the responsibility of the student to provide CBBC Career College with this certification upon completion.
- A current certificate in Oxygen Administration or paid proof
of registration for this certification. It is the responsibility of the student to provide CBBC Career College with this certification upon completion. - A current resume prior to the interview.
Language Requirements:
All students must meet or exceed the language requirements set by CBBC Career College. Click here to learn more.
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This program is an excellent fit for:
- Anyone who is looking to upgrade their skills and become a licensed dental assistant.
- Someone is a people person and has great customer service skills.
- A person looking for a fast-paced and exciting career.
Why choose the Dental Assisting (Distance) program?
- A combination of online and in-class learning.
- Upgrade your skills and gain new opportunities if you already work in a dental office!
- Lifetime support of career services!
Save time & money
- Become job-ready in less than a year with career-focused programs.
- Learn only what you need - practical, in-demand skills that employers are looking for.
- Hands-on learning that prepares you for day one on the job.
- Start your career sooner - no need to spend 3–4 years in school to land a well-paying job.
- Access lifetime career support, with experts dedicated to helping you find employment anytime.
Your future is our priority
- Start right away with frequent intakes - no long wait time (even more most in-demand programs)
- Small class sizes and a student-focused approach, with personalized support from experienced instructors.
- Access lifetime career support, with experts dedicated to helping you find employment anytime.
Career-relevant education
- Train for real-world careers with programs designed to make you job-ready.
- Prepare for in-demand roles with strong hiring opportunities.
- Graduate with hands-on practicum experience - so you enter the job market with both skills and experience.
- Benefit from strong employer partnerships and connections to organizations actively hiring our graduates.
What People Are Saying
I highly recommend CBBC Career College to anyone interested in pursuing what they have to offer. They have gone far to support all the students in my class in pursuing their goals. I have been very satisfied with my experience at the college.
Thom H. Boehm
Continuing Care Assistant
