Dental Office Administrative Assistant Certificate

This short, part-time certificate is delivered in a blended online format, with live classes held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, over four months, or 16 weeks, totalling 120 hours across three courses: communication skills, an introduction to dentistry, and dental office procedures and computers. The program includes a 20-hour observation placement in a dental office, and at least half of the coursework must be completed through Okanagan College. Course content covers dental office operations, appointment scheduling, patient records management, insurance processing and forms, dental terminology, professional communication and customer service, and computerized dental office systems, including practice-management software and electronic patient records. Admission requires B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, or being at least 19 years old and out of secondary school for a year. Graduates are prepared for administrative roles such as dental office administrative assistant, dental receptionist, dental office coordinator, or patient services representative in private dental clinics, orthodontic offices, specialty practices, and community health clinics.