At Vancouver Community College in Vancouver, Canada, Certified Dental Assisting Certificate is offered as a certificate in Health Sciences programme. The programme runs for 10 months, delivered fully online. Teaching is in English. Tuition is CAD 11,100 per total for local students.
At a glance
Degree:Certificate
Field:Health Sciences
Duration: 10 months
Delivery: Online
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 11,100 / total
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Certified Dental Assisting certificate learn the specialized skills and knowledge needed to assist dentists with procedures, provide oral health education, and function as a dental health team member with the Certified Dental Assisting certificate. Each term consists of both theory and clinical courses. Theory courses are presented through online activities, lecture, small group discussion, assigned readings and self-study. Clinical skills are presented in the dental clinic and laboratory. Acquisition of clinical skills is enhanced through partnerships with the University of British Columbia (UBC) Dental Clinic Program and practica rotations to dental practices.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Academic entry is Grade 12 graduation or an equivalent, English Studies 12 at a minimum 'C' grade or an equivalent, and one of Anatomy and Physiology 12 (recommended) or Life Sciences 11, or their equivalents. Two exemptions apply: graduates of VCC's Dental Reception programme do not need to show Grade 12 graduation, and holders of the BC College of Oral Health Professionals provincial radiography credential do not need the science course. On acceptance you must clear a criminal record check carried out to VCC's instructions — a result indicating risk to vulnerable populations prevents you from completing practicums or graduating, hold valid standard or emergency first aid with CPR-C certification for the whole programme, submit a negative tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray dated within six months of the start, and complete the Certified Dental Assisting and Dental Reception immunisation record — placements can be refused without it. The BC College of Oral Health Professionals runs its own criminal record search before registration, and registration is compulsory to practise in the province. VCC states this programme is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and directs international students to VCC International, which lists separately the programmes open to them. College-wide rules also apply: applicants must be 16 or older or a secondary-school graduate, with some exceptions, and official transcripts and every required supporting document must reach VCC before the application counts as complete.
Application Details
Start Date:September intake only. VCC's academic year runs in three terms: Winter (January to April), Spring/Summer (May to August) and Fall (September to December).
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) apply through EducationPlannerBC. VCC publishes this programme's windows term by term on its When to Apply page: Fall 2027 entry (September start) — open 1 October 2026, close 1 June 2027. Seats go to eligible applicants in the order their applications are completed, so the programme can close before the listed end date once it fills. The onsite and online versions of this certificate share the same window. VCC's page for this programme states it is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and points international students to VCC International, which lists separately the programmes and intakes open to them; there the application periods open on 1 February, 1 June and 1 October of the previous year for the Winter, Spring/Summer and Fall terms, with no fixed closing date — a programme accepts applications until roughly three to four months before classes begin, or until its seats are gone.
