Certified Dental Assistant certificate
The 10-month (September–June) Certified Dental Assistant certificate program is
designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge,
skills, and values necessary for employment as a certified dental assistant.
This program combines lectures and clinical practice in preparation for a career
in private practice, dental clinics, and other public health facilities.
Students gain extensive clinical experience throughout the program. In addition
to working at the UCFV Dental Clinic, the curriculum includes two practica,
which provide full-time experience in a dental office. This program is
accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, hence the graduates are
eligible for registration with the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C.
Individuals demonstrating a sincere
interest in people with the ability to work well with others are most likely to
be successful.
Entrance requirements
1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, and a C+ average over
the following four courses: English 12 or ENGL 099 or ENGL 091, Biology 11 (or
UCFV BIO 083), Biology 12 (or UCFV BIO 093), and Chemistry 11 (or UCFV CHEM
083).
2. A work reference and a personal reference from non-relatives.
3. A satisfactory interview with the program faculty, who will assess
your:
• knowledge
of and motivation towards a career as a dental assistant
• financial
preparation
•
communication skills
•
experience with patients in the health-care field as volunteer and/or employee.
4. Signed medical certificate indicating physical fitness and emotional
stability.
(Form will be provided at
interview.)
5. Completion of an immunization program is required prior to acceptance
into the program. The Hepatitis B immunization will be required after entry into
the program. (Form will be provided at interview.)
6. Dental Oral Health certificate (Form to be signed by the dentist will
be provided at interview.)
7. Two full days spent in a dental office observing office routine and
dental procedures. (Form to be signed by the dentist will be provided at the
interview.)
8. Must be able to pass a security clearance check. A criminal records
check form will be provided at the interview.
How to apply
1. You may apply to the program prior to the completion of all entrance
requirements. The following documents, however, must be submitted to the
Admissions and Records office, along with the application fee, in order to
process your application:
• UCFV
application form
• Dental
Assisting program application
• Proof of
B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent (except students currently in
high school, who
may apply once registered in Grade 12)
Once these documents have been
received by the Admissions & Records office an application date will be recorded
and your application will be forwarded to the Certified Dental Assistant
program.
2. Submit all remaining documents to the Health Sciences Centre,
Chilliwack Campus.
Applicants will be considered for
the program based on:
• Complete
applicant status
• Date of
application.
Documents required in order to
achieve “complete applicant” status for Certified Dental Assistant applicants:
• Dental
Assisting application form
• Proof of
B.C. secondary school graduation (or equivalent)
• Official
transcript(s) showing completion of academic requirements as per entrance
requirements.
• Work
reference letter
• Personal
reference letter.
Note: Additional health forms required for acceptance into the CDA
program will be provided at the interview.
Applicants whose prerequisites are completed by March 1 of each year will have
first priority for the seats available. Those with incomplete prerequisites
decrease their chances of being accepted into the program.
Note: If you are currently enrolled in Grade 12, Spring interim and/or final
grades for all prerequisite courses, and a letter from your school counsellor
indicating you are expected to graduate, must be submitted by April 10. An
official transcript, showing that all academic requirements have been met, will
be required by the end of the first week of August.
3. Upon receipt of all required documents, you will be required to attend
an evening information session. At this time you will be provided with an
overview of the program as well as additional forms (medical, dental,
immunization, etc.) that you will need to complete prior to your acceptance into
the program.
4. An interview with a program faculty is also required. Bring any
completed documentation to the interview.
5. When all documentation is complete, and as soon as possible after your
interview, you will be notified in writing as to whether or not you have been
accepted.
6. Upon acceptance into the program you will be provided with
registration information. A deposit is required by a specified date in order to
reserve a seat in the program. This money will be applied to the tuition fees
and is not refundable.
If you do not register for courses and pay course deposits, your place will be
given to the next person on the program waiting list and you must reapply to the
program.
Fees and additional costs
Fees stated are in effect for 2004/05 and are subject to change for 2005/06.
The fees are approximately $4,835. This includes tuition and ancillary fees. See
the Fees and Other Costs
section for more information. Students should be prepared to meet the other
additional costs of approximately $2,000. This includes the purchase of
uniforms, lab coats, shoes, textbooks, workbooks, and lab fee supplies. Students
should also be prepared for the additional cost of $50 to complete the Basic
Rescuer — CPR (Level C) course.
Requirement — Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Upon completion of the UCFV Certified Dental Assistant certificate program,
and prior to practising as a certified dental assistant, you will need to
register with and be licensed by the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. The fees
as of 2003 were:
• registration $225
• annual licence $210
Note: Registration and licensing fees are subject to annual increases.
Dress
Uniforms, duty shoes, name tags, lab coats, gloves, masks, and safety glasses
are required during daily clinic sessions. Neatness and good grooming are
essential at all times.
Location
All courses are taught at the Health Sciences centre at the Chilliwack campus.
Workload and classroom expectations
Format includes self-directed, independent study, group work, and lecture
presentation of material. Demonstrations are given before practical sessions.
Classes are held Monday to Friday, and there are approximately two hours of
homework every evening.
Program outline
Course | Title | Credits |
DENT 130 | Dental Professionalism | 1.5 |
DENT 131 | Basic Dental Assisting | 1.5 |
DENT 132 | Patient Assessment | 2.5 |
DENT 133 | Dental Office Emergency | 1 |
DENT 134 | Preventive Dentistry | 2 |
DENT 13 | Dental Radiography | 2.5 |
DENT 136 | Dental Restorative | 2.5 |
DENT 137 | Lab Procedures | 1.5 |
DENT 138 | Dental Practicum I | 3 |
DENT 139 | Dental Exam I | pass/fail |
DENT 140 | Dental Specialties | 3.5 |
DENT 141 | Community Dental Health | 1.5 |
DENT 142 | Dental Reception | 1.5 |
DENT 143 | Patient Care Procedures | 1.5 |
DENT 144 | Applied Dental Sciences | 1.5 |
DENT 145 | Dental Chart and Annotation | 1 |
DENT 148 | Dental Practicum II | 3 |
DENT 149 | Dental Exam II | pass/fail |
DENT 152 | Clinical Dental Assist | 5 |
DENT 162 | Clinical Patient Care | 3.5 |
Total | 40.0 |
Note: In addition to the above courses, students must have completed a
valid Basic Rescuer — CPR (Level C) course.
Faculty
Wanda Gordon, Director, Health Services, RN, BSN, MA (UBC),
Rosie Friesen, CDA, ID (VCC), MA, Coordinator
Marie Haima, CDA, ID (VCC)
Debbie Horin, CDA, Clinic Coordinator, ID (VCC)
Dr. M. Huang, DDS
Dr. J. Innis, DDS
Deb Ward, CDA, ID (VCC)
Shauna Warner, RDH
Liz Wilkes, CDA, BSc, ID (VCC)
Support staff
Janice Corbeil, Program Assistant
Sherry Neetz, Department Assistant
Christine Sawatzky, Department Assistant
Advisory committee
Dr. Mark Huang, Chair, Chilliwack (dentist)
Marianne Bonner, CDA
Kelly Huard, CDA
Melanie Lepine-Kennedy, CDA
Dr. Edmund Liem, Sardis (dentist)
Marlene Robinson, Vancouver, CDABC
Dr. John Webb, Abbotsford dentist
Current UCFV Dental Assisting students
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