Dental Assistant Program

Dental Assistant Level II Curriculum Guide

The Dental Assistant II Program from Discovery Community College provides the specialized hands-on training, practical experience, and necessary clinical skills it takes to become a professional Dental Assistant. As a ready-to-work graduate, you will be eligible to complete the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) written exam.

Location:

• Surrey

Program length: 55 weeks, 1150 hours.

Program length: 41 weeks, 1150 hours

Program length: 68 weeks, 1150 hours

Class Delivery:  On campus learning.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet these requirements prior to acceptance into the program:

• Grade 12 graduation from BC secondary school or equivalent*, or equivalent* from another school system, or be a mature applicant (19 years of age as of program start date)
• English 12 with a minimum grade of 65% OR English First Peoples 12 with a minimum grade of 65% or equivalent assessment

If an English assessment is required, then it would be completion of one of the following:

Accuplacer

• Next generation reading minimum score of 250.
• Next generation writing minimum score of 250.
• Writeplacer minimum score of 5.

Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLB PT) within the last year

• Minimum score of 7 in each of listening, speaking, reading, writing.

Language Proficiency Index (LPI) required levels

• Essay level 4 (24-29/40 = adequate proficiency).
• Additional sections (sentence structure, English usage, reading comprehension) must score and average of 50% (20/40).

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Academic or General test within the last two years
• Overall band score level of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.0 in each of speaking, listening, reading, writing.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Overall score of 79-93 and minimum scores of reading 13-18, listening 12-19, speaking 18-19, writing 21-23.

Anatomy & Physiology (previously biology) 12 with a minimum grade of 60% or equivalent

assessment

If an anatomy and physiology assessment is required, then it would be completion of

the following:

• UWorld biology exam minimum score of 60%
• Complete an interview with Dental Program Manager and successfully complete an interview package.

*Equivalent:

For detailed information about equivalencies please speak with your DCC Admissions Advisor. Entrance requirements may be met with evidence of secondary and post-secondary studies at an equivalent level, and/or with successful assessment testing.

DCC also requires applicants to:

• Submit completed DCC application forms.
• Complete an entrance interview with a DCC official.
• Sign and date consent for a criminal record check under the Criminal Records Review Program (refer to notes under “Criminal Records Checks” below)

METHODS of EVALUATION

Student progress and success will be assessed regularly throughout the program. This will be accomplished using a variety of evaluation tools. Assessment items used are fully described in course outlines.

Final transcripts will record all marks for courses within the program.

The passing grade for courses is 70% except for those courses graded with a Pass/Fail. Each course within the program must be passed to graduate. Students will be required to pass all assignments, exams, and clinical practice experiences at each level of the program before moving on to the next level.

A perfect attendance certificate will be awarded to each student maintaining 100% attendance.

PRACTICE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Practicums may occur anywhere in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Whenever possible, students will be placed close to their home location. Students must supply their own transportation.

The following requirements are not within the control of Discovery Community College. They may change at any time, including between enrollment in the program and participation in any of the practice experiences that each student must complete.

Participants in the program must comply with these requirements as described at the time their practice experience is scheduled:

Canadian Red Cross Basic Life Support certificate (BLS)

• This must be completed prior to the first practicum and preferably before clinic sessions begin. The BLS must be valid until the end of the program. The BLS is offered within the program schedule.
• Submit signed consent for a criminal record check under the terms of the Criminal Records Review Act and the Ministry of Justice process for educational institutions (refer to notes under

“Criminal Record Check Guidelines” below).

• Immunization as described below.

Immunizations Recommended or Required

Applicants must submit an immunization record indicating their current immunizations prior to the start

of the first practicum. Students should be currently immunized against:

• Hepatitis B
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
• Polio
• Tuberculosis – negative skin test; if skin test is positive then a negative chest x-ray is required
• Coronavirus (Covid-19)
• Influenza (this vaccine is only available in certain months of the year; Health Canada recommends health workers get the influenza vaccine when it is available.

Immunization requirements are not within the control of Discovery Community College and may change at any time. As of February 2022, the BC Provincial Health Officer issued a public health order requiring all regulated health professionals to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) expects that every registrant will comply with all applicable PHO orders, directives, and recommendations (information is available at the BCCOHP website). Students who do not comply may not be accepted into a practicum placement. Students who cannot complete the practicum experiences cannot graduate from this program and will be withdrawn.

Criminal Record Checks

Discovery Community College will submit each applicant’s criminal record check (CRC) on-line to the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP). The status of the CRC does not automatically prevent an applicant from attending this program. However, any CRC that reveals “relevant” offences may make it difficult or impossible to place the student in a practicum or to participate in community projects. Students who cannot be placed in a practicum or participate in community projects cannot graduate from this program and will be withdrawn.

A criminal record check is a requirement for certification with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP). The BCCOHP may not certify a dental assisting graduate who has a relevant criminal record. We recommend that applicants who are concerned about their criminal record complete their CRC through the CRRP before they begin the Dental Assistant Program.

Domestic Fees

Dental Assistant Level II Domestic Fees

Application Fee: $100.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $22,716.6
Textbooks & Supplies: $1,120.55
Total: $24,068.08

International Fees

Dental Assistant Level II International Fees

Application Fee: $150.00
Criminal Record Check Fee: $28.00
Tuition Fee: $28,574.58
Textbooks & Supplies: $1,120.55
Total: $29,976.06