Admissions Information
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Application Process
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. This program does not accept international applicants on student visas.
All applicants are in open competition for the available seats. Seats are not filled in the order applications are received.
Applications must be submitted with a paid non-refundable application fee through the University of Alberta online application portal. All previous and current high school and post-secondary academic records must be declared and provided.
Application fee:
- CAD$75 for University of Alberta students
- CAD$125 for non-University of Alberta applicants
The Dental Assisting program has two intakes:
Fall (August) Admission |
Winter (April) Admission |
Application open: January 1Application close: May 1 |
Application open: July 1Application close: November 1 |
Late applications will not be accepted.
Indigenous applicants interested in this program are encouraged to contact the Indigenous Health Initiative Program at ihi@ualberta.ca or 780-492-2209 for further information and assistance with the admissions process.
Applicant Type
Admission requirements and document deadlines are different based on applicant type.
High School Applicants
High school applicants are currently attending or have completed high school. Most high school applicants have never taken a post-secondary level course. Those who have completed the equivalent of 6 units (2-half year courses) or less will be considered high school.
For more information, please see High School Applicants.
Post-secondary Applicants
Post-secondary applicants are students who have completed high school and have taken some post-secondary coursework (more than 6 units). This category also includes applicants that have completed their degree.
For more information, please see Post-secondary Applicants.
Interview
A personal interview is required of all competitive applicants annually. Applicants who fail to submit the required documents by appropriate deadlines cannot be evaluated for interview selection.
Interview selection is based on the admissions average.
Competitive applicants will be interviewed to determine if they have the personal qualities necessary for the profession. The interview evaluates an applicant's maturity, motivation, initiative, ability to communicate, personal qualities and interests.
Interview Dates
Short-listed applicants will receive their interview invitation via email.
| Fall Intake | Date TBA (June) |
| Winter Intake | Saturday, January 11, 2025 |
Interview Format
The interview format is the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). In this format, the interviewee will be exposed without interruption to a series of stations, each of which will take 6 minutes to complete.
At each station, the interviewee will be provided with a question/scenario, and given 1 minute to read the question and formulate a response. After 1 minute, the interviewee will discuss the response with an interviewer for the remaining 5 minutes before moving quickly to the next station.
Admission Selection
Admission to the Dental Assisting Certificate program is competitive. Presentation of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Enrollment is limited to 26 students per intake.
Selection factors will include, but are not limited to:
- Admission Average
- Interview Score
Indigenous Applicants
The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is committed to the recruitment, retention and graduation of Indigenous students. All qualified Indigenous applicants who are successful in the Indigenous admissions process will be recommended by the Indigenous Admissions Subcommittee for admission. Applicants interested in this program are encouraged to contact the Indigenous Health Initiative Program at ihi@ualberta.ca or 780-492-2209 for further information and assistance with the admissions process.
Program Cost
The approximate costs for future students in the Dental Assisting Certificate program are as follows:
| Tuition | $18,614 |
| Equipment and Instrumentation Rental | $2,800 |
| Books | $400 |
| Total (not including non-instructional fees) | $21,814 |
Note: All costs noted above are estimates only, and are subject to change and can be affected by economic conditions such as exchange rates. Students pay the fees in effect at the time of registration.
Acceptance of Admission
An admission decision is valid only for the term for which the applicant applied. Admission offers can not be deferred.
Licensure & Advanced Practice
The possession of a dental assisting certificate does not automatically confer the right to practice dental assisting in any province of Canada. Each province has a licensing authority. A dental assistant desiring to practice dental assisting in Canada should contact the appropriate provincial licensing body.
The registrar of a provincial licensing body may refuse to issue a registration certificate to practice dental assisting to any applicant possessing a criminal record. If you have concerns in this area, please contact the appropriate licensing body.
To practice in Alberta, a dental assistant must be registered with the College of Alberta Dental Assistants. Graduates of this program will need to successfully complete both the NDAEB written examination and clinical practice evaluation to register with the College of Alberta Dental Assistants.
Expand your Career and Knowledge
The Mike Petryk School of Dentistry Continuing Dental Education offers a variety of courses and certificates for Registered Dental Assistant to expand their area of practice within the dental clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I can't find the Dental Assisting application!
- Applications for the two intakes are only available from the dates listed under Application Process. When applications are open, start an Undergraduate program application, not a Professional Program application. Under Term & Program First Choice, select the following:
- Intended Status - Diploma/Certificate Student
- North Campus (Edmonton)
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
- Dental Assisting Certificate
- If you are still having issues, please contact the Student Service Centre.
- Have all seats been filled?
- Admission is not determined until after applications are closed for the current intake. Seats are not filled in the order applications are received. All applicants are in open competition for the available seats.
- Is the Dental Assisting Certificate program offered online or in Calgary?
- The Dental Assisting Certificate program is only offered in-person at the main campus in Edmonton, Alberta.
- Is this program offered part-time or in the evenings?
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No, the Dental Assisting program is a full-time 10-month continuous program consisting of approximately 35 hours of instruction per week. The course schedule will vary each week. Classes may be scheduled between the hours of 8 AM and 8 PM from Monday to Friday (students will not be in classes for the full 12-hour day).
- Does the Dental Assisting Certificate program have a waiting list that carries over from year to year?
- No, the Dental Assisting Certificate program does not have a waiting list for admission. All applicants must reapply if they do not receive admission and are in open competition for any given year.
- Can I enter the Dental Assisting Certificate program directly from high school?
- Yes, the Dental Assisting Certificate program is a direct entry from high school program. High School applicants must be finished high school before the start of the program. For example, applicants that will be graduating high school in June can apply for the Fall (August) intake, but not the Winter (April) intake.
- Does the Dental Assisting Certificate program take international applicants?
- No, applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. This program does not accept international applicants on student visas.
- Will the Dental Assisting Certificate meet the admission requirements for Dental Hygiene?
- No, the Dental Assisting Certificate program does not meet any of the admission requirements for dental hygiene.