This Chairside Dental Assistant Program is a blended package that will provide you with both the clerical and dental-assisting skills that are highly valuable and sought after in a dental clinic environment. You will be trained to prepare patients for dental check-ups, assist the dentists in different procedures, and also do clerical duties like scheduling appointments and managing records.
Dental assistants work in dental clinics, hospitals, community health services, etc. As an integral part of the dental practice, you will have the skills to assist dentists directly with patient care.
Completion of the Dental Assistant program offered by Edison College Canada does not qualify graduates to apply for certification with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) as a Certified Dental Assistant in BC or registration with other provincial dental assisting regulatory authorities. For more information about the process, visit the BCCOHP website.
Dental assistant programs are designed to prepare students to follow professional guidelines so that the patients get safe and infection-free treatment. The courses in this diploma are also carefully designed while keeping in mind the highest standards of ethics and professionalism to meet the industry standards.
Upon successful completion of this Dental Chairside Assistant Course, graduates will be able to:
• Apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be a safe, competent, and confident member of the dental health care team.
• Apply dental infection control and record management protocols consistent with published professional guidelines.
• Maintain a high level of professional behaviour, personal integrity, and ethics in the practice of dentistry and in dealing with patients under their care.
• Maintain patient and personal safety in the practice environment.
• Incorporate interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills in critical thinking, interpretation, reasoning, questioning, and decision-making.
Graduates of the chairside dental assistant diploma are prepared for hands-on patient care and clinical support roles across the full spectrum of dental practice environments in Canada. Career opportunities include:
The expected annual salary range of a Chairside Dental Assistant is from $41,600 to $71,760 in Canada. Chairside Dental Assistants earn hourly wages of $20 to $34.50 per hour, according to the Canadian Job Bank.
Employers in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan pay higher salaries compared to other provinces and territories. Your salary will mainly depend on your work experience, province, and the size of the company you work for.
The dental sector is one of the most active and consistently staffed areas of healthcare employment in Canada—and demand for trained dental assistants is growing across every type of practice, from private clinics and orthodontist offices to community health centers and hospital dental departments.
In B.C., WorkBC has designated dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants as high opportunity occupations—a provincial designation reserved for fields with strong, sustained demand over the coming decade.
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants (NOC 33100) in British Columbia (B.C.) can expect approximately 3,130 job openings between 2025 and 2035, with average annual earnings of $54,282, according to WorkBC.
An important note about this program: Chairside dental assistants in B.C. are not regulated and do not need to be certified to work WorkBC—meaning graduates of this 16-week diploma can enter the workforce directly as trained chairside assistants. Completion of this program does not qualify graduates to apply for certification as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP); for information on the CDA certification pathway, please visit the BCCOHP website.
"Graduating from this program as a Mental Health and Addiction Community Support Worker has been a truly impactful experience. The education I received provided me with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges in a meaningful and compassionate way.
The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable, and brought real-world experience into the classroom, which made the learning feel relevant and applicable. I especially valued the focus on trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, and building genuine connections with clients.
This program helped me grow not only professionally but personally. I left feeling confident, prepared, and motivated to make a difference in my community. I’m grateful for the foundation it gave me and would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in mental health and addiction support
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"I had a great experience completing my Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant program at Edison College. The course was practical, easy to follow, and really helped me feel prepared to work in the field. I would definitely recommend it to others."
"My experience at Edison College Canada has been very rewarding. The Community Support Worker program, especially the Mental Health and Addiction specialization, has helped me build confidence and real-world skills to support vulnerable individuals in my community. I feel more prepared for my future career."
"Edison College made it incredibly easy to apply! Chandra walked me through all the steps and was very friendly. The Therapeutic Recreation Assistant program offered a lot of information and prepared me for my practicum and a future I can look forward to and get excited about!"
"I am enjoying the new instructor he's fantastic but the lectures and slides are far to long for me he does his best but I feel this could be improved but the courses are amazing I have learned something new everyday"
"Our new instructor is phenomenal. Complete 360 of the last. I am so pleased. His personality brings smiles throughout the day and the delivery of information is insightful and informative. I find myself looking forward to going to class again. The only thing that I find a bit hard to get used to is being in class right until 1030. As both past instructors would allow us to take the last 2 hours or so to complete projects and watch the films off line. As it is a bit intrusive when watching a film or documentary while still signed in with people speaking up throughout to ask questions. Other than that. I am very happy with this transition."
"Yes. I would be happy to. So far the instructors were very clear and excellent. The lectures were easy, professional and the program is amazing."
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