December 9, 2025 | British Columbia

If you are interested in healthcare, enjoy hands-on work, and want to support patients directly, dental assisting can offer a relatively direct path into British Columbia's oral healthcare field. 

In BC, it is important to understand the difference between a Chairside Dental Assistant and a Licensed Dental Assistant (LDA). As of April 1, 2026, Licensed Dental Assistant is the official licence category used by the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP). The previous designation was Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). 

Here is what you need to know about becoming a dental assistant in BC. 

Types of Dental Assistants in British Columbia 

BCCOHP distinguishes between dental assistants, often referred to as chairside dental assistants in its public communications, and Licensed Dental Assistants (LDAs). The services they may provide depend on their qualifications and applicable delegation and supervision requirements. 

Before April 1, 2026, Licensed Dental Assistants were commonly known in British Columbia as Certified Dental Assistants (CDAs). With BC's transition to the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), the designation changed to Licensed Dental Assistant. 

BCCOHP states that the terminology change did not change the roles of Licensed Dental Assistants or chairside dental assistants, or the applicable delegation and supervision requirements. 

You may therefore still see terms such as Certified Dental Assistant, CDA, or dental assistant certification in older resources, job searches, and online discussions. For someone entering the profession today, however, Licensed Dental Assistant (LDA) is the current regulatory terminology in BC. 

How to Become a Licensed Dental Assistant in BC 

If your goal is to become a Licensed Dental Assistant in British Columbia, the pathway generally involves education, the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB), and BCCOHP licensure. 

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Dental Assisting Program 

One pathway to LDA licensure is completing a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). 

Accredited programs combine theoretical learning with laboratory and clinical practice. Students can study areas such as: 

• Dental anatomy and terminology 
• Infection prevention and control 
• Dental radiography 
• Chairside dental assisting 
• Dental materials 
• Intra-oral assisting 
• Patient care and communication 
• Dental office procedures 

Accreditation also matters when you reach the licensing stage. According to BCCOHP's current LDA licensing requirements, graduates of an accredited dental assisting program in BC who successfully complete the NDAEB written exam are eligible to apply for licensure. 

Requirements differ for graduates of non-accredited programs, so students should check both program accreditation and BCCOHP requirements before beginning training. 

For students considering CDI College, its Dental Assisting diploma programs in Burnaby and Surrey are CDAC-accredited. The 55-week program combines classroom, laboratory, clinical, and practical workplace training, including private practice experience. 

Step 2: Meet NDAEB Requirements 

After completing an accredited dental assisting program, graduates can pursue the NDAEB Certificate. 

The National Dental Assisting Examining Board provides a national examination process used as part of licensing or certification requirements across participating Canadian jurisdictions. 

For graduates of an accredited BC dental assisting program, successful completion of the NDAEB written exam is part of the current pathway to BCCOHP LDA licensure. 

It is useful to distinguish the two credentials: 

• NDAEB Certificate: A national dental assisting credential. 
• BCCOHP LDA licence: The provincial professional licence required to provide the services of a Licensed Dental Assistant in British Columbia. 

Passing the NDAEB examination does not, by itself, mean that you are licensed to practise as an LDA in BC. 

Graduates of CDI College's CDAC-accredited BC Dental Assisting program are eligible to write the NDAEB examination, connecting the program's training to this next step in the LDA pathway.  

Our Surrey and Burnaby campuses both achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Dental Assisting Board Examination (NDAEB) in June 2025. Surrey campus repeated this feat in September 2025, marking four years and 16 exams with 100% pass rates, maintaining three percentage points above the national average. (NDAEB Exam Reports, September 2021 - September 2025.) 

Step 3: Apply for an LDA License With BCCOHP 

After meeting the applicable education and NDAEB requirements, you can apply for an initial Licensed Dental Assistant license through BCCOHP. 

The application process includes information and documentation related to your dental education, NDAEB completion, identification, applicable fees, and a criminal record check. BCCOHP advises applicants that they cannot practise as an LDA until they receive confirmation that their licence is active. 

For applicants trained outside British Columbia or Canada, the pathway can differ. BCCOHP may require a licence assessment before an applicant proceeds with the LDA application. 

Completing a dental assisting program, including CDI College's accredited program, does not itself grant an LDA licence. Graduates must separately meet the applicable NDAEB and BCCOHP requirements before becoming licensed. 

Because licensing requirements can change, always check BCCOHP directly for the most current requirements. 

Step 4: Renew Your License and Meet Quality Assurance Requirements 

Licensure continues after you enter the profession. 

Licensed Dental Assistants must renew their BCCOHP license and meet applicable professional requirements. BCCOHP introduced a modernized Quality Assurance Program (QAP) on April 13, 2026, replacing its previous profession-specific QA programs. 

The previous QA system, including its former continuing education and continuous practice requirements, ended on December 31, 2025. LDAs should therefore refer to BCCOHP's current QAP and annual renewal information rather than older CDA continuing education requirements. 

Start Your Dental Assisting Training in BC 

Becoming a licensed dental assistant in BC involves understanding the role you want to pursue and the training and licensing requirements that apply to it. 

For students pursuing the Licensed Dental Assistant pathway, the main steps include completing appropriate education, meeting NDAEB requirements, applying for BCCOHP licensure, and maintaining professional requirements once licensed. 

CDI College's Dental Assisting Diploma Program in Burnaby and Surrey combines dental theory, hands-on clinical training, and practical workplace experience to help students build relevant skills before pursuing the next steps toward LDA licensure. 

Request more information for details, availability, admission requirements, and financial options.