I am a Level II assistant who graduated from CDI College in 2002. I have written the NDAEB examination. I am re-locating to Alberta in 2009 and I am wondering what I need to do to get a license in Alberta. I have heard that they are regulated there.

Alberta is a regulated province and requires the NDAEB exam as the entry to practice requirement. For those graduates of a non-accredited dental assisting program, they also require you to do a CPE or Clinical Practical Evaluation on nine intra-oral duties. This clinical exam is conducted by the NDAEB and is required for those graduating from a non-accredited program. What they mean by accredited is that the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) has accredited the program. CDI is not regarded as an accredited program and so you will have to do this Clinical Practical Evaluation to get a license. It costs $750. For more information on this go to the NDAEB website at www.ndaeb.ca

Unfortunately, CDAC accredited schools for Ontario dental assisting educational programs is a relatively new thing and most of our Level II members would have to do this CPE if they were to move to another province. Recent graduates of community colleges may be exempt as many community colleges are now accredited by CDAC.

The ODAA has strongly encouraged all our educational programs to become CDAC accredited so we can be assured that all our programs are recognized at a national level.