Dental Administrative Assistant Course: Run the Front Desk with Confidence

Orientation to program objectives and learning outcomes, access to The Administrative Dental Assistant electronic textbook, and a look at career outlooks for dental administrative assistants.

Core computer skills: hardware, software, peripherals, wireless technology, internet research, data storage, and networking, plus accurately keyboarding audio to text documents.

Ergonomic workstation setup and technique fundamentals that support fast, accurate, and comfortable keyboarding, including seating and recognizing signs of physical discomfort.

Money management foundations: the value of money, credit and credit history, budgeting, and managing student loans before and after graduation.

Working knowledge of the most commonly used Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access.

Pronounce, define, and spell terminology across dental anatomy and oral structures, tooth formation, infection control, radiography, restorations, cosmetic dentistry, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, and lab procedures.

The dental team and the role each member plays in delivering care, plus the privacy and ethics framework that governs patient information: PIPA, PIPEDA, and the Code of Ethics.

Dental office structure and design for productivity, the different practice models and the administrative assistant's role in each, and the systems and protocols of clinical and nonclinical work areas.

Ergonomic workspace setup using an Office Ergonomic Checklist, plus building efficient work routines that hold up as office conditions, technology, and equipment change.

Records management from creation to disposition: centralized versus decentralized filing, filing systems, electronic filing, and the records cycle.

A cumulative assessment covering everything to this point, with an encouraged benchmark score of 90%.

Structures of the face and oral cavity, tooth surfaces and eruption cycles, tooth identification systems, reading charted dental conditions, and how infectious disease transmission is managed in a dental office.

Infection risks specific to the dental setting and the prevention and control protocols that manage them.

Listening, body language, and nonverbal communication, giving and receiving feedback, the variables that affect clear communication, and the key elements of negotiating.

Communicating with colleagues and patients in the dental practice: choosing the right style, method, and technique for the situations an administrative assistant actually faces.

English grammar and punctuation applied to professional business letters, memos, emails, and meeting minutes, plus the content requirements of basic legal documents.

The HR specialist's work of recruiting, screening, interviewing, and placing workers, plus retention, discipline, health and wellness, and the benefits of a diverse workplace.

Accounting fundamentals: analyzing transactions, debits and credits, journalizing, posting to ledger accounts, adjusting and closing entries, and preparing financial statements through the full accounting cycle.

Create an account and a new company in QuickBooks Online, navigate the software, and work with accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.

Developing and maintaining patient clinical records, electronic and paper-based office records, scheduling and recall systems, financial records, and inventory management in a dental practice.

Hands-on training in Maxident Dental Management Software: entering data, scheduling appointments, applying accounts receivable entries, using the recall system, and interpreting the reports your entries create.

Marketing foundations for a practice: social media creation and posting, buyer personas, landing pages, search engine optimization, business leads, tracking and analytics, presentations, and customer service strategies.

Build a professional resume and cover letter, develop a targeted job search strategy, practice interview questions and techniques, and learn to network toward your career goals.

A simulation of a real dental practice: open the day, greet patients, take phone calls and messages, schedule and reschedule appointments, process treatments and payments, submit insurance e-claims, run reports, and perform end-of-day procedures.

The final assessment, determining the level of program learning outcomes you have achieved.

Salary aggregator estimates put the Canadian national average for a dental administrative assistant at approximately $50,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. Treat this as a rough guide: actual pay varies by province, city, practice size, and experience.

No. You need a high school diploma or mature student status (19+), a typing speed of 30 net words per minute, and proof of English language proficiency. The program teaches the dental knowledge from the ground up.

No. Dental assisting is the clinical, chairside role and requires hands-on lab hours. This program trains the administrative side: reception, scheduling, records, billing, and insurance. It is the right program if you want to work in dentistry without clinical duties.

Yes. The course is approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. You graduate with a diploma.

Maxident is a leader in dental administrative software, handling patient scheduling, treatment records, and billing workflows in practices across Canada. Maxident provided CanScribe with direct access to its platform for student training, so you graduate with documented hands-on experience in software dental employers actually use.

Absolutely. The program is self-paced, so if you already have knowledge in an area, you can attempt the quiz and move ahead. Students can complete the program in as little as four months. If you need longer instead, extensions are available: one month for $150 or three months for $350.

Unlimited, lifetime resume and cover letter assistance: come back 2, 5, 10, or 20 years after graduation and we will help you stand out in the interview process. Graduates also receive private job listings when employers reach out to CanScribe directly, many exclusive to or early access for CanScribe graduates. Learn more about CanScribe Career Services and our employment partners.

Many graduates find work through job sites such as Indeed, through CanScribe's private job listings, and through our partnership with Smile + Co., a dental industry employment platform that gives enrolled students access to job listings and employer connections while still studying. You can also send your resume to CanScribe and we will forward it to potential employers directly.

CanScribe follows the refund schedule legislated for PTIRU-regulated institutions in British Columbia. In short: withdraw within seven days of signing (and before your start date) and tuition is refunded in full, and after that the amount CanScribe may retain rises in steps based on how much of the program has been delivered or evaluated, to a maximum of 50%. Fees for course materials you never received are refunded, and refunds are paid within 30 days. The complete nine-section policy, including distance education and study permit provisions, is published in the CanScribe Policies.

Visit the Admissions FAQ, or call an admissions advisor at 250-448-4670.