The Dental Assisting Program places students on practicum in dental offices and agencies providing dental services. To protect the people served by these agencies, upon acceptance to the Dental Assisting program students are required to complete a criminal record search. The CRS must be received by the Registrar's Office prior to the first day of class. Conviction for relevant offenses may preclude entry to the program. Consent forms and the policy on criminal record search detailing the guidelines that are used to screen records are available from the Registrar's Office.
Students are responsible for any costs incurred in the criminal record search.
The criminal record search is valid for one year. The College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia may not register or license any individual who has been convicted of an indictable offense. Applicants who have had any criminal convictions should seek advice from the College Registrar or from the Deputy Registrar for Certified Dental Assistants at the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, before making application for formal admission to the program. All applicants should attend the Dental Assisting Program Information Session, which is held in the spring of each year. Some have found employment in university and hospital clinics, public health, teaching and other related positions.