All dental assistants are required to complete patient relations learning as part of their ongoing practice requirements. This learning supports respectful, professional, and people-centred interactions and helps you meet the College’s expectations for safe and ethical practice.
Completing the patient relations learning
You must complete the patient relations learning assigned to you based on your registration and renewal history. The requirement may be a full learning module or a refresher.
If this is your first year as a dental assistant with the College
- Before your first permit renewal, you are required to complete the full Patient Relations Learning Module. This module introduces key expectations related to professional boundaries, communication, and respectful patient interactions. Completing the module may take up to 10 hours.
If you have renewed before
- If you have previously renewed your permit, you are required to complete a Patient Relations Refresher every year. The refresher reinforces key concepts and helps ensure ongoing awareness of patient relations expectations. Completing the refresher takes about 15 minutes.
Where to complete your learning
Patient relations learning is completed through the College’s Professional Practice Learning Centre. All dental assistants have access to the Learning Centre. There is no fee for this learning.
Sign in to the Professional Practice Learning Centre to complete your learning
When to complete your learning
Patient relations learning must be completed every year. You are responsible for completing the learning before you apply to renew your permit.
Why this learning is required
The Health Professions Act requires all colleges to have a patient relations program. Our patient relations learning helps protect patients and supports professional practice by strengthening skills related to communication, respect, boundaries, and accountability. It is a key part of our mandate to ensure safe, ethical, and competent dental assisting practice in Alberta.
