Each year, dental assistants are required to meet the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) requirements to maintain their practice permit. The CCP supports ongoing learning and reflective practice, helping ensure dental assistants maintain current knowledge, skills, judgment, and professional competence throughout their careers.
Meeting your CCP requirements
To meet CCP requirements, you’ll complete a set of annual activities that support learning, current practice, and professional accountability.
Using the CCP checklist will help you keep track of meeting the CCP requirements.
Complete your learning goals
Complete a minimum of two learning goals for the current registration year in the portal. Plan years are the same as the registration year and run from December 1 to November 30 of the following year.
Demonstrate current practice
Upload verification in the portal showing at least 300 practice hours completed within the past three years, or documentation demonstrating substantial equivalence requirements.
Plan for the next registration year
Before you renew your practice permit, complete a self-assessment in the portal and create a minimum of two learning goals for the upcoming registration year.
Participate in an audit
If you’re selected for a CCP audit, you’ll be notified and provided with instructions on next steps. Learn more about the CCP audit.
The Continuing Competence Process
You complete a learning goal by following the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) process of Assess, Achieve, and Analyze. A learning goal is successful when you can identify a change in your practice, knowledge, or skills. Learning goals are documented in the portal. Here is how:
Complete the mandatory self-assessment in the portal. The reflective questions are connected to the Standards of Practice and are designed to help you think about your practice and identify learning needs.
Self-assessment should also happen throughout your day-to-day practice. Learning needs may come from patient interactions, challenges, feedback, changes in practice, areas where you feel less confident, or skills you do not perform often.
Create a minimum of two learning goals in the portal based on your self-assessment responses and other areas important to your current or future practice.
Complete learning activities to achieve your learning goals. Choose what fits how you learn best:
- self-study (online modules or textbooks)
- webinars
- conferences
- formal education/courses
- mentoring
Deadline: Complete your learning by November 30 of the current registration year. The registration year runs from December 1st to November 30th of the following year.
Proof of completion: Provide clear proof so the College can verify your learning activities. You can upload a signed Verification of Learning Form or other acceptable documentation
You will answer a minimum of two reflective questions in the portal about your learning and professional growth.
Your responses may include reflection on:
- how the learning impacted or improved your practice
- how you applied the learning in a real practice situation
- what you do differently now because of the learning
- key knowledge, skills, or insights you gained
Your responses should demonstrate reflection, application, and professional growth.
Example: Completing a learning goal using the CCP process
This example outlines how the CCP Assess–Achieve–Analyze process works. When you complete your learning goal, you must enter the information in the required fields in the portal. The portal wording and layout may look different from this example.
Learning goal (Assess)
Improve my radiographic techniques to reduce the need for retakes and minimize patient radiation exposure.
Learning activity (Achieve)
Completed a radiography-focused learning activity reviewing proper positioning techniques and quality assurance practices.
Successful learning objective (Analyze)
Applied improved radiographic positioning and quality assurance techniques in daily practice, resulting in fewer retakes and reduced patient radiation exposure.
Demonstrating current practice
To demonstrate current practice, you must have at least 300 practice hours completed within the three years before you apply to renew your practice permit.
For example, if you apply for renewal on November 15, 2026, you must have proof of 300 practice hours that fall between November 15, 2023, and November 15, 2026.
Practice hours must be obtained through professional services in the dental field that require or benefit from a dental assisting background. Both employment and volunteer hours may be eligible.
You can use the Practice Hours Verification form, signed by your supervisor/employer, as verification of hours. We also accept T4s, paystubs, ROEs or a signed letter from your supervisor. Please ensure your SIN number is blacked out.
We recommend uploading proof of your practice hours each year.
Substantial equivalence
If you don’t have 300 practice hours, you may meet the requirement through substantial equivalence.
You may have substantial equivalence if you:
- successfully completed an approved clinical refresher course within the last three years
- successfully completed the National Dental Assisting Examining Board Clinical Practice Evaluation within the last three years
- graduated from a dental assisting program within the last three years
- hold current practice rights as a dental assistant in a Canadian province where dental assisting is regulated.
Proof of substantial equivalence may include a school transcript, certificate of completion, or a written statement explaining how you meet the requirements.
Access the Portal
Access your profile, view and print your practice permit, update your information and submit requests to the College.
Review CCP resources
Find resources, forms and videos to help you meet CCP requirements.
