Advanced Practice Authorization

Advanced practices are services that are not considered national entry-level. They often require additional education before you can be authorized to provide the services to patients.

There are four advanced practices in Alberta:

• orthodontic
• preventive
• probing
• prosthodontic

You must hold a valid practice permit and be authorized by us before providing advanced practice dental assisting services. If we have not authorized you for a specific practice, you must apply to us for authorization.

Before you apply

We have two pathways to advanced practice authorization:

• approved program or course
• substantial equivalence

If you completed an approved program or course, or if you can demonstrate substantial equivalence, you can apply for authorization to practice an advanced practice.

Review this list of approved programs and courses

Substantial equivalence

You can demonstrate substantial equivalence by:

• having completed formal education for an Advanced Practice delivered through an educational institution with a CDAC-accredited* program, or
• having current dental assisting practice rights for an Advanced Practice that:
  • are for a Canadian province where dental assisting is regulated, and
  • are in good standing and not limited in any way

*Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada

How to apply

When you’ve completed approved education or can meet substantial equivalence for an advanced practice, use our Advanced Practice Authorization Request. You’ll find it in the portal at Forms and Requests.

Have copies of documents ready to upload to verify that you meet the education or substantial equivalence requirements. The fee to apply to transfer is $25.00 plus GST.

After you apply

It may take up to 10 business days to review your request. We’ll email you to let you know the result. If we approve your request and authorize you for an advanced practice, it will show as an authorization on your practice permit. It will also show on the dental assistant registry.

Sign in to the portal and download your practice permit or check our dental assistant registry.