Leave of Absence is a non-practicing status available to Dental Assistants when taking a temporary leave from practice. Our College’s Council decided to discontinue the status effective November 30, 2025, as it offers no clear contribution to public safety.
As of May 26, 2024, we stopped accepting any new applications for Leave of Absence status. However, Dental Assistants wanting to take a leave from practice will continue to have options. They can maintain their practice rights if they meet the requirements, or they may cancel their registration and reapply before returning to practice.
For registrants who already hold Leave of Absence status, we will phase the status out over the next year and a half. This fall, current Leave of Absence registrants who are eligible may renew the status for one more year, until November 30, 2025. They may also reinstate their Practice Permit if they will be returning to practice. Or they may cancel their registration with the ability to apply for registration again in the future.
Q&A Session – Leave of Absence Changes
We’re hosting a Question & Answer session on July 29th at 6:30 PM to answer your questions about the changes to Leave of Absence. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Regulating dental assistants’ practice in the public interest is our key role. As we strive for excellence in regulation, we continue to review our programs and activities to ensure they align with our role.