Dental AssistingSAIT
Dental Assisting is a one-year certificate with three semesters and a dental-office practicum. Some preparation is due before the first day of class, so the application and tuition payments are only part of the plan.
Plan the study budget ↓
Prepare for the clinic before classes begin
SAIT requires the pre-practicum requirements and dental health examinations to be completed by the first day of class. Follow the college's document instructions early enough to meet that deadline, including the specific Hepatitis B guidance for accepted Dental students who have not yet been vaccinated.
Plan the published study costs
International estimates for entry in 2026/27. Your letter of admission may show a higher maximum tuition guarantee.
Tuition and listed additional fees
| Period | Semesters | Tuition | Additional fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | $25,029.00 | $2,265.50* | $27,294.50 |
| Published program total | $27,294.50 | |||
The additional-fee column is already included in each total. The asterisk marks UPass ineligibility during the third practicum semester. Clinical document checks, PPE and professional examination or registration costs need separate allowances.
Recheck the official cost table ↗Make a study budget
- Selected tuition and listed fees
- $27,294.50
- One international application
- $175.00
- Your living estimate
- $0.00
- Planning subtotal
- $27,469.50
Includes the selected table totals, one application and your entered living budget. It excludes unentered books, equipment, software and separately charged course costs. Use the same dollars as the published table.
Non-refundable · One application with ranked choices
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000–$1,500 per full-time year. Bring an Apple or Windows laptop; a tablet or phone is unsuitable. Required PPE and uniform cost $100 or more, with appropriate side-shield eye protection needed for dental procedures.
Plan the dental examinations and pre-practicum requirements around the first day of class. Use SAIT's readiness instructions for the timing of police checks and CPR documents.
Read the application payment guide ↗Check the academic route
SAIT assesses the documents and course equivalents for education completed outside Canada. Demonstrating English proficiency does not by itself establish that your academic subjects meet the program requirements.
Check the complete admission requirements ↗-
Current academic route
Pass Math 30-1 or 30-2, English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, Biology 30 and Chemistry 30, or accepted equivalents. The required subjects must have an overall average of at least 60%; SAIT does not state a 60% minimum in every individual subject here.
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Alternative from 2027/28
From the 2027/28 academic year, you can meet the current academic route or complete SAIT Pre-Health Sciences including CHEM 229. The banner does not state a separate minimum grade for CHEM 229.
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English and document assessment
English proficiency remains required. Education completed outside Canada requires an international document assessment. The admission change does not relabel the separate 2026/27 tuition estimate.
English proficiency is a separate requirement
Assessment results must be from within the year before your application. A transfer or deferral can require updated results when that period has passed.
Compare common tests and education routes
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 in each skill; IELTS Indicator accepted |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 53 |
| Duolingo | 115 overall and 95 in each Individual Subscore |
| CAEL | 60 overall and, effective Winter 2023, 60 in each skill; CAEL Online accepted |
| TOEFL before 21 January 2026 | 20 in each category; Home Edition accepted, MyBest excluded |
| TOEFL from 21 January 2026 | 4.5 overall and 4.5 in each category; Home Edition accepted, MyBest excluded |
The policy also lists CLBA/CLBPA, MET, Cambridge, Oxford Test of English, LanguageCert and Oxford ELLT. Use the official policy for their individual score requirements and for country or institution exemptions.
- Education in EnglishOfficial transcripts or a completed international assessment must verify at least three years of full-time secondary study in English at 12 or more hours a week, or at least two years of study taught in English at a recognized post-secondary institution, or a recognized English-taught credential from a SAIT-approved institution.
- A post-secondary English courseA credit course in English, comparative literature, communications or an equivalent at SAIT or a recognized post-secondary institution requires at least a C.
- English Language FoundationsThe SAIT route requires both COMN 155 and SPCH 155. Other recognized pathways have their own levels and assessment conditions; check the complete policy before choosing one.
Three semesters including a dental-office practicum
The certificate requires 40.5 credits across 18 courses. A placement preference can be considered, but clinical study may require relocation outside Calgary. Graduation does not itself grant a full professional licence; Alberta registration includes the NDAEB examination.
Read courses and prerequisites ↗Documents for the dental practicum
- The central checklist requires consent, immunization records, a Police Information Check and CPR documentation for Dental Assisting. Vaccination recommendations and required records have different roles; follow the college's specific instructions.
- BLS Provider Level C CPR requires annual updates. Do not arrange a police check or CPR documentation ahead of the emailed readiness instructions. Accepted Dental students who have not yet been vaccinated receive separate guidance to contact an immunization provider promptly about the Hepatitis B series.
- Electronic permit verification is approximately $50–$100. Police checks, immunization-related expenses and relocation can add costs. The program quotes an NDAEB examination fee of about $730 and CADA annual dues of about $300 for the later professional stage.
Related study guides
Return to the SAIT program finder ↗Sources and planning scope
- Official program requirements and costs ↗
- English proficiency ↗
- International application policy ↗
- Health practicum documents and timing ↗
Sources checked 29 October 2026. Costs use the published 2026/27 entry estimate. Annual table labels do not determine your months of living costs. Confirm current intake availability and your own admission assessment with the institution.