Dental Office Administrator

Course Delivery

Online with some in-class sessions (cohort model)

Start & Duration

Start: October 2026

16 weeks, full-time, including a 3-week practicum

Accredited By

BC Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PTIRU) — EQA designated

Part of the General Administration program family. Explore General Administration →

About the Career

Dental office administrators are the first person a patient meets and the last one they talk to before they leave. They book appointments, keep patient records accurate, handle billing and insurance claims, and keep the day running on time for the whole dental team.

It's a good fit if you're organized, stay calm when things get busy, and like working with people. You work at a desk, but you're part of a health care team, and the way you handle a nervous patient at the front counter can change their whole visit.

Graduates work as dental office administrators and dental office receptionists.

Potential Employers

Dental practices across British Columbia rely on a strong front desk. Here's where you could work:

General dental offices

Orthodontic and specialty practices

Community and public dental clinics

Group practices with several dentists

About the Program

The Dental Office Administrator program gives you the dental terminology, software skills, and administrative training you need to run the front end of a dental office.

The program is 375 hours over 16 weeks. Most of your learning happens online in our Learning Management System. You meet your instructor and classmates in live sessions three times a week, and complete the rest of your work on your own schedule. One course includes some in-class time. You can expect about 20 hours of coursework a week, plus 10 to 15 hours of homework during theory courses.

You learn in a cohort, so you move through the program with the same group of classmates from your first week to your last.

The program finishes with a 3-week practicum in a working dental office, so you graduate with real experience behind you.

Related Programs

Office Administrator Medical Office Assistant General Administration

Accreditation and Recognition

Stenberg College is designated by the BC government's Ministry of Advanced Education through the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU). This program is approved by the PTIRU of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. PTIRU is responsible for setting standards of quality and ensuring consumer protection. Stenberg College has also received the BC government's Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, which is BC's brand or "seal" of quality post-secondary education for public and private institutions.

BC Education Quality Assurance designation

Admission Requirements

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC ACADEMIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent, or Mature Student Status (19 years of age or older)
Grade 11-level English course or higher, or one of the following:
Acceptable score in one of the approved LPR tests as noted below
Accuplacer: Reading 230, Writing 230 and WritePlacer 4
CLBPT: No component less than 6
English challenge exam (minimum 70%)
Minimum typing speed of 20 wpm
Successful completion of the online Computer Skills Entrance Test (minimum 70%)
Completion of Stenberg College informational interview as part of the admissions procedure
Completion of a Criminal Record Consent Form under the Criminal Record Review Act as part of the admissions procedure

Your practicum is 75 hours over 3 weeks in a working dental office.

If you register from the Lower Mainland, you may be placed anywhere in the region from Hope to Squamish, which covers Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. You can ask for a placement outside that area, including the B.C. Interior, Vancouver Island, or Northern B.C., but we cannot guarantee a specific location.

Before your placement starts, you will need:

An acceptable Criminal Record Review with a Vulnerable Sector Check from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
TB screening results
Proof of immunity status as required by industry
Some placement sites may ask for extra orientation or training

English is the language of instruction at Stenberg College. Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency to ensure success in any program and courses by meeting one of the following minimum requirements:

1) Evidence of completion of 3 years of full-time Secondary if Grades 8-12, or 2 years of Secondary if Grades 10-12, or 2 years of Post-Secondary education in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages. (Language courses cannot be included in this calculation)
OR 2) Submit the results of one of the accepted English language proficiency tests at the score level specific to the program as listed in the admission requirements below:
IELTS Academic – Overall band score of 6.0 with no component less than 5.5
Duolingo – Overall score of 105 with no component less than 85
CELPIP – Overall score of 7 with no component less than 6
TOEFL – Minimum overall score of 68
CAEL – Minimum overall score of 50
Pearson PTE Academic - Minimum overall score of 50
OR 3) Mature students that are 19 years of age or older at the start of the program and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined above can:
a. Complete an English Language Attestation to confirm completion of 3 years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages, AND
b. Complete an Accuplacer Next Generation English Assessment with minimum scores of: Reading 230, Writing 230 and WritePlacer 4

Evidence may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a provincial Adult Graduation program, permanent student record, GED, or by providing international education credentials confirming medium of instruction in English as recognized through WES, ICES, or IQAS. Alternatively, where 2 years of post-secondary education are being determined based on credits, it is expected that the student has taken studies with a minimum of 18 credits per academic year and/or indicates completion of a minimum of 36 credits in total. For regulated programs, language proficiency requirements, including permitted tests and scores dictated by the regulatory body, will supersede all else.

Financing

You could be eligible for Employment Insurance funding for education, government student loans as well as other financing options; the Stenberg College Financial Aid Officer would be happy to provide further assistance.

Program Courses

Orientation and Student Success Skills

A comprehensive orientation to Stenberg College and your program. You'll explore the transition to postsecondary education, learning styles, critical thinking, and referencing, and set goals using the resources available to support you.

Computer Fundamentals

A detailed introduction to correct typing technique and the computer skills needed in a fast-paced environment. You'll build proficiency with the Internet, the Windows environment, Microsoft Word and Outlook, and online calendars.

Customer Service & Client Relations

The principles and practices of professional customer service and client-relationship management, with emphasis on communication, active listening, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. You'll learn to manage diverse customer needs and represent an organization with professionalism.

Administrative Procedures

A comprehensive overview of the core administrative functions that support daily office operations. You'll develop practical skills in records management, scheduling, correspondence, file organization, and office technologies, with emphasis on accuracy, efficiency, and confidentiality.

Dental Practice Theory

An introduction to the language and clinical setting of a dental practice. You'll learn dental terminology so you can communicate accurately with patients, dental professionals, and insurance providers, and cover infection control and office safety protocols.

Dental Office Procedures

The day-to-day administrative work of a dental office. You'll practise appointment coordination, patient intake, chart management, and recall systems, work with dental office software to schedule appointments and maintain records, and handle billing, insurance claims, account reconciliation, and office payments. You'll also cover privacy legislation and the professional standards for handling confidential patient information.

Career Search Strategies

Offered online, this course helps you network effectively, search and apply for jobs, and prepare targeted resumes and cover letters, with coaching and individualized feedback on your resume, cover letter, and interview skills.

Practicum

Three weeks in a working dental office, where you apply what you've learned with a real team and real patients. You'll work alongside experienced staff and build the confidence and references that help you get hired.

Please note: The modules listed above may not be presented in the order they appear on this outline. To guarantee the most effective delivery possible, class hours may be subject to change (i.e. rescheduling due to instructor illness, etc.). The College reserves the right to change course curriculum or remove/add program modules in the program outline as a result of a program review and/or to meet new and emerging employment needs.

Student Support

Academic tutoring and skill-development support
Open study-skills tutorials and typing practice support
One-on-one student support coaching sessions
English language learning support
Online learning resources, academic journals, and databases
Campus life events

Ready to Apply?

Talk to a program advisor to get started on your journey.

Contact an Advisor

Next intake: October 2026

Stories from our Dental Office Administrator grads

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