How to Become a Dental Assistant in Manitoba
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Manitoba Dental Association to work as a dental assistant in Manitoba or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“To legally practise in Manitoba, all registered dental assistants must complete a registration and certification process to become members of MDA.”
From manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 7 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 4 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with MDA
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 7 done
- 7 steps without a listed fee
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Check with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada to confirm that your Canadian dental assisting program is accredited.
Source
“To determine your status, visit the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Complete and pass the National Dental Assistants Examining Board written exam to be eligible for registration and certification.
Source
“You must complete and pass this exam to be eligible for registration and certification with the MDA.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Obtain CPR certification from a program recognized by the MDA that includes a hands-on component.
Source
“All CPR courses must include a hands on component.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Review the instructional guide and complete the forms necessary for the registration and licensing process.
Source
“Review the instructional guide and complete forms necessary to complete the registration and licensing process.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Pay the one-time registration fee and the annual licence fee by separate cheques payable to the Manitoba Dental Association.
Source
“Cheque 1: Registration Fee One-time registration fee ... Cheque 2: Licensing Fee Annual licence fee”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Mail or hand-deliver your application form, required documents, and cheques to the Administrator of Registration, Licensing and Corporations.
Source
“Mail or hand-deliver your application form, required documents, and cheques to: Administrator of Registration, Licensing and Corporations”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
If your application is approved, MDA will mail you receipts and your registration certificate.
Source
“If your application is approved, MDA will mail you: A receipt for your application fee A receipt for your annual licence fee Your registration certificate”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with MDA
7 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
-
International applicants complete a credential assessment with the NDAEB; if your education does not meet the standard, you may attend an accredited educational upgrading program.
Source
“Only international applicants must complete this step. ... Visit General Information for Graduates from Outside of Canada on the NDAEB website for the complete information.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Complete the NDAEB written exam, which consists of 200 multiple choice questions.
Source
“All applicants must complete this step. Complete the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) written exam. The written exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Graduates of non-accredited programs complete the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation, a half-day clinical evaluation requiring 9 intra-oral skills on a mannequin; graduates of CODA-accredited USA programs are exempt.
Source
“Only graduates of non-accredited registered dental assisting programs must complete the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE). The CPE is a half-day clinical evaluation that requires you to perform 9 intra-oral skills on a mannequin.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... -
Complete a CPR program, gather required documents, complete the MDA application form, and pay the registration and certification fee.
Source
“Apply to become registered and licensed by MDA: Complete a Certification in Resuscitation Program (CPR) Gather required documents Complete the MDA Application for Registration and Licence form Pay the Registration and Certification fee”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with MDA
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Estimated registration and licensing process cost: $1,890 (estimated costs (2013))
Source
“Estimated costs are $1890 (2013).”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Requirements
Education
Graduates of an accredited level II registered dental assisting program who have successfully completed the NDAEB written exam are eligible for certification with the Manitoba Dental Association.
Source
“Graduates of an accredited level II registered dental assisting program who have successfully completed the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) written exam are eligible for certification with the Manitoba Dental Association.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants
Good character
Applicants must complete a Declaration of Commitment to Ethical Practice and the Public Interest form as part of the registration application.
Source
“Declaration of Commitment to Ethical Practice and the Public Interest”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Other
Applicants must complete a CPR certification from a program recognized by the MDA that includes a hands-on component.
Source
“All CPR courses must include a hands on component.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...Applicants must be proficient in English to complete the NDAEB steps, and have three attempts to complete each step before retraining is required.
Source
“You must be proficient in English to complete these steps with the NDAEB and you have 3 attempts to complete each step before retraining is required”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages list a link about licensing in another province but do not state how someone licensed in another Canadian province or territory registers in Manitoba. Source
“Licensing in Another Province”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with MDA
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with MDA
Exams
-
NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE)
Source
“Only graduates of non-accredited registered dental assisting programs must complete the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE).”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Language tests
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | CLB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) (Recommended) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | Source“we recommend that you have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in English”manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... |
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with MDA
Supervised practice
Required
Provisional registration allows recent graduates of accredited Manitoba programs registered for the NDAEB exam to work in supervised practice while waiting to perform the exam. Source
“It allows for employment in supervised practice while the recent graduate is waiting to perform the exam.”
manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat...
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $26.50 | $33.76 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $21.00 | $27.00 | $35.00 | — |
Dental assistants in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Licence required
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Graduate of Domestic Accredited Registered Dental Assisting Program manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Becoming Registered and Licensed in Manitoba manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Registered Dental Assistants manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants · fetched October 10, 2026
- Graduate of Domestic Non-Accredited or International Registered Dental Assisting Program manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... · fetched October 10, 2026
- FAQ manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Provisional Certificate Registration manitobadentist.ca/dental-professionals/dental-assistants/registrat... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a dental assistant in Manitoba?
Yes. Registration with the Manitoba Dental Association is required to practise in Manitoba.
Which exams are required?
NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE).
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