International Students

Program Fees

• Tuition: $28,500 (includes clinical modules)
  • Initial deposit: $300 due at enrollment
  • First installment: $16,800 due on day one of the program.
  • Second installment: $11,400 due at the halfway point of the program. On a regular schedule, this is month 10; if the program is accelerated, it will be due sooner.
• Textbooks: Approximately $330
• Online Exam Proctoring: Approximately $450 total
  • There are 18 exams, and each proctored session costs approximately $25.

To maintain the high standards of our diploma, all students must be employed or volunteer in a dental practice for a minimum of 14 hours per week throughout the program. This ensures you can apply your online learning to real-world clinical tasks immediately. For international students, this means you will need to secure a “sponsoring dentist” who agrees to support your hands-on training.

• January 26
• February 23
• March 23
• April 27
• May 25
• June 29
• July 27
• August 31
• September 28
• October 26
• November 23
• December 28

Students are required to have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a stable high-speed internet connection to ensure compatibility with the Learning Management System (LMS) and ProctorU proctoring software. Chromebooks are not supported.

Minimum technology requirements include:

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later, or macOS 11.0 or later

• Browser: Google Chrome

• Internet Speed: At least 3 Mbps (3072 Kbps) for both upload and download. Mobile hotspots and tethering are discouraged for ProctorU exams due to potential instability

• Webcam: Minimum resolution of 640×480

• Microphone: Any microphone except those built into headphones is acceptable for ProctorU

• Speakers: Built-in or external speakers are required

• RAM: Minimum of 8 GB

• CPU: 4 cores at 2.4 GHz (recommended by ProctorU)

• Monitor Resolution: At least 1366×768

• Ports: UDP/TCP 80 or UDP/TCP 443 must be available

• Software: Microsoft Word is required for essay writing

Ensuring your device meets these specifications is essential for a smooth and successful learning and exam experience.

General admission

1. To be admitted to RIDDE international applicants must be eligible to apply for a Canadian study permit.
2. Applicants must have an international high school transcript, along with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), demonstrating equivalency to Canadian Grade 12 with a minimum of 60% in English.
3. All applicants must complete a virtual or telephone Interview with Risio’s Registrar.
4. All applicants must be employed in a dental practice for a minimum of 3 months, with at least 14 hours per week.

Mature Admission
An applicant may apply as a mature-status student if the applicant does not otherwise qualify for general admission but demonstrates a combination of education and work experience that indicates the ability to be successful in the program. In addition, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of the term and must have been out of the secondary school system for at least one year to qualify as a mature student. An applicant that qualifies as a mature student is required to successfully complete a 2-part entrance test prior to enrollment.

1. Wonderlic Basic Skills Assessment Test (quantitative) to assess basic skills. Minimum score 294.
2. Duolingo English Assessment Test to assess sufficient English language proficiency to succeed in the program. Minimum score between 100-125 (or higher) to meet Grade 12 English requirements.

English Language Learners

All applicants under general and mature admission must demonstrate sufficient English Language proficiency to succeed in the program. To demonstrate this, applicants applying with their high school transcript must display a Grade 12 English course with a minimum grade of 60%, OR applicants must complete the Duolingo English language assessment exam.

To apply to our Dental Assisting Program as an international applicant, you must:

1. Be eligible to apply for a Canadian study permit
2. Be able to work in a Canadian dental clinic a minimum of 14 hours per week (once authorized)
3. Be prepared to secure a dental office placement to complete work-integrated learning

Applicants must submit:

• An international high school transcript, along with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), demonstrating equivalency to Canadian Grade 12 with a minimum of 60% in English

OR

• If you do not meet the academic requirement or have not completed an ECA, you may apply as a mature student and complete an online entrance assessment

If your high school transcript confirms you’ve completed a diploma and shows a minimum grade of 60% in Grade 12 English, you should apply with your transcript, regardless of when it was completed

Only apply as a Mature Student if your diploma does not meet the English grade requirement, or if you completed your education outside of Canada and have not had your credentials academically assessed.

Contact us or send us an email. We would love to connect with you!

info@risiodental.com

Carey-Ann Balkwill is a Registered Dental Assistant with 20+ years in the dental industry. Carey completed her MBA in 2019 through the University of Roehampton and began her PhD in June 2021. She is passionate about both the dental industry and business administration.
Carey-Ann previously chaired a successful dental assisting program in Calgary, while also facilitating in the program. Seeing her students achieve success is just one of Carey’s many missions!

Casey Sharp is a Registered Dental Assistant with 23+ years in the dental industry. Casey completed an eLearning certificate program through the University of Calgary to gain expertise in designing and creating online learning programs.

Casey worked alongside Carey-Ann at a successful dental assisting program in Calgary and facilitated students in both clinical and theoretical environments. Casey’s passion is witnessing the outcomes of the students in the program!

Instructors in the program are required to have a minimum of 5 years experience in the dental industry and must be Registered Dental Assistants. All theory instructors must also have completed the Adult Educator Certificate.

The diploma program must be completed in full, and individual courses or modules are not offered separately. Each module follows a fixed timeline within the overall 21-month structure, and students are expected to stay on schedule. While there is some flexibility to accelerate by completing modules early, extensions or delays are not permitted.

To enroll in our program, you must have at least 3 months of dental office experience, working a minimum of 14 hours per week. This experience is essential for a few key reasons:

• It gives you a realistic understanding of daily operations in a dental practice

• It builds your confidence and comfort in a clinical setting

• It helps ensure that this field is a strong fit for you

How to get started without experience

Explore entry-level roles:
Many dental offices are open to hiring for roles such as administrative assistant, sterilization technician, or reception support even if you don’t have prior dental experience. These are great stepping stones into the field.

Take our free online basics course:
Enroll in our free online basics course to build a strong foundation and get familiar with our online platform. It’s a great addition to your resume and shows employers your initiative and interest in dental work.

Consider the Dental Aide program
If you want to boost your skills before applying to dental offices, consider enrolling in our Dental Aide course.

• No prior dental experience required

• Covers infection control, sterilization, and essential clinic knowledge

• Counts as transfer credit towards the diploma program

Yes. The Risio Institute Dental Assistant Distance Delivery Program includes a continuous Work Integrated Learning component, which requires you to be working in a dental office for a minimum of 14 hours per week throughout the entire program. 

Work Integrated Learning is designed to give you consistent exposure to the clinical setting so you can observe procedures, understand how a dental office operates, and gradually build your knowledge as you progress through the program.

To meet this requirement, you must have a sponsoring dentist. This means a dentist who agrees to have you in their office regularly during the program to support your Work Integrated Learning. Sponsorship is not financial, it simply means the dentist allows you to learn within their practice setting as part of your education.

Yes, students can enroll in the program regardless of whether their home office is a specialty practice. However, all students are required to complete specific in-office activities at a general dental practice at appropriate points throughout the program to ensure exposure to a broad range of clinical experiences and competencies.

In addition, 120 practicum hours in Term 3 must be completed in a general dental office. Students whose primary office is a specialty practice will need to arrange access to a general dental office for these assignments and the Term 3 practicum.  

While there are no specific online hours required, students must adhere to deadlines for in-office activities and final exams. These deadlines cannot be delayed, although early submissions are allowed. Taking extended time off is not built into the program schedule, so planning your weekly study time is essential to successfully complete all modules on time.