Overview
The Strategic Dental Ownership certificate gives dentists the business skills that dental school never taught. Whether you are getting ready to buy or open your first practice, or you are a few years into ownership and feeling stretched by everything outside the operatory, this program shows you how to run a profitable, independent practice on your own terms. Across four applied modules you will build a real competitive advantage, lead a team that wants to stay, learn to read and act on your own financial statements, and walk away with a complete five-year strategic plan for your practice.
It is built on a simple idea: you should not have to sell a majority stake to a corporate buyer just to get the business support you need. Running a practice well is a skill you can learn, and keeping it in your own hands protects your clinical autonomy, your team, and your time. Every assignment is applied to your own practice, or to a provided case study if you are not yet an owner.
Start with the lay of the land. You will map the dental industry landscape and where your practice sits within it, learn to read both your internal operations and the external market, and pinpoint where your real competitive advantage comes from. You will also take an honest look at your own leadership style and how it is serving, or limiting, your practice.
A practice runs on its people. Here you will define the mission, values, and purpose that set the tone for your team, and learn what really builds trust, engagement, and a culture patients can feel. You will leave with a clear philosophy of care that connects ethical business decisions to healthier patients.
Good plans die in the gap between strategy and execution. In this module you will structure your practice for clear decisions and accountability, build the systems and SOPs that keep things running without you, and decide what to delegate or outsource. You will also learn to spot and avoid the groupthink that derails small teams.
This is where it all comes together in the numbers. You will learn to read financial statements, manage cashflow for growth, understand what drives your practice valuation and equity, and choose the metrics that reflect a genuinely healthy practice. You will finish the program with a complete five-year strategic plan, broken into annual and quarterly goals you can act on right away.
How It Works
Start Date
September 7, 2026
Effort
8 to 10 hours per week
Delivery
Online
Format
Cohort-based, four modules with weekly discussion and applied assignments
Cost
$14,995 CAD
The September 2026 cohort is offered at a one-time introductory rate. Future cohorts will be offered at a higher price, making this the most affordable opportunity to enroll.
- Associate dentists preparing to buy or open their first practice
- New owners in their first one to five years who want real command of the business side
- Established owners looking to strengthen or grow an independent practice without giving up equity
- General dentists and specialists who hold Canadian or American board certification
- Single-practice owner-operators who want to keep clinical autonomy, control of their team, and their time
Brittany Encina, MBA
Brittany Encina is the creator and mentor of the Strategic Dental Ownership program and the founder of Owner.Dentist, a strategic advisory practice built to help dentists make the leap from skilled clinician to confident owner. Over more than 15 years in dental practice operations, she has managed and grown solo, group, general, and specialty clinics, leading everything from finance, HR, and marketing to opening new locations and guiding practices through ownership transitions.
Her work is grounded in real results rather than theory. She has re-engineered practice operations to drive seven-figure revenue growth, built internal systems that lifted annual revenue by 30 percent, and coached owners across Canada through the business challenges dental school never covers. Brittany holds an MBA from Athabasca University, and her approach reflects the heart of this program: strong, profitable, independent ownership is a skill any dentist can learn, without giving up control of their practice.
Course FAQs
Is this an instructor-led certificate?
Yes. Strategic Dental Ownership is an instructor-led, cohort-based certificate. You move through four modules alongside a group of fellow dentists, with weekly readings, discussions, and applied assignments built around a real practice. It is a guided, interactive experience rather than a self-paced course.
Do I need to own a practice to enroll?
No. The program is built for two groups: associate dentists preparing to buy or open their first practice, and current owners who want a firmer grip on the business side. If you already own a practice, you will apply each assignment to your own business. If you are not an owner yet, you will work through a provided case study instead.
How much time will I need to commit?
Plan for roughly 8 to 10 hours per week across the four modules. The work is designed for practicing dentists, so it is built to fit around a full clinical schedule.
When does the program start?
The first cohort begins September 7, 2026. Because the program runs as a group, everyone starts together on that date, so enrollment is for the September intake.
Do I have to be online at a specific time?
Most of the coursework is completed on your own schedule each week, so you can fit it around clinic hours and family life. You will have weekly deadlines for discussions and assignments to keep pace with your cohort.
Who teaches the program?
The program is led by Brittany Encina, MBA, founder of Owner.Dentist and a dental business advisor with more than 15 years in practice operations. She has helped over 100 dentists grow and strengthen their practices, and her focus is squarely on the everyday, independent owner.
What are the computer requirements for this course?
You should have access to a Mac, PC, or tablet with an Internet connection, with Safari, Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox as a browser. Here is a link that outlines browser support:
https://documentation.brightspace.com/EN/brightspace/requirements/all/browser_support.htm
For virtual sessions:
- Speakers/headphones
- Web camera and microphone
Learners that want to use their smart phone to access the courses can also download the D2L Pulse App for free to access the course available on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.d2l.brightspace.student.android&hl=en_CA
Or the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/brightspace-pulse/id1001688546
Does this course have prerequisites?
This course does not have a required prerequisite.
Who do I contact if I need help?
You can contact powered@athabascau.ca for assistance with any questions you may have. We are here to help!