Technical sales specialists sell products and services to dental labs and dental businesses or practices.

NOC Code: 6221

Job Duties

Technical sales specialists sell products and services to dental labs and dental businesses or practices. You may work for a company that makes or sells a technical service or product, such as dental equipment. You may enjoy this job if you like marketing and strategic business planning. You may also be called a sales agent, dental sales representative or support specialist.

Generally, technical sales specialists:

• Assess the needs of your sales area.
• Do strategic planning.
• Develop proposals, reports and sales contracts.
• Keep up-to-date with trends in dentistry and health.
• Organize information sessions, create presentations and discuss product lines.
• Visit clients or potential clients in your assigned region.
• Gather information about negative effects of products and report back to your employer.

Source: HRSDC

Job Requirements

Education

Experience

Source: HRSDC

Essential Skills

As a technical sales specialist, you need to:

• Speak, write and read English.
• Write reports, quotes and proposals.
• Track trends and changes in dentistry and marketing.
• Use word processing, spreadsheet, scheduling and tracking software.
• Listen well and be able to explain and/or sell your product.  
• Be accountable, attentive to detail, professional and punctual.

Language Skills

You need to communicate in person, on the phone and in writing with other medical professionals and administrators.  It can be helpful to know 2 or more languages because many Canadian companies want to market their products internationally. It is also useful to know medical terminology when talking about your product with potential buyers.

Labour Market Information

Trends

Now, technical sales specialists are also installing equipment, training customers on how to use equipment and explaining how products can meet their needs.

Prospects

Source: Ontario Job Futures [PDF]

Wages

Source: HRSDC

Retraining

Educational Programs

These links will give you a list of related educational programs or where you can search for them. There may be other schools that have similar programs, such as private career colleges. You may be able to get advanced standing.

• Search for related programs at Ontario colleges
• Search for related programs at Canadian universities

Bridging Programs

Here is a list of some bridging programs. These programs can help you assess your education and skills, get practical training or improve your language skills so that you can work in your field.

• Internationally Trained Dentists Program (ITD)  University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
• International Dentist Advanced Placement for Foreign-Trained Dentists University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry

Language Training

Here is a list of some language training programs, such as Enhanced Language Training (ELT) and Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT).

• Workplace Communication Skills for Health Care
• See more specialized language training programs

Work Experience Programs

Some college programs and bridging programs in this field include co-operative (co-op) work experience.

Voluntary Membership Opportunities

• Ontario Dental Association

Helpful Links

• E-Career Map for Dentists
• Information for Internationally-Trained Dentists/Dental Surgeons
• Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
• Ontario Dental Association
• Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry
• Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
• National Dental Examining Board of Canada
• Working in Ontario as a Dentist

The data in this profile is provided for informational purposes only. Some of the information may have changed since this profile was written. Please check the source for the most up-to-date information.