How to Become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Canada

Become a dental hygienist in Canada by combining education and registration.

Dental hygienists in Canada must successfully complete a college or university program in dental hygiene. Most dental hygienists opt for a two-year diploma program offered at a community college or accredited private institution. The curriculum is a mix of science and art, as students learn clinical skills and communication strategies. Before beginning to practice, graduates must take a national exam and then be registered or licensed with the regulatory authority in the province or territory in which they wish to practice.

Instructions

1. Apply to a nationally accredited dental hygiene program. Decide if you want a diploma program or a university degree program. Entrance requirements will be different for both. Some institutions base acceptance on high school grades and look for certain math and science courses. Other institutions require prospective students to take a written entrance exam. You will likely have to pay a fee to apply to the school. Tuition fees vary depending on whether the program is a college course or university program and whether it is publicly or privately funded.

2. Complete all requirements of the program and graduate with either a diploma in dental hygiene or a degree in dental hygiene.

3. Apply to take the national dental hygiene certification examination. You can apply when you are within four months of graduating from your program, or once you have received your degree or diploma. Submit your application by mail or online. There is a non-refundable application fee ($100 plus tax in 2010). There are two application deadlines each year, and the exam dates are approximately two months after the application deadline.

4. Pass the national exam. There is a fee to take the exam. (In 2010, the fees were $400 for a first sitting and $300 for each repeat if necessary.) The exam is taken in a single day and consists of two three-hour sessions. The certification board uses its own statistical calculation to determine what constitutes a passing mark each year, but it is generally between 65 and 70 percent. You will receive your exam results by mail no later than six weeks after the exam. If you were unsuccessful in your first attempt at the exam, you can retake it up to four times.

5. Apply for registration as a dental hygienist. You will need to contact the dental hygiene regulatory authority in the province or territory in which you wish to practice. Requirements may differ somewhat by jurisdiction. In Ontario, for example, you will have to prove the following: you hold a certificate from the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board; you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; you are reasonably fluent in written and spoken English and French; you have not been convicted of an offense that would affect your fitness to practice as a dental hygienist; and you have not been found guilty of professional misconduct, incapacity or incompetence. There is both an application and a certification registration fee.

Tips & Warnings

• Heather Britton, a registered dental hygienist whose advice appears on the Canadian Dental Hygiene Association website, recommends that dental hygiene students volunteer at a dental office during their semesters of classes or their summers off. This is of most benefit to those students who have not worked as dental assistants, since they may need additional experience to manage the rigors of the program, pass the national board exam and find their first job.

• The National Dental Hygiene Certification Board offers practice exams online for a small fee.

References

• National Dental Hygiene Certification Board: After the Exam
• Canadian Dental Hygiene Assocation: Dental Hygiene Programs
• Canadian Dental Hygiene Association: Advice from Dental Hygienists
• National Dental Hygiene Certification Board: Exam Eligibility
• College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario: Registration Requirements