How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Calgary

Dental hygienists work hard to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.

You will need to take several steps before you can become a practicing hygienist in Calgary. This career requires your dedication to the acquisition of a postsecondary diploma and registration with the College of Registered Dental Hygienist of Alberta. In Canada, the Commission on Dental Accreditation Education of Canada improves the dental hygiene program. The process ensures that all students are fully prepared for the challenging work ahead and that the public receives the highest standard of health care in Canada.

Instructions

1. Earn a high-school diploma with concentration in English, algebra and at least two courses from among biology, chemistry, calculus, physics or computer science. This means that you must graduate from an accredited secondary learning institution prepared to gain a postsecondary degree in a science-oriented field.

2. Gain a degree in dental hygiene or a bachelor of science with specialization in dental hygiene. As an example, in Edmonton, you can gain a degree in dental hygiene at the University of Alberta, where the department of dentistry offers a diploma in dental hygiene and a bachelor of science with dental hygiene specialization. In general, the dental hygiene program will take you three years to complete and the bachelor of science with dental hygiene specialization will take you four years to complete.

3. Complete the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (Canadian), which you will need to pass in order to work in Canada. If you finish with great success in the dental hygiene program, you will also be eligible to write the National Board Dental Hygiene Examinations of the American Dental Association.

4. Register with the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta. Under the Alberta's Health Professions Act and Dental Hygienists Profession Regulation, you have to be a registered member. Failure to register bars you from providing professional service to the public, supervising registered dental hygienists or teaching dental hygiene to students.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are an international student from a non-English-speaking country planning to study dental hygiene at a university in Canada, check whether you need to complete any language proficiency test.

• Ensure your eligibility to work in Canada before completing any examination or registration.

• Failing to possess proper credentials, examination or registration will result in your inability to become a health-care professional in Canada.

References

• OCC Info Alberta Occupational Profile

Resources

• College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta