Information to work in this country is available from:

Canadian Dental Hygienists Association 96 Centrepointe Drive, Nepean (Ottawa), Ontario K2G 6B1 Tel: +1 613 224 5515 · Fax: +1 613 224 7283 www.cdha.ca · info@cdha.ca

Procedures and/or documents that are necessary to be able to work in this country:

The general entry requirements to practice dental hygiene in Canada are graduation from an accredited dental hygiene programme in a post-secondary educational institution. Dental hygiene is a self regulated profession in most Canadian provinces and registration is a provincial responsibility. To protect public interest, provincial legislation confers powers to the profession to regulate the practice of dental hygiene. A certificate of registration to practice is issued only to those who meet established standards of qualification and practice. Persons eligible for dental hygiene registration must have graduated from a dental hygiene program Graduates of Dentistry programs are not eligible for dental hygiene registration.

Official licensing body in the country:

Dental hygienists are regulated provincially. Listed below are licensing bodies for each province. Alberta: Alberta Dental Hygienists Association Albrumac Centre, 8657 51st Avenue NW, Suite 222, Edmonton, AB T6E 6A8 Tel: +1 780 465 1756 · Fax: +1 780 440 0544 · adha@telusplanet.net British Columbia: College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia 645 Fort Street, Suite 219, Victoria, BC V8W 1G2 Tel: +1 250 383 4101 · Fax: +1 250 383 4144 · cdhbc@cdhbc.com Manitoba: Manitoba Dental Association 103 - 698 Corydon Avenue, Suite 103, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0X9 Tel: +1 204 988 5300 · Fax: +1 204 988 5310 · mlasko@mb.sympatico.ca New Brunswick: New Brunswick Dental Society 520 King Street, Carleton Place #820, PO Box 488-A, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z9 Tel: +1 506 452 8575 · Fax: +1 506 452 1872 · nbds@nb.aibn.com Newfoundland: Newfoundland Dental Board Fortis Building, 139 Water St., St. John's, NF A1C 1B2 Tel: +1 709 579 2391 · Fax: 709-579-2392 Northwest Territories: Dept. of Health and Social Services, Government of NWT Box 1320, Centre Square Tower, 8th Floor, Yellowknife, NWT X1A 2L9 Tel: +1 867 920 8058 · Fax: +1 867 873 0484 · Jeanette-Hall@gov.nt.ca Nova Scotia: Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia 102-1559 Brunswick Street, Halifax, NS B3J 2G1 Tel: 902-420-0083 · Fax: 902-492-0301 · pdbns@hfx.eastlink.ca Ontario: College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario 69 Bloor Street East, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M4W 1A9 Tel: +1 416 961 6234 · Fax: +1 416 961 6028 · admin@cdho.org Prince Edward Island: Prince Edward Island Dental Council 184 Belvedere Avenue, Charlottetown, PE C1A 2Z1 Tel/Fax: +1 902 892 4470 Québec: Ordre des hygiènistes dentaires du Québec 1290 rue St-Denis, bureau 300, Montréal, QC H2X 3J7 Tel: +1 514 284 7639 · Fax: +1 514 284 3147 · info@ohdq.com Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Dental Hygienists Association PO Box 32039, RPO Victoria Square, Regina, SK S4N 7L2 Tel: +1 306 721 7342 · Fax: +1 306 721 1583 · sdha@sk.sympatico.ca Yukon Territories: National Health and Welfare Department Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Territories Y1A 2C6 Tel: +1 867 667 5111 · Fax: +1 867 667 3609 · carol.cameron@gov.yk.ca

Special conditions that may apply for hygienists that obtain employment:

Dental hygienists are regulated provincially. Consequently, prospective immigrants are advised to contact the licensing/regulatory board of the jurisdiction where they intend to practice, in order to ascertain specific entry requirements.

Contact for Work Permit and/or Visa:

The Canadian Embassy/Consulate in the country of residence.

Main local and/or official language(s):

English and French, depending on the province of residence and practice. Proficiency in speaking and writing both languages, depending on the usage in the area is generally a requirement.

Are hygienists qualified overseas required to sit the country's national examination?

All dental hygiene graduates applying to dental hygiene regulatory authorities for registration in Canada must have first successfully completed the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE). Graduates from foreign 2 year dental hygiene programs, recognized in the country of graduation, may apply and pay the evaluation fee to the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) to have academic qualifications assessed for eligibility to sit the NDHCE. Only applicants who have successfully fulfilled the academic requirements, as determined by the NDHCB, may write the NDHCE. The NDHCE consists of a written examination offered three times a year in several different cities across Canada only. Eligible applicants must submit an examination application and pay an examination fee to the NDHCB. Upon successful completion of the examination and any additional requirements of individual provinces, applicants are eligible to apply for registration in their preferred province. Applicants are responsible for all fees associated with the credentialling and licensing processes. Applicants whose curriculum vitae and supporting documents are not in either of Canadašs two official languages must provide certified translations of the same. For information on the complete list of documents required for review, contact: National Dental Hygiene Certification Board PO Box 58006, Orleans ON K1C 7H4, Canada Tel: +1 613 837 2727 · Fax: +1 613 837 6971 exam@ndhcb.ca · www.ndhcb.ca

Information on the local working environment:

Although future demand for preventive oral health services is likely to increase as the population ages, the employment outlook for dental hygienists will remain limited, due to ongoing fiscal health policy and current oversupply of practitioners.

Links to related web sites:

Canadian Dental Assistants' Association (CDAA) Canadian Dental Hygienists Association WHO Oral Health: Country/Area Profile Programme College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade Ordre des hygiènistes dentaires du Québec

Information based on data received by IFDH in:

2002

NOTE: The information provided above is for general guidance only. The International Federation of Dental Hygienists advises all hygienists to contact the country's relevant licensing bodies and agencies for current information and regulations. Search the database:

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