About Us

This year marks the College’s 15th anniversary. CDHBC was established as a self-regulating body on March 1, 1995, under the Health Professions Act (HPA). For more information about the development of the College, read the History of CDHBC.

CDHBC is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and enforcing standards that assure safe, ethical, and competent dental hygiene care. This includes registration of all dental hygienists in British Columbia, setting standards of practice for dental hygienists, and investigating complaints against dental hygienists. For more information, go to Duties of the College.

Dental hygienists in B.C. must practice in a safe and ethical manner, in accordance with the HPA, the Dental Hygienists Regulation, and CDHBC bylaws. The Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice statement reads, “Subject to the bylaws, a registrant may assess the status of teeth and adjacent tissues, and provide preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene care for teeth and adjacent tissues.”

CDHBC Mission Statement

The mission of the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia (CDHBC) is to protect the public by developing, advocating, and regulating safe and ethical dental hygiene practice in British Columbia.

 

How to Become a Registered Dental Hygienist in B.C.

Applicants must satisfy requirements as set out in the CDHBC bylaws, which includes graduation from a dental hygiene program listed in CDHBC’s Schedule I and passing a national written exam administered by the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board. Those who have not graduated from a program listed in Schedule I must successfully challenge the CDHBC Clinical Exam in order to apply for registration to practice within B.C; however, dental hygienists who have been previously registered in good standing in another Canadian province or territory may be eligible to apply under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). Please contact the College for more information.

 

Our Commitment

The CDHBC Board, Committees, and Staff work to uphold the highest standards of service and administration to support the objective of protecting the public to ensure quality dental hygiene practice.