Graduates of Dentistry and Dental Therapy
In Canada, dental hygiene is considered a separate and distinct health profession from dentistry and dental therapy. Work experience is not considered a substitute for training in an educational supervised setting.
Unless an applicant has successfully completed a program of study in dental hygiene in addition to their degree in dentistry or dental therapy, it is unlikely that the applicant’s course of study would be considered equivalent to a recognized accredited dental hygiene program.
For information on the dentistry equivalency process for graduates of non-accredited dentistry programs, please contact the National Dental Examining Board of Canada.
In Canada, dental therapy is a licensed profession in two provinces. For information on registering, please contact: British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals or Saskatchewan Dental Therapists Association.
For applicants who graduated in dentistry or dental therapy and who are interested in dental hygiene as an alternative, the FDHRC™ recommends they contact Canadian educational institutions offering accredited/approved programs in dental hygiene. To access information on pursuing courses of study in dental hygiene in Canada, please visit the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) website.