Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.

To practice as a dental hygienist in B.C., you must register with the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals. Eligibility is achieved through completion of an accredited dental hygiene program and successful writing of the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination.

Dental hygienists and dental therapists

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive materials; provide oral health education and treatment counselling to patients; identify oral pathologies and injuries; and manage dental hygiene practices. These programs include courses in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; cleaning equipment operation and maintenance; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counselling; office management; supervised clinical training; and professional standards.

Dental hygiene/hygienist

Dental Hygiene Bachelor's Degrees

Dental Hygiene Diplomas

Dental hygienists provide dental hygiene treatment and services related to oral health promotion and disease and mouth injury prevention. They are employed in a variety of settings including dentists' offices, hospitals, private clinics, educational institutions, public health agencies or they may be self-employed. Dental therapists provide limited restorative dental treatment in addition to dental hygiene services. They are employed by the federal government and the provincial governments to provide services in rural and remote communities.

Dental Hygiene Certificates

The Dental Hygiene Diploma is designed to prepare you with the knowledge, skills, and values to provide safe and competent primary oral health care. The program emphasizes the importance of a wellness model of care and evidenceinformed practice as you learn to provide comprehensive and culturally sensitive dental hygiene care to individuals, families, and communities. Throughout the program, you develop the skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with clients and interdisciplinary teams, applying theory in hands-on practice and participate in international field schools. Graduates are employed in a variety of settings including clinical practice, community health care, and independent practice, and are eligible to apply for degree completion at a variety of post-secondary institutions.

Dental Hygiene Diploma

The Dental Hygiene Diploma prepares graduates to practice as licensed, regulated, health care professional team members through in-class and clinical learning. Dental hygienists are preventative oral health care providers, providing specialized services in oral health education, clinical therapy and health promotion. Dental Hygienists practice in a wide variety of settings, including private clinics and community health settings.

The Dental Hygiene diploma allows you to get hands-on training to provide dental care including examinations, cleaning, polishing, and assessments while working with the public at VCC’s dental clinic. There is a focus on biomedical sciences, dental hygiene theory of practice, and behavioural sciences. Learning is fostered through seminars, lectures, labs, clinical practice sessions, group work, independent study, problem based learning, community outreach, and clinical rotations. Graduates of the program are eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) examination, which is required to become a Registered Dental Hygienist through the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) and practice dental hygiene in B.C.

The Dental Hygiene Diploma at is a Commission on Dental Accreditation Canada (CDAC) accredited program. The program provides education in the application of preventative and therapeutic methods of oral disease control and oral health promotion. The concepts of health education, professionalism, critical thinking, life-long learning, and community service are strongly encouraged in the program curriculum. You have the opportunity to apply knowledge and gain practical experience in public dental clinics and dental health activities in the community. Strong computer literacy is highly recommended prior to admission to the program.

Educational Path

Dental Hygiene Diplomas

Programs

Careers