<p>This program leads to a Red Seal certification. Visit our <a href="/go/plan/trades">Trades page</a>.</p>

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.

Dental Hygiene Diploma

Vancouver Community College

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1. High school graduation or equivalent
2. VCC Health Science English Language Proficiency Requirement
3. The transferable equivalent of first-year university studies (that is 30 credits) with at least a 3.0 ("B") cumulative grade point average (GPA) in the following courses:
 
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (including labs) (6 credits)
- Chemistry (including labs) (6 credits)
- English (6 credits)
- Psychology (6 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
 
Notes: If you have completed 2nd, 3rd or 4th year courses in the required subjects, the highest grades are considered in the GPA calculation.

Academic Admission Requirement

1. Complete a dental exam from a licensed BC dentist before entering the program for legal reasons. (It is also preferred that applicants have their dental and dental hygiene healthcare complete and current.)
2. Be physical and psychological healthy
3. Be able to perform fine psychomotor skills as a dental hygienist. (Physical and mental demands of the profession may worsen back, wrist or shoulder problems. Materials used in oral health care may affect persons living with conditions such as latex sensitivity or other allergies.)

Additional Academic Admission Requirement

1. Upon acceptance, you must:

    - have current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Health Care Provider (CPR HCP) or Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification;
    - submit a successful Criminal Record Search through the Ministry of Justice;
    - provide proof of a negative TB skin test or chest x-ray;
    - submit a complete immunization record (forms may be obtained from the Registrar's Office)
    - complete N95 mask fit testing
 
2. If English is not your first language, you must successfully complete six credits of university-transferable English courses (C+ grade or higher in each course), or complete an English language assessment with acceptable test scores.
 
3. If your educational documents are not from a Canadian or American institution, you must submit an evaluation of foreign credentials. You may contact the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) located at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) or other approved credential evaluation services.
 
4. The following immunizations are strongly recommended and may be required for practice placement in the program:
    - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
    - Poliomyelitis
    - Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
    - Varicella Vaccination (Chicken Pox)
    - Influenza Vaccination (required on an annual basis)
    - Hepatitis B
    - Meningococcal
    - COVID-19

5. The top 40 applicants with the highest grade point average will be selected to participate in an online candidate's questionnaire which assesses their knowledge of the dental hygiene profession. Those selected will be contacted by the Dental Hygiene department at the beginning of March with information and next steps. 

Admission Advice

You must meet all educational requirements, including completing all in progress courses in the winter term (January to April), to be eligible for selection for September program start. Applicants that do not meet the educational requirements cannot be assessed for selection and their application will be cancelled.
 
Official transcripts (of final and in-progress grades) must be received in the Registrar’s Office before February. Institutions can send official transcripts by mail to VCC, or by email to selectiontranscripts@vcc.ca (only official transcripts sent directly by institutions will be accepted). Final transcripts for in progress courses in the Winter term (January to April 2024) must be received by the Registrar’s Office on or before the deadlines posted on the VCC website. For application dates and deadlines, visit the program page.
 
This program admits students based on a competitive selection process. 

Vancouver Community College

Dental Hygiene Diploma

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