Note: One of the three main ways BCCOHP protects the public is by ensuring that oral health professionals are able to practise competently throughout their careers. Quality assurance is an important part of this work. As a health regulator, we remain focused on and committed to protecting public and patient safety in BC’s oral health care sector. The changes outlined below are a step toward building equity among existing programs and will not impact patient safety.

Dental hygienists will continue to complete professional development as part of their ongoing quality assurance program. This ensures that dental hygienists are able to practise competently, while continuing to prioritize patient safety.  

Important: Changes to the dental hygienist QA Program

This message contains important information regarding updates to the dental hygienist quality assurance program (QAP). 

Establishing a modernized quality assurance program for all oral health professionals is a priority for BCCOHP under our 2024-27 Strategic Plan. While this work towards a new program is underway, BCCOHP’s Quality Assurance Committee has directed two early changes to the existing QAP for dental hygienists. These changes are intended to begin building equity among existing programs, while continuing to prioritize patient safety.   

What’s changing 

Effective January 15, 2025, all dental hygienists who complete the assessment tool will have a successful outcome, regardless of their score: 

• The minimum score for the QAP assessment tool will be removed. 

• Performance on the QAP assessment tool will no longer initiate the professional performance assessment follow-up process that previously followed two unsuccessful attempts. 

What you need to know

All practising dental hygienists must still complete the assessment tool when they start a new cycle. Those starting a new QAP cycle in 2025 must complete the assessment tool between January 15 and March 31, 2025. 

While the professional performance assessment follow-up process will no longer be initiated by performance on the assessment tool, performance on the assessment tool will continue to inform your online learning plan requirements.  

Learn more

You can learn more about our efforts to develop a modernized quality assurance program for all oral health professionals online.  

If you have questions, please: 

• Email qualityassurance@oralhealthbc.ca, or 

• Call 672-202-0448 or 1-888-202-0448, toll free in Canada.