Introducing BC’s newest regulatory college: the BC College of Oral Health Professionals

The new BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) was established on September 1, 2022. The following message is being sent to key partners of the four legacy colleges that came together to form the new oral health regulator.

BCCOHP oversees 16,000 oral health professionals, including certified dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dentists, dental technicians and denturists.

“The creation of BCCOHP represents a significant step in the modernization journey for oral health care in British Columbia,” said Dr. Chris Hacker, Registrar and CEO. “With the collective expertise of four separate legacy organizations, we will be able to promote truly team-based collaborative oral health care that improves health outcomes for patients and the public.”

In a letter to the BCCOHP Board, Health Minister Adrian Dix stated, “[A]malgamation is an important step in helping to increase collaboration and linkages between professions, reduce complexity for the public, employers, and professionals, and enhance public safety by facilitating more efficient and effective regulation.”

BCCOHP is governed by a 12-member board, made up of six oral health professional members and six public members.  

“BCCOHP is well-positioned to continue regulating oral health care in the public interest, thanks to the rigorous and determined work of the Transition Steering Committee, the legacy boards, our staff team, and the support of the Ministry of Health,” said Carl Roy, BCCOHP Board Chair. 

Having a single oral health regulator for all oral health professions will improve patient safety, increase public confidence through transparency and accountability, and promote better outcomes for patients. 

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