Dental Hygienist Quality Assurance

CPR courses are now eligible for continuing competency credits.

Effective September 1, 2022, dental hygienists are no longer required to hold current CPR certification.

Quality Assurance Project Update

BCCOHP is working to establish a modernized quality assurance program for all oral health professionals. This is a key initiative and is expected to be a multi-year project.

The quality assurance programs developed by the legacy colleges that came together to form BCCOHP remained in place upon amalgamation and are currently under review. These will remain in force until a new quality assurance program is developed.

Stay informed about the progress here >>

In accordance with the Health Professions Act, all BC health professions must establish a Quality Assurance Program (QAP).

In order to satisfy the provisions of the Health Professions Act, the dental hygienist QAP requires registrants to undertake an Assessment Tool to assess their foundational dental hygiene knowledge.

Following the assessment phase, registrants are required to develop an individualized learning plan that includes courses or other learning activities to address any areas of weakness identified through the assessment process. Registrants are required to complete 75 continuing competency (CC) credits per cycle.

A dental hygienist’s QAP cycle is assigned at the date of registration and runs on a five-year calendar cycle. These cycles remain constant despite the registration class a registrant holds (i.e., practising, non-practising, former). Please contact us for further information specific to your cycle if you plan to move between registrant classes.

QAP Information Guide

Download the QAP Information Guide

Download the QAP Content Subcategories Expanded Definitions

Dental Hygienist QAP Guiding Principles

The goal of the QAP is public protection.
The QAP will be evidence-based and cost effective.
Maintaining and enhancing competence is the responsibility of the registrant.
All dental hygienists registered in practicing categories will be required to participate in the QAP.
The materials that inform registrants about the QAP will be clear, concise and accessible.
Participation in the QAP is intended to be reasonable and manageable for registrants.
The QAP will be evaluated regularly.

Use the tabs below to find out more about dental hygienist quality assurance and professional development

QAP Assessment Tool, Online Learning Plan, Help & Resources

Learn more about the dental hygienist QAP.

Cultural Safety

Learn more about how you can incorporate cultural safety into the process of dental hygiene care.

Education Modules

Learn more about the Jurisprudence Education Module, Professional Practice Modules, and the Local Anaesthetic Module.