Dental technician initial registration

If you are applying to be a Registered Dental Technician (RDT), you must first demonstrate to the Registration Committee that you meet the educational and entry-to-practice competencies needed for independent dental technology practice in British Columbia. The College requires all applicants for initial registration to complete the Credentialing and Competency Assessment process administered by the Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators as a condition of registration. This process helps the College fulfill its statutory obligation to ensure the public has access to safe, ethical, and competent dental technology services and is required of all applicants for registration as dental technicians. For further information about this process, click this link: Credentialing Application Guide 

Please note that you must be registered as a Dental Technician with the College before you can legally work without supervision in any dental laboratory in BC. 

When all required documentation is received by the College, processing of registration applications can take as little as a few days. Depending on the class or registration being applied for, processing times may increase to several weeks or longer.  

If you have previously been registered with BCCOHP, or formerly CDTBC as an RDT, please see Reinstatement. 

To apply for registration in any category, you will be required to provide the following: 

  1. Your contact information 
  2. Proof of satisfying the educational requirement for the applicable class of registration 
  3. Your workplace information (if applicable) 
  4. Proof of identity (valid government-issued photo ID) 
  5. Signed Statutory Declaration Form* 
  6. Completed and signed application form 
  7. Application and/or Registration fees 

  Please see Fees (Schedule A) for information on registration and applications fees 

*RDT applications must have the Statutory Declaration Form notarized. 

For more information, please choose the registration class that you are interested in. 

Dental Technicians are health care professionals who fabricate dental restorations and appliances which are prescribed by a dentist or requested by a denturist for a specific patient. 

To fabricate dental appliances in British Columbia, a person must be a Registered Dental Technician, or either a Dental Technician Student or a non-registrant under the supervision of a Registered Dental Technician. 

A Dental Technician may practice Dental Technology as set out in the Dental Technician Regulation.  A Dental Technician may also delegate tasks to Assistants or Students provided he or she supervises those individuals in accordance with guidelines established by the Board.  For more information regarding supervision guidelines, please see the  Supervision Guidelines  brochure. 

An individual is eligible to be registered as a Dental Technician if the individual 

  • has graduated from a Dental Technician Education Program approved by the Registration Committee, 
    OR 
  • (i) has provided the services equivalent to those of a dental technician for a period of not less than 5 years, and 
    (ii) has a combination of knowledge, skills and abilities, which, in the opinion of the Registration Committee, satisfy the education requirements 
    AND 
  • is of good character and fit to practice the profession 
  • consents to a Criminal Record Check in the form required by the Criminal Records Review Act 
  • submits a completed application form and pays the fees required 
  • demonstrates current competence to practice by successfully completing the pan-Canadian Competency Assessment (examinations) administered by the Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators (CADTR) 
  • provides proof of having obtained and maintained the required professional liability insurance coverage. 

APPROVED DENTAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS IN CANADA 

APPLICANTS GRADUATED FROM DENTAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS OUTSIDE CANADA 

Individuals who have not completed their dental technology education at one of the approved programs in Canada must have their academic credentials verified and assessed through the Credentialing process of the Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators (CADTR). 

The  Credential Evaluation  process will be completed by CADTR on behalf of BCCOHP, and will compare the applicant’s credentials to the required entry-level dental technology education benchmark in Canada. 

Applicants can find additional information on the CADTR website about the credential evaluation process and how to apply for credential evaluation. 

APPLY ONLINE FOR REGISTRATION AS A DENTAL TECHNICIAN  

If you have completed the credentialing and Assessment process of the CADTR and are ready to apply for registration as a Dental Technician in BC or are currently registered as an RDT in another Canadian jurisdiction, you can initiate the application process online using the following link: 

Apply online for registration as a Registered Dental Technician 

You will be able to complete an application form and pay the application fee by credit card using the College’s secure system to begin the registration process. You may also upload some of the required documentation in PDF or JPEG format if you wish. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Some documents for registration as an RDT, such as the Statutory Declaration, must be notarized and will need to be submitted to the College in paper form by standard mail.  

You will also need to apply for a Criminal Record Check as noted above using the government’s website, and will need to verify your identity using your BC Services Card. 

Apply online for a new Criminal Record Check. 

A Student may work under the supervision of a Registered Dental Technician and provide assigned services. 

An individual is entitled to be registered as a Dental Technician Student if the individual 

  • is currently enrolled as a student in a Board approved post-secondary Dental Technician Training Program in British Columbia 
  • is of good character and fit to practice the profession. 

APPROVED DENTAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS IN CANADA 

The following schools offer dental technology programs. Please contact the school directly for more information regarding their program. 

Please contact registration@oralhealthbc.ca for information.

As of September 1, 2022 – the College of Dental Hygienists of BC, College of Dental Surgeons of BC, College of Dental Technicians of BC, College of Denturists of BC becomes…