Dental Hygiene Corporation

Q: Step 3: Apply for Name Approval

Download a Dental Hygiene Corporation Name Application . Complete the form and return it to the College office. Refer to the College bylaws for information about naming your corporation. Please note that processing time may vary; it may take up to six weeks for your application to be processed.

Subject to provincial legislation and the BCCOHP bylaws, dental hygienists may apply to the Board for approval of a Dental Hygiene Corporation Name and a Health Profession Corporation Permit.

For a one-page summary of the incorporation process, download a copy of BCCOHP‘s Health Profession Corporation Name and Permit Information Sheet.

Upcoming changes

Under the BCCOHP bylaws being drafted to align with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), the Registered Dental Hygienist and Dental Hygiene Practitioner classes will be replaced by a single licensed Dental Hygienist class.

As of April 1, 2026, all Registered Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygiene Practitioners will transition to the Dental Hygienist licence class.

What this means for dental hygiene corporations

Private dental hygiene practices may continue through the transition on April 1 with no further action required
All Licensed Dental Hygienists will be able to own a private dental hygiene practice (e.g., corporation, sole proprietorship) and/or engage in private dental hygiene practise.
- If a private dental hygiene practice is owned through a corporation, a Health Profession Corporation Permit is required.

Corporations application processing time
Please note that the estimated processing time is approximately four weeks from the date of the receipt of the application. This is subject to change depending on the volume of applications.

Application Process

A Health Profession Corporation that holds a valid permit may not carry on any activities other than the provision of dental hygiene services or services that are directly associated with the provision of those services that would, for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), give rise to income from business.

Note that the timeline for processing applications may vary.

In order to obtain a permit, you must:

Step 1: Review the BCCOHP Bylaws

Review BCCOHP bylaw 14.05(3) (pages 125-131) for the Health Profession Corporation naming requirements.

Step 2: Reserve a name with BC Registry

Apply to the Registrar of Companies to reserve your proposed name.

Step 3: Apply for Name Approval

Download a Dental Hygiene Corporation Name Application. Complete the form and return it to the College office. Refer to the College bylaws for information about naming your corporation.

Please note that processing time may vary; it may take up to six weeks for your application to be processed.

Step 4: Apply for Consent to Incorporate

Once you receive name approval from BCCOHP, apply to the BC Corporate Registry for consent to incorporate.

Step 5: Apply for a Corporation Permit

Once your corporation has been registered under the B.C. Business Corporations Act, you may apply for a permit. Download a Health Profession Corporation Permit Application Form. This form is for an initial application (please see below for renewal forms). Complete the form and return it to the College office along with the following additional documentation:

a notarized copy of the certificate of incorporation and any change of name certificates from the Registrar of Companies;

a notarized copy or the Certificate of Solicitor form;
a completed copy of the Acknowledgement of Shareholders form;
and $105 permit fee (cheque or money order, payable to BCCOHP).

The permit is valid from the date issued by BCCOHP until the following March 1.

Payment

Payment can be made by cheque, money order, or online by credit card. If paying by credit card, once your application has been reviewed, payment can be made through the single fee payment tab on your registrant profile.

Please allow six weeks for your application to be processed.

Permit Renewal

You must renew your permit annually to ensure that BCCOHP has up-to-date information about oral health professionals who are practising through a health profession corporation. Permit renewal is a part of the annual renewal process. The annual renewal fee is $53 per corporation and will be added to your renewal invoice.

Please note you do not need to fill in a separate form for to renew your corporation permit.

Public Disclosure of Corporate Status

A health profession corporation must disclose on all letterhead and business cards and in all other advertisements that the services of dental hygiene are being provided by a health profession corporation. See Part 14.11 of the bylaws.

Change of Corporate Name

If you intend to change the name of your health profession corporation, you must apply to BCCOHP for a certificate that BCCOHP does not object to the intended name of the health profession corporation. See Part 14.08 of the bylaws.