The BC College of Oral Health Professionals began regulating certified dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dentists, dental technicians and denturists on September 1, 2022.
At the time, we provided general information about what would be changing – and what is staying the same – to all oral health professionals.
We are writing to you now in advance of the renewal period to provide some additional information that is specific to dental hygienists.
In preparation for your renewal in early 2023, we have compiled a list of key changes specific to dental hygienists here:
| Renewal date | Update or change Your renewal deadline has changed from February 28 to March 31. Annual renewal will open early February with a deadline of March 31. What this means Your renewal for 2023-24 will cover a period of 13 months rather than 12. You will see the fee for the 13th month reflected in the online renewal form. More information about renewal will be communicated in the coming months. |
| Liability insurance | Update or change Liability insurance is no longer included as part of your registration and must be obtained separately. What this means You will need to renew your liability insurance separately from paying your renewal fee and will be required to show proof as part of the renewal process. Please contact your policy provider for information about your insurance renewal. |
| Quality assurance | Update or change Quality assurance (QA) requirements, courses, and course credits are unchanged. Harmonization of the QA program and other individual requirements will be a priority for BCCOHP. What this means The Quality Assurance Program (QAP), including the Assessment Tool, remains unchanged for the time being (with the exception of CPR – see below). However, registrants will have three months to complete the Assessment Tool, rather than the previous two-month timeframe. |
| Requirement for CPR | Update or change The requirement for dental hygienists to hold current CPR has been removed. CPR courses are now eligible for CC credits once per five-year QAP cycle. What this means For consistency with the other amalgamation partner colleges, the registration requirement for dental hygienists to hold current CPR certification has been removed. CPR will be considered in the broader context of standards development and quality assurance. |
| Collection of fees (association fee collection discontinued) | Update or change Only registration and renewal fees will be collected from registrants. What this means BCCOHP has discontinued the collection of membership fees for British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association effective September 1, 2022 – including liability (negligence) insurance fees. |
| Authorization of radiography | Update or change Dental hygienists may authorize aspects of radiography to specific oral health professionals. What this means A dental hygienist registrant or dental hygiene practitioner registrant may authorize the following members of the oral health team to expose dental radiographs under indirect supervision: – full certified dental assistants, temporary certified dental assistants, limited certified dental assistants – dental assistants who hold a radiography designation with BCCOHP. |
Contact us
If you have questions about any of the changes outlined above, please contact us via:
- Contact form,
- Email: info@oralhealthbc.ca, or
- Phone: 672-202-0448, toll-free within Canada: 1-888-202-0448
About the BC College of Oral Health Professionals
BCCOHP serves the public by regulating 16,000 oral health professionals, including certified dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, dentists and denturists.
We protect the public in three main ways:
- Ensuring that oral health professionals are able to practise competently
- Setting standards for the delivery of safe and patient-centred oral health care
- Investigating complaints about oral health professionals