Dental Hygienists Profession Regulation

(Consolidated up to 206/2025) ALBERTA REGULATION 255/2006 Health Professions Act DENTAL HYGIENISTS PROFESSION REGULATION Table of Contents 1 Definitions Registers 2 Register categories Registration 3 General register 4 Equivalent jurisdiction 5 Substantial equivalence 6 Courtesy register 9 CPR certification Practice Permit Renewal Requirements 11 Renewal requirements Titles 30 Titles, abbreviations Transitional Provisions, Repeals and Coming into Force 33 Transitional 34 Repeal 35 Coming into force Definitions 1 In this Regulation, (a) “Act” means the Health Professions Act ; (b) “College” means the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists; (c), (d) repealed AR 32/2023 s2; (e) “Council” means the council of the College; (f) “courtesy member” means a regulated member registered on the courtesy register; (g) “courtesy register” means the courtesy register category of the regulated members register; (h) “general member” means a regulated member registered on the general register; (i) “general register” means the general register category of the regulated members register; (j) “Registrar” means the registrar of the College; (k) “Registration Committee” means the registration committee of the College. AR 255/2006 s1;206/2025 Registers Register categories 2 The regulated members register established by the Council under section 33(1)(a) of the Act has the following categories: (a) general register; (b) courtesy register. Registration General register 3 (1) An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register must (a) have a degree or diploma in dental hygiene from a program approved by the Council, (b) have successfully passed a dental hygiene registration examination approved by the Council, and (c) have successfully passed a jurisprudence examination approved by the Council. (2) An applicant under subsection (1) must meet one of the following: (a) have met the requirements of subsection (1) within the 3 years immediately preceding the date the Registrar receives a complete application; (b) provide evidence of 600 hours of practice as a dental hygienist within the 3 years immediately preceding the date the Registrar receives a complete application; (c) have successfully completed a refresher education program approved by the Council within the year immediately preceding the date the Registrar receives a complete application; (d) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Registrar or the Registration Committee that the applicant is currently competent to practise as a dental hygienist. Equivalent jurisdiction 4 (1) Subject to subsection (2), an applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register who is currently registered in good standing in another jurisdiction recognized by the Council under section 28(2)(b) of the Act as having substantially equivalent registration requirements to those described in section 3 and who has no limitations or conditions imposed on the applicant’s registration in that jurisdiction may be registered on the general register. (2) An applicant for registration under subsection (1) must successfully pass a jurisprudence examination referred to in section 3(1)(c). Substantial equivalence 5 (1) An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register who does not meet the requirements described in section 3 but whose qualifications have been determined by the Registrar or the Registration Committee under section 28(2)(c) of the Act to be substantially equivalent to the competence requirements described in section 3 may be registered on the general register. (2) In order to assist with determining whether an applicant’s qualifications are substantially equivalent under subsection (1), the Registrar or Registration Committee may (a) require the applicant to undergo any examination, testing or any assessment activity, and (b) direct the applicant to undergo any education or training activities that the Registrar or the Registration Committee considers necessary in order for the applicant to be registered. (3) An applicant for registration under subsection (1) must successfully pass a jurisprudence examination referred to in section 3(1)(c). Courtesy register 6 (1) A person who is registered as a dental hygienist in good standing in another jurisdiction who applies for registration in Alberta on a temporary basis for a specified purpose and period of time approved by the Registrar is eligible for registration on the courtesy register. (2) It is a condition of registration on the courtesy register that the person must remain registered in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the person was registered at the time of the person’s application for registration on the courtesy register and if the registration in the other jurisdiction is suspended or cancelled the courtesy registration is cancelled. (3) The term of the registration for a person registered on the courtesy register (a) is for up to 60 days, and (b) is not renewable. 7 and 8 Repealed AR 32/2023 s3. CPR certification 9 An applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register or on the courtesy register is required to provide evidence of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification at a level required by the Council. 10 Repealed AR 32/2023 s3. Practice Permit Renewal Requirements Renewal requirements 11 (1) In addition to meeting the requirements established under section 40 of the Act and subject to subsection (3), a general member applying for renewal of the member’s practice permit must provide (a) a statement by the applicant as to whether the applicant has ever pleaded guilty to or has been found guilty of a criminal offence in Canada or an offence of a similar nature in a jurisdiction outside of Canada for which the applicant has not been pardoned since the applicant’s last practice permit, (b) a statement by the applicant as to whether the applicant has been the subject of any disciplinary action by a regulatory organization responsible for the regulation of dental hygienists or any other profession since the applicant’s last practice permit, and (c) a statement by the applicant of the number of practice hours as a dental hygienist obtained in the previous year since the applicant’s last practice permit. (2) A general member applying for renewal of the member’s practice permit must provide one or more of the following as requested by the Registrar or Registration Committee: (a) a photo ID of the member in the form required by the Registrar or Registration Committee; (b) evidence of being a Canadian citizen or being lawfully permitted to work or study in Canada. (3) In order to be eligible for renewal of the member’s practice permit, a general member must obtain a minimum of 600 practice hours in the 3‑year period that starts on the November 1 immediately following the general member’s registration as a general member and in each subsequent sequential 3‑year period. AR 255/2006 s11;32/2023 12 Repealed AR 32/2023 s6. 13 to 16 Repealed AR 32/2023 s7. 17 to 21 Repealed AR 32/2023 s8. 22 to 25 Repealed AR 32/2023 s9. 26 to 29 Repealed AR 32/2023 s10. Titles Titles, abbreviations 30 (1) Subject to any order made under Part 4 of the Act, a ratified settlement or any conditions on the practice permit imposed under section 40.1 of the Act or an order made under section 45.1 of the Act, a general member and a courtesy member may use one or more of the following titles and abbreviations: (a) registered dental hygienist; (b) dental hygienist; (c) RDH; (d) DH. (2) A general member and a courtesy member may use the words “registered”, “regulated” and the phrase “regulated health professional”. (3) A general member and a courtesy member who holds a doctorate degree in dental hygiene from a program approved by the Council may, alone or in conjunction with other words in connection with providing a health service, use one or both of the following title and abbreviation: (a) Doctor; (b) Dr. AR 255/2006 s30;32/2023 31 and 32 Repealed AR 32/2023 s12. Transitional Provisions, Repeals and Coming into Force Transitional 33 On coming into force of this Regulation, a registered member described in section 6 of Schedule 5 to the Act is deemed to be entered on the general register. Repeal 34 The Dental Hygienists Regulation (AR 302/96) is repealed. Coming into force 35 This Regulation comes into force on the coming into force of Schedule 5 to the Health Professions Act .