• Get licensed as a dental hygienist in Canada.dentist image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com
  
  To work as a dental hygienist in Canada, candidates must graduate from an approved dental hygienist program, pass the national test and register appropriately in the province in which they will practice. Canada offers reciprocity for foreign graduates and recognizes the credentials earned from many academic institutions abroad.
  
  

Accredited Education

• The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association recognizes graduates of two-year dental hygienist programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA/CODA). Said graduates who are working actively as a dental hygienist in the United States or abroad and those within four months or fewer of their graduation date may apply to take the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE).
  
  

Non-Accredited Education

• Graduates of non-U.S. or Canadian accredited programs and inactive accredited graduates more than four months beyond their graduation date may apply for a review of their academic history by the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) to determine eligibility to sit for the national exam.
  
  To qualify, the academic program must be a minimum of 16 months and result in a dental hygiene degree or certificate. A review of education requirements typically takes six weeks and requires a fee, of which a portion is refundable should the applicant be deemed ineligible.
  
  A notarized copy of the diploma submitted by the applicant and an official transcript of grades submitted directly by the academic institution will be required. Applicants who studied outside the U.S. or Canada must include a report of educational credential evaluation prepared and sent by one of three credentialing agencies approved by the NDHCB--World Education Services, International Credential Evaluation Services or International Qualifications Assessment Services--that covers the country of education, name of the institution the student attended, the specific type of credential received and the year it was received, the length of the program, area of specialization and its Canadian equivalency.
  
  All documents must be officially translated into French or English by a certified translator if necessary.
  
  

National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE)

• The National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE) is conducted three times annually at testing sites in numerous cities throughout Canada. Once deemed academically eligible to sit for the exam, applicants may register for the test and pay the respective exam fee on the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board's website or via mail. Upon successful completion of the exam, results will be sent by regular postal mail within six weeks. Failed exam results are sent via certified mail.
  
  

Provincial Registration

• With proof of your passed National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE), contact the local licensing body in the province where you plan to work to determine what is necessary to register yourself. Requirements vary by province.