Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Dental Hygienist in British Columbia

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 32111

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals of BC to work as a dental hygienist in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Dental Hygienists must be licensed with the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) in order to practise dental hygiene in BC.”

From oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,538.60

  1. The applicant completes the online application for the appropriate licence category.

    Source
    “Click on the category below for link to apply online or for the application package.”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

  2. The applicant submits notarized identification, education documents, exam certificates and any letters of standing.

    Source
    “Notarized Photo Identification Notarization form, along with notarized photocopy of two pieces of photo ID (one primary and one secondary, or two primary)”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

  3. The applicant pays the non-refundable application and criminal record check fees.

    Source
    “Step 3: Submit payment of application and criminal record check (CRC) fees”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

  4. After the application is finalized, the applicant logs in and pays the registration fee.

    Source
    “Step 5: Submit payment of licence fee”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

  5. The applicant receives an email confirming active status within three to five business days and cannot practise before then.

    Source
    “Once your licence fee has been processed, you will be sent an email from BCCOHP within three to five business days confirming that your status has been changed to active.”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with BCCOHP

5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,538.60 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,538.60

  1. A dental hygienist licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction applies for a BCCOHP licence.

    Source
    “Dental hygienists who are currently licensed or registered from outside of BC may be eligible for BCCOHP licence.”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/licensing-resources-dh

  2. The applicant arranges for a Certificate of Standing from the other Canadian jurisdiction to be sent directly to BCCOHP.

    Source
    “If you are currently or have previously been licensed or registered in another Canadian jurisdiction, BCCOHP requires a Certificate of Standing from that jurisdiction for your application for dental hygienist licence.”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/licensing-resources-dh

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with BCCOHP

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,538.60 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,538.60

  1. Applicants from non-accredited programs who are not licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction must successfully complete the CPEDH offered by the FDHRC.

    Source
    “must successfully complete the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH) offered by the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC).”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/licensing-resources-dh

  2. The applicant then applies for an initial licence with BCCOHP following the general application process.

    Source
    “Click on the category below for link to apply online or for the application package.”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with BCCOHP

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,538.60 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

Police check

  • Applicants must undergo a criminal record check process conducted by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

    Source
    “As part of the application process, applicants will have to undergo a criminal record check (CRC) process conducted by the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General.”
    oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini...

Insurance

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Dental hygienists licensed or registered in another Canadian jurisdiction recognized under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement are eligible to apply for licence to practise in BC.

Source
“Dental hygienists licensed or registered in another Canadian jurisdiction recognized under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), are eligible to apply for licence to practice in BC.”
oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/licensing-resources-dh

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32111, Dental hygienists and dental therapists. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $43.59 $55.00 $65.00 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $32.00 $45.00 $60.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Dental hygienists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 8 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare dental hygienist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Dental Hygienist Licensing & Renewal | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Dental Hygienists Initial Licences | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/dental-hygienist-ini... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Dental Hygienist Licensing Resources | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dh-licensing-renewal/licensing-resources-dh · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Renewal Fees | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/annual-renewals/renewal-fees · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Dental Hygiene Incorporations | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/incorporations/dh-incorporations · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a dental hygienist in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals of BC is required to practise in British Columbia.

Which exams are required?

National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE), Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH).

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