How to Become a Dental Therapist in British Columbia
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 therapist in British Columbia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Oral health professionals (licensed dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental therapists, dentists and denturists) must be licensed with BCCOHP to practise in British Columbia.”
From oralhealthbc.ca/licensure, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
- Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Your roadmap
The steps are not listed yet.
Check the current steps with BC College of Oral Health Professionals of BC.
Requirements
Education
You must graduate with a diploma or degree in dental therapy from the National School of Dental Therapy or a program the Licence Committee considers substantially equivalent.
Source
“Graduate with a diploma or degree in dental therapy from the National School of Dental Therapy or a program in the opinion of the Licence Committee, substantially equivalent to the dental therapy program from the National School of Dental Therapy”
oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dental-therapist-licensure-renewal/dental...
Other
You must be employed by the First Nations Health Authority, a regional health authority, an Indigenous governing body, a First Nations Community, or a not-for-profit facility to apply for a dental therapist licence.
Source
“Under the BCCOHP Bylaws, you must be employed by one of the following to apply for licence as a dental therapist at BCCOHP: the First Nations Health Authority a regional health authority an Indigenous governing body a First Nations Community a not-for-profit facility.”
oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dental-therapist-licensure-renewal/dental...Applicants must provide proof of employment to BCCOHP.
Source
“As a result of this, BCCOHP requires proof of employment from applicants for licence as a dental therapist.”
oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dental-therapist-licensure-renewal/dental...
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state how a dental therapist licensed in another Canadian province or territory can register in British Columbia. Source
“If you are interested in working as a dental therapist in BC, you will need to contact one of the above organizations for more information.”
oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dental-therapist-licensure-renewal/dental...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCOHP
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $43.59 | $55.00 | $65.00 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $32.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 | — |
Dental therapists in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Licence required
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Licence required
Sources checked
- Licensing | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure · fetched October 10, 2026
- Dental Therapists Initial Licences | British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals oralhealthbc.ca/licensure/dental-therapist-licensure-renewal/dental... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as a dental therapist in British Columbia?
Yes. Registration with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals of BC is required to practise in British Columbia.
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