How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Ontario
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario to work as a dental hygienist in Ontario or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Dental Hygienist
Show the source
“If you are registered in the Non-Practising Class, you cannot practise as a Dental Hygienist in Ontario or perform any of the controlled acts listed above, even on a volunteer or temporary basis.”
From cdho.org/registered-dental-hygienists/manage-your-registration/inac..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 7 steps, listed one-time fees $672.50
- Licensed in another province: 6 steps, listed one-time fees $465
- Trained outside Canada: 7 steps, listed one-time fees $465
- Annual fees
-
- Renewal – General/Specialty: $415
- Renewal – Non-Practising: $215
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 7 done
- Listed one-time fees: $672.50
- 6 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $630
-
Check that your dental hygiene program in Canada or the USA was accredited by CDAC or CODA at the time you graduated.
Source
“The College accepts educational programs in dental hygiene in Canada or the USA that were accredited (at the time of graduation) by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) or the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Register for and successfully pass the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination administered by the FDHRC before becoming registered.
Source
“The Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) administers the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE, or written exam) that you must successfully complete before becoming registered.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Source
“All applicants must successfully complete the College’s Jurisprudence Examination. It tests your understanding of the laws applicable to Registered Dental Hygienists in Ontario.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Source
“Some applicants may need to complete an approved refresher course or undergo a professional competency assessment.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Log in to the Self-Service Portal with the account you created for the Jurisprudence Examination and complete and submit the application form.
- Application: $50
- General Certificate of Registration: $415
Source
“| General Certificate of Registration | $415*<br>$207.50 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - General Certificate of Registration: $207.50
Source
“| General Certificate of Registration | $415*<br>$207.50 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees
Source
“To access the application form, please log in to the Self-Service Portal (the account you created to complete the Jurisprudence Examination).”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Ask your educational institution to send your official transcript directly to the College by email or mail.
Source
“Contact your educational institution to have them send your official transcript directly to the College.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Obtain professional liability insurance that meets the College's requirements and provide proof of it.
Source
“All applicants must provide proof that they hold professional liability insurance that meets the following requirements:”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat...
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $672.50
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $50 | 7% |
| Registration | $622.50 | 93% |
| One-time total | $672.50 | 100% |
6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $630 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Renewal – General/Specialty: $415
- Renewal – Non-Practising: $215
Licensed in another province
0 of 6 done
- Listed one-time fees: $465
- 5 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $630
-
Source
“All applicants must successfully complete the College’s Jurisprudence Examination. It tests your understanding of the laws applicable to Dental Hygienists in Ontario.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana... -
Source
“Some applicants may need to complete an approved refresher course or undergo a professional competency assessment.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana... -
Log in to the Self-Service Portal and complete and submit the application form.
- Application: $50
- General Certificate of Registration: $415
Source
“| General Certificate of Registration | $415*<br>$207.50 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees
Source
“To access the application form, please log in to the Self-Service Portal (the account you created to complete the Jurisprudence Examination).”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana... -
Submit a copy of a document such as a Canadian birth certificate, passport, citizenship certificate, permanent resident card or valid work permit showing you are currently eligible to work in Canada.
Source
“Submit a copy of one of the following documents showing that you are currently eligible to work in Canada:”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana... -
Ask your regulatory body to send a certificate of standing directly to the College.
Source
“Contact the regulatory/licensing body and provide them with the Request for Certificate of Standing from Another Regulatory/ Licensing Body form to complete.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana... -
Obtain professional liability insurance that meets the College's requirements and provide proof of it.
Source
“All applicants must provide proof that they hold professional liability insurance that meets the following requirements:”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana...
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $465
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $50 | 11% |
| Registration | $415 | 89% |
| One-time total | $465 | 100% |
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $630 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Renewal – General/Specialty: $415
- Renewal – Non-Practising: $215
Trained outside Canada
0 of 7 done
- Listed one-time fees: $465
- 6 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $630
-
Check that your non-accredited dental hygiene program from outside Canada and the USA is considered substantially equivalent to an accredited program.
Source
“The College accepts non-accredited educational programs in dental hygiene only from outside of Canada and the USA that are considered comparable (i.e., substantially equivalent) to an accredited program.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Register for and successfully pass both the NDHCE written exam and the CPEDH clinical exam administered by the FDHRC before becoming registered.
Source
“The FDHRC administers the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE, or written exam) and the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH, or clinical exam) that you must successfully complete before becoming registered.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Source
“All applicants must successfully complete the College’s Jurisprudence Examination. It tests your understanding of the laws applicable to Dental Hygienists in Ontario.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Source
“Some applicants may need to complete an approved refresher course or undergo a professional competency assessment.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Log in to the Self-Service Portal and complete and submit the application form.
- Application: $50
- General Certificate of Registration: $415
Source
“| General Certificate of Registration | $415*<br>$207.50 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees
Source
“To access the application form, please log in to the Self-Service Portal (the account you created to complete the Jurisprudence Examination).”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Ask your educational institution to send your official transcript directly to the College by email or mail.
Source
“Contact your educational institution to have them send your official transcript directly to the College.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Obtain professional liability insurance that meets the College's requirements and provide proof of it.
Source
“All applicants must provide proof that they hold professional liability insurance that meets the following requirements:”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and...
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $465
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $50 | 11% |
| Registration | $415 | 89% |
| One-time total | $465 | 100% |
6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $630 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Renewal – General/Specialty: $415
- Renewal – Non-Practising: $215
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.
- CDHO Assessment of Educational Credentials: $800
Source
“| CDHO Assessment of Educational Credentials | $800 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - CDHO Written Assessment: $675
- CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation: $1,500
Source
“| CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation | $1,500 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - Appealing Clinical Competency Evaluation Result: $150
Source
“| Appealing Clinical Competency Evaluation Result | $150 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - Certificate of Standing: $15
- Duplicate Wall Certificate: $20
- Duplicate Tax Receipt: $10
- Failure to Respond to CDHO Notices: $50
- Renewal Late Fee: $100
- Change of Status from Non-Practising to General/Specialty: $200
Source
“| Change of Status from Non-Practising to General/Specialty | $200 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - Reinstatement: $500 (plus the annual renewal fee)
Source
“| Reinstatement | $500 + annual renewal fee |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - CDHO Written Assessment for Re-Entry to Practice: $675
Source
“| CDHO Written Assessment for Re-Entry to Practice | $675 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - Retaking the Written Assessment for Entry to Practice: $575
Source
“| Retaking the Written Assessment for Entry to Practice | $575 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - Professional Competency Assessment for Re-Entry to Practice: $3,225
Source
“| Professional Competency Assessment for Re-Entry to Practice | $3,225 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees - Professional Competency Assessment for a Specialty Certificate: $1,500
Source
“| Professional Competency Assessment for a Specialty Certificate | $1,500 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees
Requirements
Education
You must have graduated from a dental hygiene program in Canada or the USA that was accredited by CDAC or CODA at the time of graduation.
Source
“The College accepts educational programs in dental hygiene in Canada or the USA that were accredited (at the time of graduation) by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) or the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat...Non-accredited dental hygiene programs completed in Canada or the USA on or after March 26, 2015 do not meet the College's registration requirements.
Source
“Non-accredited dental hygiene programs completed within Canada or the USA on or after March 26, 2015, will not be considered to meet the College’s registration requirements and are not eligible for assessment by either the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) or the College.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and...Applicants who completed a dentistry program will likely have to complete a new dental hygiene program, since work experience is not a substitute for supervised training.
Source
“Applicants who completed an educational program in dentistry will likely have to complete a new program in dental hygiene to become registered.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and...
Insurance
You must hold professional liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1 million per occurrence, minimum annual aggregate coverage of $5 million, a maximum deductible of $4,000 per occurrence, and run-off coverage for at least two years.
Source
“- Minimum coverage of $1 million per occurrence. - Minimum annual aggregate coverage of $5 million. - Maximum deductible of $4,000 per occurrence. - Run-off coverage (enduring or tail coverage) for a minimum of two years.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat...
Good character
You must declare any charge for a criminal or other offence that did not result in a verdict of not guilty, among other past-conduct declarations.
Source
“1. Any charge for any criminal or other offence, unless the matter resulted in a verdict of not guilty.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat...You must declare any findings of academic misconduct by a post-secondary educational institution.
Source
“5. Any findings of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct is defined as any finding by a post-secondary educational institution in any jurisdiction, including by a committee, board of inquiry, dean or other academic official of that institution, that the applicant engaged in conduct that violated the institution’s standards, codes or other rules respecting academic integrity, ethics or student conduct.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat...To practise as of right, you cannot have been refused registration by a regulatory authority within the past two years and must never have been found guilty of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, and cannot be currently under investigation.
Source
“You cannot have been refused registration by a regulatory authority within the past two years.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana...
Residency
You must submit a document such as a Canadian birth certificate, passport, citizenship certificate, permanent resident card or valid work permit showing you are currently eligible to work in Canada.
Source
“Submit a copy of one of the following documents showing that you are currently eligible to work in Canada:”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana...
Other
To practise in Ontario as of right while your application is under review, you must be registered in good standing in another Canadian province or territory.
Source
“You must be registered in good standing as a Dental Hygienist in another Canadian province or territory.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Applicants registered as Dental Hygienists in another Canadian province or territory can apply through the “As of Right” stream and begin working in Ontario immediately while their application is under review, with remaining requirements completed within six months; no entry-to-practice exam or competence assessment beyond the Jurisprudence Examination is described. Source
““As of Right”: This stream allows you to begin working in Ontario immediately while your application is under review by CDHO. All remaining application requirements (Steps 1–3 below) need to be completed within six months.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana...
Practise as of right
Source
““As of Right”: This stream allows you to begin working in Ontario immediately while your application is under review by CDHO. All remaining application requirements (Steps 1–3 below) need to be completed within six months.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
Credential assessment
CDHO Assessment of Educational Credentials
Assessment of educational credentials for applicants from non-accredited or international programs.
Source
“| CDHO Assessment of Educational Credentials | $800 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-feesCDHO Written Assessment
Written assessment that may be required of applicants.
CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation
Clinical competency evaluation that may be required of applicants.
Source
“| CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation | $1,500 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees
Exams
-
National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE)
Source
“The Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) administers the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE, or written exam) that you must successfully complete before becoming registered.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH)
Source
“The FDHRC administers the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE, or written exam) and the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH, or clinical exam) that you must successfully complete before becoming registered.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... -
Jurisprudence Examination
Source
“All applicants must successfully complete the College’s Jurisprudence Examination.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... -
CDHO Written Assessment
-
CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation
Source
“| CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation | $1,500 |”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees -
Professional Competency Assessment
Source
“Some applicants may need to complete an approved refresher course or undergo a professional competency assessment.”
cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat...
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $33.00 | $44.00 | $53.67 | Good (4 of 5) |
| Canada | $32.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 | — |
Dental hygienists in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Non-Practising Class – CDHO cdho.org/registered-dental-hygienists/manage-your-registration/inac... · fetched October 9, 2026
- Graduates from Accredited Educational Programs (Canada or the USA) – CDHO cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-accredited-educat... · fetched October 9, 2026
- CDHO Fees – CDHO cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/college-fees · fetched October 9, 2026
- Applicants from a Regulated Canadian Jurisdiction – CDHO cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/applicants-from-a-regulated-cana... · fetched October 9, 2026
- Graduates from Non-Accredited and International Programs – CDHO cdho.org/become-a-dental-hygienist/graduates-from-nonaccredited-and... · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a dental hygienist in Ontario?
Yes. Registration with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario, and to use the title Dental Hygienist.
Which exams are required?
National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE), Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH), Jurisprudence Examination, CDHO Written Assessment, CDHO Clinical Competency Evaluation, Professional Competency Assessment.
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