Dental Hygiene Profession Regulations
Regulation- Registration
- R-100-2025
- Source
- Unofficial consolidation PDF (justice.gov.nt.ca)
- Under
- Health and Social Services Professions Act
This is an unofficial reading copy parsed from the Department of Justice consolidation PDF above — itself an office consolidation, not an official statement of the law. The authoritative text is in the Revised Statutes of the Northwest Territories, 1988 and the annual Statutes volumes.
- s.19 amended by RSNWT 1988,c.D-3, is deemed to be registered in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register
- None.
The Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Minister, under section 67 of the Health and Social Services Professions Act and every enabling power, makes the Dental Hygiene Profession Regulations.
Definitions
In these regulations,
"Dental Hygiene Profession Register" means the register established for the profession of dental hygiene, referred to in subsection 4(1); (registre des hygiénistes dentaires)
"practice of dental hygiene" means the practice of dental hygiene as described in subsection 8(2); (exercice de la profession d’hygiéniste dentaire)
"registered dental hygienist" means a person who is registered in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register and licensed to engage in the practice of dental hygiene, under subsection 11(4) of the Act; (hygiéniste dentaire autorisé)
"Registration Committee" means a committee established by the Minister under subsection 2(1). (comité d’inscription)
Registration Committee
(1) The Minister may establish a Registration Committee in respect of the profession of dental hygiene.
(2) A Registration Committee must be composed of the following members appointed by the Minister:
(a) the Registrar, as chairperson of the Committee;
(b) two people registered in good standing, without conditions, in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register;
(c) one person who is a representative of the public and who has never been registered in
(i) the Dental Hygiene Profession Register, or
(ii) the equivalent of the Dental Hygiene Profession Register in a province or territory.
(3) A quorum of the Registration Committee consists of three members.
If a Registration Committee is established, a reference to the Registrar in these regulations shall be read as a reference to the Registration Committee, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Register
(1) The register established for the profession of dental hygiene under section 52 of the Act shall be known as the Dental Hygiene Profession Register.
(2) The Dental Hygiene Profession Register may be maintained in an electronic format.
(3) Any person may, on request and during regular office hours, inspect the Dental Hygiene Profession Register.
Registration and Licensing
(1) For the purpose of section 10 of the Act, a person is eligible to be registered in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register
(a) if the person
(i) has successfully completed
(A) a degree or diploma program in dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada or the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, and
(B) the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination established by the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada,
(ii) meets the requirements of subsection (2),
(iii) holds professional liability insurance, issued by a company authorized to carry on business in Canada, in at least the minimum amount approved by the Minister, and
(iv) is authorized to work in Canada; or
(b) if the person
(i) is
(A) registered in good standing in the equivalent of the Dental Hygiene Profession Register in a province or another territory, and
(B) licensed to practice dental hygiene in that province or territory,
(ii) meets the requirements of subsection (2), and
(iii) holds professional liability insurance, issued by a company authorized to carry on business in Canada, in at least the minimum amount approved by the Minister.
(2) Subject to subsection (1), for the purposes of subparagraphs (1)(a)(ii) and (1)(b)(ii), a person who graduated from a degree or diploma program in dental hygiene more than three years before applying to be registered in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register is eligible for registration if the person has, within the three years immediately preceding the date of application,
(a) provided at least 600 hours of professional services as a dental hygienist in a province or another territory, while
(i) being registered in good standing in the equivalent of the Dental Hygiene Profession Register in that province or territory, and
(ii) holding a licence to practice dental hygiene in that province or territory;
(b) provided at least 600 hours of professional services as a dental hygienist in a jurisdiction outside Canada, while
(i) being registered in good standing in a dental hygiene profession register in that jurisdiction that is recognized, by a body in a province having authority to regulate the profession of dental hygiene, as being equivalent to the dental hygiene profession register in the province, and
(ii) holding a licence to practice dental hygiene in that jurisdiction; or
(c) successfully completed a dental hygiene refresher course or re-entry program, that
(i) accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada or the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, or
(ii) approved by a body in a province having authority to regulate the profession of dental hygiene.
In addition to the information required under section 11 of the Act, an application by a person for registration in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register and for the issuance of a licence to engage in the practice of dental hygiene under that section must include
(a) the results of the following checks obtained from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and dated not more than six months before the date of application:
(i) criminal record check,
(ii) vulnerable sector check;
(b) information about any conviction of the applicant for an offence under the Criminal Code or any other law in any jurisdiction that may be relevant to the applicant’s practice as a registered dental hygienist;
(c) in the case of an applicant eligible under paragraph 5(1)(a),
(i) a copy of the degree or diploma referred to in clause 5(1)(a)(i)(A), and
(ii) a copy of the certificate from the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada evidencing the applicant’s successful completion of the examination referred to in clause 5(1)(a)(i)(B);
(d) if the person is or was registered or licensed to practice dental hygiene in a province or another territory or in a jurisdiction outside Canada,
(i) a certificate of standing in respect of the person issued by the body in that jurisdiction having authority to regulate the profession of dental hygiene, and
(ii) a letter from the body referred to in subparagraph (i) that contains
(A) a statement as to whether or not the person is or has been the subject of any complaint, investigation, proceeding or finding in respect of the conduct or competence of the person related to their practice of dental hygiene in that jurisdiction, and
(B) information about any such complaint, investigation, proceeding or finding;
(e) the address of the location where the applicant will provide services; and
(f) evidence satisfactory to the Registrar
(i) of the professional liability insurance referred to in subparagraph 5(1)(a)(iii) or 5(1)(b)(iii), and
(ii) that the applicant is authorized to work in Canada.
For the purpose of subsection 11(3) of the Act, the Registrar shall review an application for registration within 60 days of receipt of all information and documentation required to be included in the application under the Act or these regulations.
Scope of Practice
(1) In this section, "dental hygiene diagnosis" means a clinical judgement made by a dental hygienist of a patient’s oral health condition to determine whether
(a) the condition can be ameliorated or resolved by dental hygiene services; or
(b) collaboration with, or referral of the patient to, another health professional or agency is necessary or appropriate.
(2) The practice of dental hygiene means the application of professional dental hygiene knowledge, skills and judgment in
(a) promoting oral health;
(b) assessing the health of intraoral and extraoral structures;
(c) providing preventative, therapeutic and maintenance treatment for teeth and adjacent tissues, including by
(i) making dental hygiene diagnoses,
(ii) planning and performing dental hygiene interventions to prevent or control oral disease, and
(iii) evaluating the progress and results of
(A) dental hygiene services and interventions, and
(B) oral health practices and behaviours;
(d) collaborating with, and referring patients to, other health professionals or agencies, where necessary or appropriate; and
(e) engaging in management, administrative, research or educational activities, in respect of any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d).
(3) A registered dental hygienist is entitled to practice dental hygiene, in accordance with their registration and licence and subject to any conditions imposed on the licence.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), a registered dental hygienist shall restrict their practice of dental hygiene to activities that
(a) the dental hygienist is competent to perform; and
(b) are appropriate to the procedure being performed.
Licence Expiry and Renewal
For the purposes of section 12 of the Act, a licence to engage in the practice of dental hygiene expires on the earlier of the following:
(a) the March 31 following issuance or renewal of the licence;
(b) a date specified on the licence by the Registrar.
In addition to the information required under section 14 of the Act, an application by a registered dental hygienist for renewal of the dental hygienist’s licence under that section must include
(a) a written statement regarding
(i) the dental hygienist’s intention to provide the services of the profession of dental hygiene in the Northwest Territories, and the location where those services will be provided, and
(ii) whether the dental hygienist is entitled to practice dental hygiene in a province or another territory, and whether the dental hygienist will provide those services in that province or territory;
(b) information about any conviction of the dental hygienist within the past year under the Criminal Code or any other law in any jurisdiction that may be relevant to the dental hygienist’s practice;
(c) a written statement that the member has complied with the continuing competency requirements set out in section 13; and
(d) proof of professional liability insurance, issued by a company authorized to carry on business in Canada, in at least the minimum amount required by the Minister.
For the purpose of subsection 14(4) of the Act, the Registrar shall review an application for renewal within 60 days of receipt of all information and documentation required to be included in the application under the Act or these regulations.
Review of Application for Reinstatement
For the purpose of subsections 17(5) and 18(5) of the Act, the Registrar shall review an application for reinstatement within 60 days of receipt of all information and documentation required to be included in the application under the Act.
Continuing Competency
(1) In this section and section 14, "continuing competency activities" means any of the following that contribute to a registered dental hygienist’s knowledge or skills in the practice of dental hygiene:
(a) participation in courses, conferences, workshops or seminars, either as a presenter or facilitator, including time spent preparing to present or facilitate, or as an attendee;
(b) participation in meetings of a professional association of dental hygienists or a body in a province having authority to regulate the profession of dental hygiene, including annual general meetings, either as a presenter or facilitator, including time spent preparing to present or facilitate, or as an attendee;
(c) practice or consultation with professional peers to acquire knowledge and skills in areas of the practice of dental hygiene that are unfamiliar to the member;
(d) self-directed learning or study, including reading professional journals or other reference sources and publishing research;
(e) any of the activities listed in paragraphs (a) to (d) with a particular focus on Indigenous issues in dental hygiene;
(f) participation in Indigenous cultural awareness training;
(g) membership on a Registration Committee or on another committee or board related to the practice of dental hygiene.
(2) For the purpose of section 13 of the Act, a registered dental hygienist shall, in accordance with this section, complete 12 hours of continuing competency activities each year beginning on April 1 and ending on March 31 of the following year.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), if at the time of an application for renewal under section 14 of the Act, a dental hygienist has been registered for less than one year, the Registrar may waive all or part of the requirements prescribed by this section.
(1) A registered dental hygienist shall, in accordance with subsection (2), keep a record of all continuing competency activities completed.
(2) A continuing competency record under subsection (1) must
(a) include the following information:
(i) the date or dates when the activity was carried out,
(ii) the duration, in hours, of the activity,
(iii) a brief description of the activity,
(iv) the name and credentials of the following, if applicable:
(A) the presenters or facilitators of the activity,
(B) the professional peers with whom the registered dental hygienist practised or consulted,
(v) any certificates obtained on completion of the activity; and
(b) be retained for a minimum of five years.
Initial Review of Complaint
For the purpose of subsection 26(1) of the Act, the Complaints Officer shall complete their review and inquiry within 60 days of receipt of all information and documentation required by the Complaints Officer as a part of that review and inquiry.
Titles
The following titles and their abbreviations are reserved for registered dental hygienists:
(a) "Dental Hygienist" and its abbreviations "D.H." and "DH";
(b) "Registered Dental Hygienist" and its abbreviations "R.D.H." and "RDH";
(c) "Dental Hygienist Practitioner" and its abbreviations "D.H.P." and "DHP".
Fees
The fees payable under the Act or these regulations are set out in the Schedule.
Waiver of Continuing
Competency Requirements
For the first year after these regulations come into force, the Registrar may waive all or part of the continuing competency requirements set out in section 13.
Transitional
On the coming into force of these regulations, a person described in section 68 of the Act who was registered and licensed as a dental hygienist under the Dental Auxiliaries Act, RSNWT 1988,c.D-3, is deemed to be registered in the Dental Hygiene Profession Register.
Coming into Force
These regulations come into force December 1, 2025.
SCHEDULE
1. Initial registration and licensing fee...... $192
2. Licence renewal fee .................. $128
3. Late fee for licence renewal .............. $0
4. Fee for reinstatement ................. $128
5. Fee for certificate of standing............ $26