International Applicant

Welcome Internationally Educated Applicants!

Registered dental hygienists in Canada are primary healthcare providers who have received dental hygiene-specific education. 

Designations include dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist, or oral hygienist.

Anyone performing dental hygiene services must register with the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba prior to practicing the profession of dental hygiene.


How to Apply

The dental hygiene profession is currently self-regulated in all Canadian provinces except Prince Edward Island. Each province has its own dental hygiene regulatory body with similar requirements for registration. Applicants must contact each province separately to apply for registration in a particular province.

Manitoba applicants must first contact the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC).

Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC)

All applications to practice the dental hygiene profession in Canada require contacting the FDHRC and completing the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam (NDHCE). Depending on where you graduated, you may also be required to complete a Competency Assessment. In order to register to practice in Manitoba the first step is to complete the NDHCE.

You are eligible to write the NDHCE if you meet the following:

1. Graduated from an accredited* dental hygiene educational program (or be within 4 months of graduating from such program at exam registration time) or,

2. Be a graduate of a dental hygiene program that is not accredited but meets all the required criteria necessary to have your educational credentials assessed, which will determine eligibility to write the NDHCE. 

*Accredited means: accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) or the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA/CODA)

i) Education Equivalency Assessment

As an internationally educated dental hygienist, an assessment of your education will be conducted. The results of your assessment will determine your eligibility to write the NDHCE. All information pertaining to the education assessment process, and other resources can be found on the FDHRC website.

Assessment Results: A positive assessment means that you are eligible to write the NDHCE and will receive a letter indicating your eligibility status. A negative assessment means that you are not eligible to write the NDHCE and a letter providing the reasons for ineligibility will be provided.

At this time, there is no language proficiency test as part of this assessment. Please note that the NDHCE is available in the two official languages of Canada: English and French.

ii) Clinical Competency Assessment

If you  received your dental hygiene education from an accredited institution outside of Canada (other than the United States of America), and you have successfully completed the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam you may be required to complete a clinical competency assessment. This clinical competency assessment may not be available in Manitoba. Please contact the CDHM office at 204-219-2678 for additional information.

NOTE: The FDHRC Equivalency Assessment can take up to a month, and the NDHCE is offered three times a year, usually in January, May and September. If a Clinical Competency Assessment is required, they are scheduled three times a year.

What is the Next Step After Passing the NDHCE?

Once you have passed the NDHCE and any other assessment requirements, you may begin the CDHM application process.

The first step is to complete the ‘CDHM Declaration Form for Internationally Educated Applicants’ and return the signed document to the CDHM office via email or regular mail. Ensure you complete the section called ‘Authorization to Collect Information’ section so we can retrieve documentation from the FDHRC to process your application.

Declaration Form: CDHM Declaration Form for Internationally Educated Applicants

Steps for Applying to the CDHM: Application Process for Internationally Educated Applicants

Fees Associated with Registration: CDHM Fee Schedule 

You are encouraged to contact the CDHM office at 204-219-2678 with any questions about the application process, and view the CDHM Fee Schedule for fees associated with registration.

Resources

Immigration

Visit www.immigratemanitoba.com

Financial Support

There may be financial supports available to you to assist you as you work through the application process. They include the following:

Employment Manitoba

Employment Manitoba delivers a full range of employment and training services to residents of Manitoba. Internationally Educated Professionals in need of assistance to re-enter their professions, may be eligible for financial supports to help pay for costs such as tuition, books and living expenses. To learn more about these supports and the eligibility requirements, please visit an Employment Manitoba Centre in person. Go to www.gov.mb.ca/employment/emp_centre_locations  to find the Employment Manitoba Centre nearest you.

Recognition Counts

Recognition Counts is a program that provides supports to skilled immigrants wishing to work in their fields of expertise in Manitoba. The program offers career and financial counseling, as well as the opportunity to apply for a loan to help with the costs associated with gaining employment in a profession or trade. To learn more visit www.recognitioncounts.ca.

Manitoba Student Aid

Manitoba Student Aid is a supplemental financial assistance program for Manitobans who do not have sufficient resources to pay for their post-secondary education on their own. They provide various types of funding on behalf of the Manitoba Student Aid Program and the Canada Student Loans and Grants Programs. This funding includes repayable government student loans and non-repayable grants and/or bursaries. All applications are assessed to determine eligibility and financial need. To learn more visit www.manitobastudentaid.ca.