To apply for reinstatement to the General Register, scroll down to the "Requirements for Reinstatement to the General Register" section on this page. Click the "Request Portal Access" link to start the application process.
To apply for reinstatement to the Courtesy Register, scroll down to the "Requirements for Reinstatement to the Courtesy Register" section on this page. Click the "Request Portal Access" link to start the application process.
If you are currently on the Non-Practicing Register and looking for information about transferring to the General Register, please visit the Transfers page.
Between October 1 and October 31, new applicants will automatically be processed for the permit year beginning November 1. In order to request to have your application processed to be approved in the current permit year ending October 31, email registration@acdh.ca.
IF YOU REQUEST TO APPLY FOR THE CURRENT PERMIT YEAR:
- You will be permitted to practice as soon as you receive your registration number.
- Your practice permit will be valid until October 31 of this year.
- You MUST also apply to renew your practice permit before 11:59 pm MT on October 31 and pay the practice permit renewal fee.
- An Administrative Fee will apply to any practice permit renewal application that is submitted after 11:59 pm MT on October 14, regardless of when your application for initial registration is approved.
Otherwise, you will NOT be permitted to practice until your application for registration is approved, which will happen after October 31. When your application is approved (after October 31), you will receive a permit for the next permit year and will not be required to renew your practice permit until next fall.
Click here to go to the ACDH Fee Schedule for information about applicable fees for each option.
If you choose to apply for the current permit year, the College cannot waive the requirement for renewal, nor can it “take back” a registration number once it has been assigned. Additionally, practicing dental hygiene in Alberta without a valid permit is a punishable contravention of the Health Professions Act.
If you were previously registered with the ACDH (or CRDHA or ADHA) and your registration was cancelled, either by yourself or by the College, you may apply for reinstatement to the General Register.
The HPA provides the College with the ability to cancel a registration for a number of reasons. The HPA also places some restrictions that may apply to when or if you are eligible to apply for reinstatement. Please read each section below to see if you are eligible to apply for reinstatement.
The College can cancel a registration if the registrant does not submit a complete renewal application, including any fees, levies, or assignments. The deadline to renew a registration is October 31 every year. Registrants on the General Register who do not meet this deadline will have their registration suspended on November 1. If they do not submit a complete renewal application by November 30, including any fees, levies, or assignments, their registration will be cancelled on December 1.
If your registration was cancelled for failure to renew, you are eligible to apply for reinstatement, provided you meet the requirements for registration (see below) and have paid any outstanding fees, penalties, or levies.
Please note: When your registration was cancelled for failure to renew, all fees that were due at renewal (Practice Permit fee, Administrative Fee, and Late Fee) no longer apply. You are not required to pay these fees in order to apply for reinstatement.
The College can cancel a registration if the registrant does not meet the conditions placed on their registration by the deadline agreed to by the registrant and College.
If your registration was cancelled for failure to meet conditions, you are eligible to apply for reinstatement, provided you meet the requirements for registration (see below) and have paid any outstanding fees, penalties, or levies.
The College will cancel a registration if that registrant specifically requests that their registration be cancelled.
If you requested that the College cancel your registration, you are eligible to apply for reinstatement, provided you meet the requirements for registration (see below) and have paid any outstanding fees, penalties, or levies.
If a complaint is made against a registrant, after an investigation and hearing, the Hearing Tribunal has the option to cancel the registration.
If your registration was cancelled by the decision of a Hearing Tribunal, you are eligible to apply for reinstatement no earlier than 5 years after the date the decision was made. If an application to reinstate is denied in this case, you can reapply for reinstatement no earlier than 1 year after the date of the denial.
If a decision to cancel a registration was made based in whole or in part on a finding of sexual abuse or misconduct, or if you have any questions regarding your eligibility to apply for reinstatement, please contact the College.
Decisions Based on Sexual Misconduct or Sexual Abuse
If a Hearing Tribunal or the Registrar makes a decision to cancel a registration based in whole or in part on a finding of sexual abuse or conviction under Part V and sections of Part VIII of the Criminal Code of Canada, you are not eligible to apply for reinstatement.
If the decision to cancel a registration was based in whole or in part on a finding of sexual misconduct, you re eligible to apply for reinstatement no earlier than 5 years after the date the decision was made. If an application to reinstate is denied in this case, you can reapply for reinstatement no earlier than 6 months after the date of the denial.
If a governing body of a health care profession in Canada, the United States, or any other jurisdiction determines that the conduct of a registrant constitutes unprofessional conduct, the Registrar must cancel their registration if the decision was based on sexual abuse or suspend their registration if the decision was based on sexual misconduct.
The requirements for reinstatement are the same for each of the above sections, however, the eligibility varies. If you believe you are eligible to apply for reinstatement according to one of the above sections, please continue reading for a full list of requirements.
If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply for reinstatement, please contact the College before applying.
The College has launched a new digital reinstatement application process. Please read the following information prior to submitting your application.
After requesting access to the Applicant Portal and prior to starting the online application form, applicants must add Continuing Competence activity records to the Continuing Competence tab on their Applicant Profile. Applicants must have 45 credits obtained within the last 3 years in order to submit the form. This is not required if an applicant has taken a dental hygiene refresher course.
As part of the required online application form, applicants must verify, enter or upload the following:
- Verify your contact information.
- Submit a Name Change Request as part of the application form if necessary.
- Verify your dental hygiene education program information.
- Information about competence to practice, which can be shown either through practice hours AND Continuing Competence Program credits, or by completion of a Council-approved dental hygiene refresher course.
- Applicants must provide evidence of 600 practice hours that meet the requirements listed in section 5 of the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy. This could be a signed letter on clinic letterhead from an employer, an ROE, or a recent paystub showing the number of hours you worked as a dental hygienist at each location.
- Applicants must provide evidence of 45 Continuing Competence Program credits obtained in the 3 years immediately preceding the date their application is complete. The credits must meet the requirements outlined in the Continuing Competence Program Manual.
- Applicants must provide information and upload a completion certificate showing successful completion of a dental hygiene refresher course dated within the last 12 months.
- Information about any current or previous professional healthcare registrations such as a dental assistant, nurse, paramedic, or dentist, etc.
- Applicants must have a Verification of Registration/Certification/Licensure Form completed by each regulatory body and sent to the College.
- The College will upload the document(s) to the application.
- Additional post-secondary education information.
- Completion information from the “Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse and Misconduct” e-learning course if the College does not your most recent completion certificate on file
- Completion certificate must be uploaded to the form.
- Information about current CPR certification that meets the requirements listed in section 2 of the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy.
- Information about Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) that meets the requirements listed in section 3 of the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy.
- PLI certificate(s) must be uploaded to the form.
- Request to take the Jurisprudence exam modules if they have not completed the exam in the last 3 years.
- Applicants will be given access to and must complete the modules.
- The College will receive and upload the completion certificate. The learning management system will automatically send a completion certificate to the College, applicants do not need to send a copy to the College.
- Answers to questions about primary language and language in which applicants intend to practice
- Answers to Good Character and Fitness to Practice declarations and the statutory declaration
- Applicants must obtain and submit a vulnerable sector check to the College that meets the requirements listed in section 4 in the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy.
- The College will upload the document to the application.
- Applicants must upload 2 pieces of government-issued identification.
- Applicants must type their full name as their signature.
Applicants will also have to submit the non-refundable $350 application fee.
When an application for registration is approved, the applicant must pay the Permit Fee before the College can enter their name on the General Register and reissue their original, unique Registration Number. The Permit Fee is $599
More information about Council-approved fees can be found on the Fee Schedule page on our website.
Please note: All uploaded documents and information provided must be verifiable by the College. The College may contact third parties such as educational institutions, regulatory bodies, agencies, or employers to verify documentation or the information provided in an application for registration.
Reference: Health Professions Act (HPA) – Sections 33, 43, 45
Reference: ACDH Bylaws – Section 13
Reinstatement Application Information
Reinstatement Application Checklist
Click here to Request Portal Access and start the application process.
Reinstatement to the General Register Fees
Applicants are required to submit the $350 application fee when they submit their application for reinstatement.
When an application for reinstatement is approved, the applicant must pay the Permit Fee before the College can re-enter their name on the General Register and reinstate their unique Registration Number and Practice Permit.
All fees are non-refundable once paid. Permit Fees are not pro-rated.
The Application and initial Permit Fees are as follows:
|
Application Type
|
Application Fee
|
Permit Fee
|
TOTAL
|
|
Reinstatement on the General Register
|
$350
|
$599
|
$949
|
More information about Council-approved fees can be found on the Fee Schedule page on our website.
Reinstatement to the General Register FAQs
If you don’t meet the practice hour requirement, the College will require you to take either a Council-approved dental hygiene refresher course or a Council-approved remedial education course to show evidence of entry-to-practice level competency. You will need to provide evidence that you successfully completed one of these courses in the last 12 months. This evidence will meet both the practice hour and the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) credit requirements.
At a minimum, applicants who have not practiced for up to 5 years will need to successfully complete a 5-day refresher course. Applicants who have not practiced in over 5 years will need to successfully complete a 10-day refresher course.
No, under the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy, only practice hours obtained in Canada can be reported. The reason for this is the scope of practice for dental hygienists varies significantly between countries. As a regulatory body, ACDH has the responsibility to ensure that you are able to demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills, and judgement to practice safely and competently in Alberta. Please contact the College to discuss your options.
If you have been using a temping agency, you may be able to obtain a record of your assignments from them. This could be a signed letter on agency letterhead. If you were an independent contractor, you could provide pay stubs, letters from frequent employers, or copies of paid invoices.
Your application will not be considered complete until you meet the CCP credit requirement. This means you can continue to earn CCP credits after you submit your application. Please submit evidence for the credits you have already and once you have obtained the remaining credits, you can provide the evidence to the College.
You can claim 2 CCP credits for completing the jurisprudence exam, 3 credits for your CPR course, and 2 credits for completing the Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse & Misconduct e-Learning course.
Alternatively, you can provide evidence of having successfully completed the NDHCE within the last 3 years.
You no longer have a reporting period as of the day you left the General Register.
Practice hours and continuing competence program credits are counted if they were obtained in the 3 years immediately preceding when your application for registration is considered complete.
For example, if all of your required documentation is submitted to the College and the information in your application is correct on September 1, 2024, The College will consider hours and credits obtained between September 1, 2021 and August 31, 2024.
Legislation requires that all applicants for registration successfully complete the jurisprudence exam within the last 3 years. If it has been over 3 years since you last took the exam, you will have to retake it. The College has made extensive changes to the exam, both in the content and the format, to reflect improvements in technology and changes to our legislation, bylaws, standards of practice and guidelines. You may find it beneficial to your practice to take it again. You may also claim 2 CCP credits for completing the exam.
If the College does not already have a completion certificate for the course on file, and if you can’t provide one, you will need to retake the course. This is a legislated requirement for the College. You may claim 2 CCP credits for completing the course.
If your application for reinstatement is approved less than 1 year after your registration was cancelled, you will keep the same reporting period you had when your registration was cancelled.
If your application for reinstatement is approved more than 1 year after your registration was cancelled, your reporting period will start the November 1 after your application is approved.
For more information about application timelines, processes, and next steps, visit the general Registration FAQs webpage.
For more information about maintaining your registration and the annual renewal process, visit the Maintaining Your Registration webpage.
Reinstatement to the Courtesy Register
The Dental Hygienists Profession Regulation allows individuals to hold a temporary registration in Alberta for specific, limited reasons. If you were previously registered with the ACDH, you are eligible to apply for reinstatement to the Courtesy Register if you are:
a) Currently registered in good standing and hold current certification, licensure, or registration to practice in another jurisdiction; and
b) Coming to Alberta for any of the following reasons:
- To present in a dental hygiene clinical training or continuing education/refresher course that includes performance of clinical procedures
- To participate in a dental hygiene clinical training or continuing education/refresher course that includes performance of clinical procedures
- To conduct or engage in a dental hygiene research program that includes performance of clinical procedures; or
- To provide dental hygiene clinical services free of charge to a charitable, benevolent, or service organization.
If you hold a Courtesy Registration in Alberta but your registration with your original jurisdiction is suspended or cancelled for any reason, your Courtesy Registration in Alberta will also be cancelled.
Courtesy Registrations are only valid for 60 days and cannot be renewed. If you are planning to provide the dental hygiene services listed above for longer than 60 days, you must apply for registration on the General Register. Similarly, if you are planning to provide dental hygiene services outside of the above for purposes, you must apply for registration on the General Register.
The requirements for reinstatement to the Courtesy Register are outlined below. Please read the information about these requirements carefully.
The College has launched a new digital reinstatement application process. Please read the following information prior to submitting your application.
After requesting access to the Applicant Portal and prior to starting the online application form, applicants must add their current CPR certificate to the Continuing Competence tab on their Applicant Portal. This must be done BEFORE opening the application form.
As part of the required online application form, applicants must verify, enter or upload the following:
- Verify your contact information.
- Submit a Name Change Request as part of the application form if necessary.
- Verify your dental hygiene education program information.
- Information about any current or previous professional healthcare registrations such as a dental assistant, nurse, paramedic, or dentist, etc.
- Applicants must have a Verification of Registration/Certification/Licensure Form completed by each regulatory body and sent to the College.
- The College will upload the document(s) to the application.
- Courtesy applicants MUST be currently registered in good standing practice dental hygiene. A Verification of Registration for a current dental hygiene registration.
- Additional post-secondary education information.
- Completion information from the “Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse and Misconduct” e-learning course if the College does not your most recent completion certificate on file
- Completion certificate must be uploaded to the form.
- Information about current CPR certification that meets the requirements listed in section 2 of the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy.
- Information about Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) that meets the requirements listed in section 3 of the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy.
- PLI certificate(s) must be uploaded to the form.
- Request to take the Jurisprudence exam modules if they have not completed the exam in the last 3 years.
- Applicants will be given access to and must complete the modules.
- The College will receive and upload the completion certificate. The learning management system will automatically send a completion certificate to the College, applicants do not need to send a copy to the College.
- Answers to questions about primary language and language in which applicants intend to practice
- Answers to Good Character and Fitness to Practice declarations and the statutory declaration
- Applicants must obtain and submit a vulnerable sector check to the College that meets the requirements listed in section 4 in the Registration and Practice Permit Renewal Policy.
- The College will upload the document to the application.
- Applicants must upload 2 pieces of government-issued identification.
- Applicants must type their full name as their signature.
Applicants will also have to submit the non-refundable $350 application fee.
When an application for registration is approved, the applicant must pay the Permit Fee before the College can enter their name on the Courtesy Register and reissue their original, unique Registration Number. The Permit Fee is $350.
More information about Council-approved fees can be found on the Fee Schedule page on our website.
Please note: All uploaded documents and information provided must be verifiable by the College. The College may contact third parties such as educational institutions, regulatory bodies, agencies, or employers to verify documentation or the information provided in an application for registration.
Reference: Health Professions Act (HPA) – Sections 33, 43, 45
Reference: ACDH Bylaws – Section 13
Reinstatement Application Information
Reinstatement Application Checklist
Click here to Request Portal Access and start the application process.
Reinstatement to the Courtesy Register Fees
Applicants will also have to submit the $350 application fee.
When an application for reinstatement is approved, the applicant must pay the $350 Courtesy Permit Fee before the College can enter their name on the Courtesy Register and re-issue their unique Registration Number and Practice Permit.
All fess are non-refundable once paid. Permit Fees are not pro-rated.
| Application Type |
Application Fee |
Permit Fee |
TOTAL |
|
Reinstatement on the Courtesy Register
|
$350
|
$350
|
$700
|
More information about Council-approved fees can be found on the Fee Schedule page on our website.
Reinstatement to the Courtesy Register FAQs
If you currently have a Courtesy Registration and would like to be on the General Register again, please either cancel your Courtesy Registration using the "Cancel My Registration" link on the Registrant Portal, and apply for reinstatement to the General Register, or let your Courtesy Registration expire and then apply for reinstatement to the General Register.
Advanced restricted activities are not automatically reinstated along with practice permits. Applicants who are reinstating to the Courtesy Register who were previously authorized to perform an advanced restricted activity must reapply for authorization.
Please go to the the Applying for Advanced Restricted Activities page and read the policy there. You can apply for an advanced restricted activity through the Applicant Portal.
