Dental Technicians are regulated and licensed by the BC College of Oral Health (BCCOHP). The College's primary purpose is to serve and protect the public by regulating dental technology. The Dental Technicians Association of BC (DTABC) helps you adhere to those regulations by offering professional liability insurance and opportunities for continuing education to maintain your Licence to practice in BC.

To work in British Columbia, an RDT must Register with BCCOHP and receive a license to practice. In addition, they must follow the bylaws of BCCOHP and the Code of Ethics.

How to Become a Dental Technician

There are two ways you can register and become a Licensed RDT in BC:

Graduate from a Dental Technician Program approved by the Registration Committee of BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) and the Canadian Alliance of Technology Regulators (CADTR)

OR

You have provided services equivalent to those of a dental technician for not less than five years and have a combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities which satisfy the requirements of the BCCOHP Registration Committee

Both above also include the following criteria of BCCOHP:

· Is of good character and fit to practice the profession

· Consents to a Criminal Record Check in the form required by the Criminal Records Review Act

· Submits a completed application form and pays the fees required

· Demonstrates current competence to practice by completing the pan-Canadian Competency Assessment (examinations) administered by the CADTR

· Provides proof of obtaining and maintaining the required professional liability insurance coverage.

· Dental technician must be a graduate of an approved education program

· And any other requirements that the BCCOHP requests

Foreign-trained Dental Technicians who want to work in BC.

To work as an RDT, you must register with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals. In addition, you need to be a Canadian Citizen or landed immigrant to be able to work legally in Canada.

If you require a work visa, please seek information from Immigration Canada. DTABC and BCCOHP have no legal authority in these matters.

Educational institutions in Canada that provide training in Dental Technology:

Contact Information:

BCCOHP Contact Information:  
Phone: 672-202-0448 or Toll-free within Canada: 1-888-202-0448

BCCOHP Renewal Hotline for Oral Health Professionals: Phone: 672-202-0458

CADTR https://cadtr-acortd.com/becoming-registered/

NOTE: DTABC cannot guarantee that the above information is correct as we do not have any authority over the regulation changes made by BCCOHP. The information above is only a guideline. For complete details, please visit the BCCOHP website https://oralhealthbc.ca/register-renew/dental-technician-registration/ for a list of requirements and the full registration package.  

Source: BC College of Oral Health Professionals (May 2023)