4 Equivalent jurisdiction
5 Substantial equivalence
6 Courtesy register
7 Good character
8 Liability insurance
9 CPR certification
10 English language requirements
Practice Permit
11 Renewal requirements
12 Conditions
Restricted Activities
13 Authorized activities
14 Restriction
15 Students
16 Supervision
Continuing Competence
17 Program requirements
18 Program credits
19 Continuing competence program rules
20 Rule distribution
21 Practice visits
Alternative Complaint
Resolution
22 Process conductor
23 Agreement
24 Confidentiality
25 Leaving the process
Reinstatement of
Registration and Practice Permits
26 Applying for reinstatement
27 Review and decision
28 Review of decision
29 Access to decisions
Titles
30 Titles, abbreviations
Information
31 Requested information
32 Section 119 information
Transitional
Provisions, Repeals
and Coming into Force
33 Transitional
34 Repeal
35 Coming into force
Definitions
1 In this Regulation,
(a) “Act”
means the Health Professions Act;
(b) “College”
means the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta;
(c) “Competence
Committee” means the competence committee of the College;
(d) “Complaints
Director” means the complaints director of the College;
(e) “Council”
means the council of the College;
(f) “courtesy
member” means a regulated member registered on the courtesy register;
(g) “courtesy
register” means the courtesy register category of the regulated members
register;
(h) “general
member” means a regulated member registered on the general register;
(i) “general
register” means the general register category of the regulated members
register;
(j) “Registrar”
means the registrar of the College;
(k) “Registration
Committee” means the registration committee of the College.
Registers
Register categories
2 The regulated members register
established by the Council under section 33(1)(a) of the Act has the following
categories:
(a) general
register;
(b) courtesy
register.
Registration
General register
3(1) An
applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register must
(a) have
a degree or diploma in dental hygiene from a program approved by the Council,
(b) have
successfully passed a dental hygiene registration examination approved by the
Council, and
(c) have
successfully passed a jurisprudence examination approved by the Council.
(2) An
applicant under subsection (1) must meet one of the following:
(a) have
met the requirements of subsection (1) within the 3 years immediately preceding
the date the Registrar receives a complete application;
(b) provide
evidence of 600 hours of practice as a dental hygienist within the 3 years
immediately preceding the date the Registrar receives a complete application;
(c) have
successfully completed a refresher education program approved by the Council
within the year immediately preceding the date the Registrar receives a
complete application;
(d) demonstrate
to the satisfaction of the Registrar or the Registration Committee that the
applicant is currently competent to practise as a dental hygienist.
Equivalent
jurisdiction
4(1) Subject
to subsection (2), an applicant for registration as a regulated member on the
general register who is currently registered in good standing in another
jurisdiction recognized by the Council under section 28(2)(b) of the Act as
having substantially equivalent registration requirements to those described in
section 3 and who has no limitations or conditions imposed on the applicant’s
registration in that jurisdiction may be registered on the general register.
(2) An applicant for registration under
subsection (1) must successfully pass a jurisprudence examination referred to
in section 3(1)(c).
Substantial
equivalence
5(1) An
applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register who
does not meet the requirements described in section 3 but whose qualifications
have been determined by the Registrar or the Registration Committee under
section 28(2)(c) of the Act to be substantially equivalent to the competence
requirements described in section 3 may be registered on the general register.
(2) In
order to assist with determining whether an applicant’s qualifications are
substantially equivalent under subsection (1), the Registrar or Registration
Committee may
(a) require
the applicant to undergo any examination, testing or any assessment activity,
and
(b) direct
the applicant to undergo any education or training activities that the
Registrar or the Registration Committee considers necessary in order for the
applicant to be registered.
(3) An
applicant for registration under subsection (1) must successfully pass a
jurisprudence examination referred to in section 3(1)(c).
Courtesy register
6(1) A
person who is registered as a dental hygienist in good standing in another
jurisdiction who applies for registration in Alberta on a temporary basis for a
specified purpose and period of time approved by the Registrar is eligible for
registration on the courtesy register.
(2) It is a condition of registration on
the courtesy register that the person must remain registered in good standing
in the jurisdiction in which the person was registered at the time of the
person’s application for registration on the courtesy register and if the
registration in the other jurisdiction is suspended or cancelled the courtesy
registration is cancelled.
(3) The
term of the registration for a person registered on the courtesy register
(a) is
for up to 60 days, and
(b) is
not renewable.
Good character
7 An applicant for registration as a
regulated member on the general register or on the courtesy register must
provide written evidence of having good character and reputation by submitting
one or more of the following on the request of the Registrar or the
Registration Committee:
(a) a
statement by the applicant as to whether the applicant is currently undergoing
an unprofessional conduct process or investigation or has previously been
disciplined by another regulatory organization responsible for the regulation
of dental hygienists or any other profession;
(b) a
statement by the applicant as to whether the applicant has ever pleaded guilty
or has been found guilty of a criminal offence in Canada or an offence of a
similar nature in a jurisdiction outside Canada for which the applicant has not
been pardoned;
(c) any
other relevant evidence as requested by the Registrar or the Registration
Committee.
Liability insurance
8 An applicant for registration as a
regulated member on the general register or on the courtesy register must
provide evidence of having the type and amount of professional liability insurance
required by the Council.
CPR certification
9 An applicant for registration as a
regulated member on the general register or on the courtesy register is
required to provide evidence of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation
certification at a level required by the Council.
English language
requirements
10(1) An
applicant for registration as a regulated member on the general register or on
the courtesy register must be sufficiently proficient in English to be able to
engage safely and competently in the practice of the profession of dental
hygienists.
(2) An applicant may be required by the
Registrar to demonstrate proficiency in the English language in accordance with
the requirements established by the Council.
Practice Permit
Renewal requirements
11 A regulated member on the general
register applying for renewal of a practice permit must provide
(a) evidence
of having the type and amount of professional liability insurance required by
the Council;
(b) evidence
of holding a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate at the level
required by the Council;
(c) a
statement by the applicant as to whether the applicant has ever pleaded guilty
or has been found guilty of a criminal offence in Canada or an offence of a
similar nature in a jurisdiction outside Canada for which the applicant has not
been pardoned since the applicant’s last practice permit;
(d) a
statement by the applicant as to whether the applicant has been the subject of
any disciplinary action by a regulatory organization responsible for the
regulation of dental hygienists or any other profession since the applicant’s
last practice permit;
(e) evidence
of obtaining program credits required by section 17;
(f) a
statement by the applicant of the number of practice hours as a dental
hygienist obtained in the previous year.
Conditions
12 The conditions on a practice permit that
the Registrar, Registration Committee or Council may impose include, but are
not limited to, the following:
(a) completion
of any continuing competence requirements within a specified time;
(b) completion
of any examinations, testing, assessments, training, work experience, education
or counselling;
(c) a
requirement to practise only under the supervision of another regulated member;
(d) limitation
of practice to specified professional services, restricted activities or
practice settings;
(e) refraining
from practising specified professional services or restricted activities or
from practising in specific settings;
(f) that
the practice permit is valid only for a specified purpose;
(g) limitation
on supervising one or more of the following:
(i) dental hygienists;
(ii) students of dental hygiene;
(iii) regulated members of other colleges;
(iv) students of other regulated professions;
(h) reporting
to the Registrar or the Registration Committee on specified matters on
specified dates;
(i) limitation
on the use of titles and abbreviations referred to in section 30.
Restricted Activities
Authorized activities
13(1) General
members and courtesy members are authorized, in the practice of dental hygiene
and in accordance with the standards of practice approved by the Council, to
perform the following restricted activities:
(a) for
the purpose of assessing or treating oral health conditions but not for the purpose
of performing restoration procedures of a permanent nature, to cut a body
tissue, to administer anything by an invasive procedure on body tissue or to
perform surgical or other invasive procedures on body tissue below the dermis
or the mucous membrane or in or below the surface of teeth, including scaling
of teeth;
(b) to
insert or remove instruments, devices, fingers or hands beyond the pharynx for
oral soft tissue examinations;
(c) to
reduce a dislocation of a temporomandibular joint for the purpose of reducing a
subluxation of the temporomandibular joint;
(d) to
prescribe the following Schedule 1 drugs within the meaning of Schedule 7.1 to
the Government Organization Act for the purpose of treating oral health
conditions, providing prophylaxis and treating emergencies:
(i) antibiotics;
(ii) antifungal agents;
(iii) anti‑infective agents;
(iv) antiviral agents;
(v) bronchodilators;
(vi) epinephrine;
(vii) fluoride;
(viii) pilocarpine;
(ix) topical corticosteroids;
(e) to
compound, provide for selling or sell, incidentally to the practice of dental
hygiene, a Schedule 1 drug or Schedule 2 drug within the meaning of Schedule
7.1 to the Government Organization Act;
(f) to
order or apply any form of ionizing radiation in medical radiography.
(2) A
general member or a courtesy member who has provided evidence satisfactory to
the Registrar of having completed and remaining current in the advanced
training required by the Council and who has received notification from the
Registrar that the authorization is indicated on the general register or the
courtesy register is authorized to perform the following restricted activities:
(a) to
prescribe or administer nitrous oxide for the purposes of conscious sedation;
(b) in
collaboration with a dentist, to fit an orthodontic or periodontal appliance
for the purpose of determining the preliminary fit of the appliance;
(c) in
collaboration with a dentist, to perform surgical or other invasive procedures
on body tissue below the surface of teeth for the purpose of performing
restoration procedures of a permanent nature.
Restriction
14(1) Despite
any authorization to perform restricted activities, regulated members must
restrict themselves in performing restricted activities to those activities
that they are competent to perform and to those that are appropriate to the
member’s area of practice and the procedure being performed.
(2) A
regulated member who performs a restricted activity must do so in accordance
with the standards of practice adopted by the Council under section 133 of the
Act.
Students
15(1) A
student who is enrolled in a dental hygienist program approved by the Council
or a general member or a courtesy member undergoing training to perform a
restricted activity in a program approved by the Council is permitted to
perform the restricted activities referred to in section 13 with the consent of
and under the supervision of a general member or a courtesy member who is
authorized to perform those restricted activities.
(2) A student in a post‑secondary
health services program of studies approved by the council of another college
under the Act that includes studies related to the restricted activities
described in section 13, is permitted to perform those restricted activities
with the consent of and under the supervision of a general member or a courtesy
member who is authorized to perform those restricted activities.
(3) A student who is enrolled in a
dental hygienist program of studies at a post‑secondary institution
outside Canada who has visiting student status in an approved dental hygienist
program in Alberta and who is participating in a clinical practicum of the
program in Alberta is permitted to perform the restricted activities described
in section 13 with the consent of and under the supervision of a general member
or a courtesy member who is authorized to perform those restricted activities.
Supervision
16 A general member or a courtesy member who
consents to supervise a student or a general member or a courtesy member
undergoing training, described in section 15, must be engaged by or approved to
supervise by an organization that offers a dental hygienist program of studies
approved by the Council or a post‑secondary health services program of
studies approved by the council of another college under the Act and
(a) must
be authorized to perform the restricted activity being performed, and
(b) must
supervise by being on‑site and being available to assist the student or
general member or courtesy member while the student or member is performing the
restricted activity.
Continuing Competence
Program requirements
17(1) As
part of the continuing competence program, a general member must obtain
(a) a
minimum of 45 program credits in the 3‑year period that starts on the
general member’s anniversary date and in each subsequent sequential 3‑year
period, and
(b) a
minimum of 600 practice hours in the 3‑year period that starts on the
general member’s anniversary date and in each subsequent sequential 3‑year
period.
(2) A
person who is deemed to be a general member on the coming into force of this
Regulation or a person who becomes a general member after the coming into force
of this Regulation but before November 1 immediately following the coming into
force of this Regulation, has as an anniversary date the November 1 immediately
following the coming into force of this Regulation.
(3) A
person who becomes a general member on or after the November 1 immediately
following the coming into force of this Regulation has as an anniversary date
the November 1 immediately following the person’s registration as a general
member.
(4) General
members must, on the request of the Registrar, provide to the Registrar
evidence of meeting the requirements of subsection (1).
Program credits
18 To obtain program credits, a general
member may undertake the following developmental activities in accordance with
any rules approved by the Council:
(a) attendance
at an oral health‑related scientific or clinical course designed to
enhance professional development;
(b) attendance
at professional development sessions on oral health clinical practice issues;
(c) attendance
at an oral health‑related study club;
(d) self‑directed
study to enhance professional development;
(e) providing
oral health‑related presentations, beyond regular employment obligations,
to regulated members or other groups;
(f) successful
completion of courses toward a dental hygiene baccalaureate or graduate degree;
(g) presentation
of a research paper or abstract at a scientific meeting;
(h) publication
in a peer‑reviewed journal;
(i) publication
in the College newsletter;
(j) other
activities approved by the Council, the Registrar or the Competence Committee.
Continuing competence
program rules
19(1) The
Council may make rules governing
(a) the
program credits that may be earned for each professional development activity;
(b) the
type and category of professional development activities that a general member
must undertake;
(c) the
eligibility of an activity to qualify for program credits;
(d) the
number of program credits that may be earned within a specific type or category
of activity;
(e) the
recognition of practice hours for the purpose of section 17(1)(b);
(f) the
continuing competence program.
(2) The
Registrar and the Competence Committee may recommend rules or amendments to the
rules to the Council.
(3) Before
the Council establishes any rules or amendments to the rules they must be
distributed by the Registrar to all general members of the College for their
review.
(4) The
Council may establish the rules or amendments to the rules 30 or more days
after distribution under subsection (3) and after having considered any
comments received on the proposed rules or proposed amendments to the rules.
Rule distribution
20 The Registrar must distribute the rules
and any amendments to the rules established under section 19(4) to the general
members and provide copies on request to the Minister, regional health
authorities, and any person who requests them.
Practice visits
21(1) The
Competence Committee may, as part of the continuing competence program,
undertake practice visits for the purpose of assessing continuing competence
and select a general member or a group of general members for a practice visit.
(2) The
selection of general members for practice visits must be undertaken in
accordance with the criteria approved by the Council.
(3) If
the results of a practice visit are unsatisfactory, the Competence Committee
may direct a general member or a group of general members to undertake any one
or more of the following:
(a) correct
any problems identified in the practice visit;
(b) complete
specific continuing competence requirements or professional development
activities within a specified time;
(c) complete
examinations, testing, assessments, training, work experience, education or
counselling;
(d) practise
under the supervision of another general member for a specified period of time;
(e) limit
their practice to specified professional services, restricted activities or
practice settings;
(f) refrain
from practising specified professional services, restricted activities or in
specified practice settings;
(g) limit
supervision of one or more of the following:
(i) dental hygienists;
(ii) students of dental hygiene;
(iii) regulated members of other colleges;
(iv) students of other regulated professions;
(h) report
to the Competence Committee on specified matters on specified dates.
Alternative Complaint
Resolution
Process conductor
22 When a complainant and an investigated
person have agreed to enter into an alternative complaint resolution process,
the Complaints Director must appoint an individual to conduct the alternative
complaint resolution process.
Agreement
23 The person conducting the alternative
complaint resolution process must, in consultation with the complainant and the
investigated person, establish the procedures for and objectives of the
alternative complaint resolution process, which must be set out in writing and
signed by the complainant, the investigated person, and the representative of
the College.
Confidentiality
24 Subject to sections 59 and 60 of the Act,
the complainant and the investigated person must agree to treat all information
presented during the alternative complaint resolution process as confidential.
Leaving the process
25 The complainant or the investigated
person may withdraw from the alternative complaint resolution process at any
time.
Reinstatement of
Registration
and Practice Permits
Applying for
reinstatement
26(1) A
person whose registration and practice permit have been cancelled under Part 4
of the Act may apply in writing to the Registrar to have the registration
reinstated and the practice permit reissued.
(2) An
application under subsection (1) may not be made earlier than
(a) 5
years from the date of cancellation, or
(b) one
year after the refusal of an application under section 27(3)(a).
(3) An applicant under subsection (1)
must provide evidence to the Registrar of qualifications for registration.
Review and decision
27(1) An
application under section 26 must be reviewed by the Registrar or the
Registration Committee.
(2) When reviewing an application under
section 26, the Registrar or the Registration Committee must
(a) consider
the record of the hearing at which the applicant’s registration and practice
permit were cancelled, and
(b) consider
whether
(i) the applicant meets the current requirements for registration,
(ii) any conditions imposed at the time the applicant’s registration
and practice permit were cancelled have been met, and
(iii) the applicant is fit to practise dental hygiene and does not pose
a risk to public safety.
(3) The Registrar or the Registration
Committee, on reviewing an application, may make one or more of the following
orders:
(a) an
order denying the application;
(b) an
order to reinstate the person’s registration and reissue the person’s practice
permit;
(c) an
order to impose specified conditions on the person’s practice permit;
(d) an
order directing the person making the application to pay any or all of the
College’s expenses incurred in respect of the application as provided for in
the bylaws;
(e) any
order that the Registrar or Registration Committee considers necessary for the
protection of the public.
Review of decision
28(1) An
applicant whose application is denied or on whose practice permit conditions
have been imposed under section 27 may apply to the Council for a review of the
decision of the Registrar or Registration Committee.
(2) Sections 31 and 32 of the Act apply
to a review under subsection (1).
Access to decisions
29(1) The
Registrar or Registration Committee, under section 27(3), and the Council,
under section 28(1), may order that its decision be published in a manner it
considers appropriate.
(2) The
College must make the decisions under sections 27(3) and 28(1) available for 5
years to the public on request.
Titles
Titles, abbreviations
30(1) Subject
to any order made under Part 4 of the Act, a ratified settlement or any
conditions on the practice permit imposed under section 12 or an order made
under section 27 or 28, a general member and a courtesy member may use one or
more of the following titles and abbreviations:
(a) registered
dental hygienist;
(b) dental
hygienist;
(c) RDH;
(d) DH.
(2) A
general member and a courtesy member may use the words “registered”,
“regulated” and the phrase “regulated health professional”.
(3) A
general member and a courtesy member who holds a doctorate degree in dental
hygiene from a program approved by the Council may, alone or in conjunction
with other words in connection with providing a health service, use one or both
of the following title and abbreviation:
(a) Doctor;
(b) Dr.
Information
Requested information
31(1) An
applicant for registration, a general member and a courtesy member must provide
the following information in addition to that required under section 33(3) of
the Act, on the initial application for registration, when there are any
changes to the information or at the request of the Registrar:
(a) full
legal name, and if applicable, previous surnames;
(b) gender;
(c) date
of birth;
(d) home
address, telephone number, e‑mail address and fax number;
(e) academic
and practical training qualifications;
(f) name
of the academic institution from which the member graduated;
(g) year
of graduation;
(h) place
of employment;
(i) employer’s
name, address, telephone number, e‑mail address and fax number;
(j) type
of facility in which the regulated member practises;
(k) job
title and position description;
(l) number
of working hours employed in the practice of dental hygiene for the previous
year;
(m) employment
history;
(n) area
of practice and specialities;
(o) languages
in which the member can provide professional service;
(p) other
jurisdictions in which the member is registered to practise dental hygiene;
(q) whether
the member is a registered member of another health profession and whether the
member is providing professional services regulated by that profession’s
College.
(2) Subject
to section 34(1) of the Act, the College may disclose the information collected
under subsection (1)
(a) with
the consent of the general member or courtesy member whose information it is,
or
(b) in
a summarized or statistical form so that it is not possible to relate the
information to any particular identifiable person.
Section 119
information
32 The periods of time during which the
College is to provide information under section 119(4) of the Act are as
follows:
(a) information
referred to in section 33(3) of the Act entered in a register for a general
member or a courtesy member, while the member is registered as a regulated
member of the College and for 2 years after ceasing to be registered, except
for the information referred to in section 33(3)(h) of the Act;
(b) information
referred to in section 119(1) of the Act respecting
(i) the suspension of a general member’s or a courtesy member’s
practice permit, while the suspension is in effect and for 5 years after the
period of suspension has expired,
(ii) the cancellation of a general member’s or a courtesy member’s
practice permit for 5 years after the cancellation,
(iii) the conditions imposed on a general member’s or a courtesy
member’s practice permit, while the conditions are in effect,
(iv) the directions made that a general member or a courtesy member
cease providing professional services, while the directions are in effect, and
(v) the imposition of a reprimand or fine under Part 4 of the Act,
for 5 years after the imposition of the reprimand or fine;
(c) information
as to whether a hearing is scheduled to be held under Part 4 of the Act with
respect to a named general member or courtesy member, until the hearing is
concluded;
(d) information
respecting
(i) whether a hearing has been held under Part 4 of the Act with
respect to a named general member or courtesy member, for 5 years from the date
the hearing is concluded, and
(ii) a decision and a record of the hearing referred to in section
85(3) of the Act of a hearing held under Part 4 of the Act, for 5 years after
the date the hearing tribunal rendered its decision.
Transitional Provisions,
Repeals
and Coming into Force
Transitional
33 On coming into force of this Regulation,
a registered member described in section 6 of Schedule 5 to the Act is deemed
to be entered on the general register.
Repeal
34 The Dental Hygienists Regulation (AR 302/96)
is repealed.
Coming into force
35 This Regulation comes into force on the
coming into force of Schedule 5 to the Health Professions Act.