(a) Successfully complete a non-accredited dental hygiene program.

In Nova Scotia, the practice of denturism is governed under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 2024.  Dentursts in Nova Scotia must comply with the Act, as well as with the Bylaws and Standards of Practice of the College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia (NSRDHDTD).

The basic qualification for registration and licensure in Nova Scotia is that an applicant must have graduated from a denturism program that has been accredited by Accreditation Canada (EQual).

A non-accredited Denturism program is assessed in order to determine whether it is equivalent to an accredited program.

(b) Apply to have the World Education Services (WES) evaluate your denturism credentials to determine eligibility to take the denturist exam(s).

Apply to WES to have your educational credentials assessed. World Education Services (WES) is an agency that assesses international credentials for their equivalency to Canadian programs.  Internationally educated denturists must submit their academic records for a course-by-course evaluation by WES.  For more information on WES’s assessment practices, please refer to their website.

If WES has indicated that it will not be able to complete an assessment of an applicant’s denturist program, or if the WES has determined that an applicant is not eligible to write the exam, then the applicant may apply to the NSRDHDTD Credentials Committee for an assessment.

As part of the required documentation, you must provide an original copy of your WES Credential and Authentication Report, and a copy of your Qualifying Examination (MCQ and OSCE) certificate, verifying that you successfully completed the Qualifying Exam. Alternatively, you may submit a notarized* copy of your WES Report and Qualifying Examination (MCQ and OSCE) certificate. 

Explanation: The Qualifying Examination (MCQ and OSCE) is delivered either by the College of Denturists of Ontario (CDO) or the College of Alberta Denturists (CAD), or both components of the Canadian Denturist Multi Jurisdictional Registration Examination (CDMRE).  This written exam assesses the knowledge and competencies of denturists, ensuring they are competent in both the written and practical application of denturism. 

*Notarized: A Notary public, Commissioner of Oaths, or Lawyer to sign or seal the required documentation. Alternatively, original documents may be brought into the NSRDHDTD office in person, where staff will authenticate documents. (If you wish to bring in your original document, please contact the NSRDHDTD office to schedule an appointment.) Contact: info@oralhealthns.ca or 902-444-7241. 

To register, complete the Registration & Licensing Application form.  

• You must also submit the necessary documentation required. You DO NOT have to submit all of the documents at once.
• Your application will not be reviewed until you submit the non-refundable application fee.
• The balance of the fees must be paid before your application will be considered complete. 
• The next steps provide further details on the required documentation. You will also find this information summarized in the application checklist, which is listed below. It can also be downloaded directly from the application form.

Registration and Licensing Checklist for Denturist Applicants May 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2025

Graduates of non-approved denturism programs who want to be registered to practice in Nova Scotia are required to meet all the requirements for registration and licensure, and meet any additional requirements approved by the Board.

As a new applicant, who is not registered in another Canadian jurisdiction, this will include acquiring a Certificate of Clinical Competency as defined by the Board(e.g., successfully completing the Canadian Performance Based Exam in Denturism, CPEDH, or the earlier provincial equivalent examinations). If you already have a Certificate of Clinical Competency, please arrange to have it sent directly to the NSRDHDTD.

If you have been informed that you are required to complete the CPEDH, please go to https://www.fdhrc.ca/pages/cpedh/ for further information. This link includes the Candidate Guide for the CPEDH and other Examination Preparation Resources.

There is no specific order that the documentation, listed below, must be provided. However, before your application will be considered complete, all applicable documentation must be received.

A. Provide proof of identity, including verification that you are a Canadian citizen or legally allowed to work in Canada.

• Upload a passport-sized photo in a format appropriate for a regulator e.g., business casual clothing. This does not have to be an actual passport photo. This gives you an example of the image size and that it should be a full facial profile (head and shoulders). You may smile in your photo.
• Upload a copy of your birth certificate. If this is in a language other than English or French, please provide a translation.
• Legally authorized to work in Canada. If you were not born in Canada, please upload a Canadian passport, your employment visa, or permanent resident document.
• Name changes: If your current name differs from that on the birth certificate and/or transcript, upload evidence of a name change e.g., driver’s licence, passport, marriage licence, or other government issued ID.

B. Currency in Practice

Applicants must meet one of the following:

• Completion of a denturism diploma within the 3 years immediately preceding the date the application for registration is received. (The transcript, diploma or degree plus the Certificate of Clinical Competency, outlined in Step 1 is sufficient, if you graduated less than three years ago);
• Provide evidence of practice as a denturist within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application for registration is received. If applicable, evidence of the 600 practice hours must be in the form of a signed letter from the employer (on letterhead), ROE (Record of Employment), or another acceptable alternative document, as determined by the Registrar. 
• Have successfully completed a Board-approved alternate requirement (e.g., refresher education program) within the year immediately preceding the date the application for registration is received. (Documentation required - certificate of successful completion, plus the cover letter from the educational institution, with the relevant individual assessment.

C. Have Currency in Continuing Education (Continuing Competence)

• Applicants must meet one of the following:
• Completion of a denturism diploma within the 3 years immediately preceding the date the application for registration is received. (As noted in B, the transcript you provide is sufficient evidence);
  • Provide evidence of having obtained 45 hours of continuing denturism education within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application for registration is received. Please enter your continuing denturism education courses (with supporting documentation) on this manual form (will be entered online within the 2025 year);  (Does not apply to applicants who graduated within the last 36 months.), or,
  • Have successfully completed a Board-approved alternate requirement (e.g., refresher education program) within the year immediately preceding the date the application for registration is received. (Documentation required: Upload the certificate of successful completion, plus the cover letter from the refresher course educational institution.)

D. Upload the certificate verifying you have completed the NSRDHDTD Jurisprudence Examination.

Applicants must successfully complete an examination for Nova Scotia which deals with the legal framework or jurisprudence that governs the practice of dental hygiene in Nova Scotia. The new exam is currently under development. If you wish to take the exam, please contact the NSRDHDTD at info@oralhealthns.ca.

• Review the Act, Regulations and Bylaws on the Legislative Information and Standards of Practice page.

E. Demonstrate Good Conduct/Good Character 

• Verification of Registration (evidence that you are in good standing in any previous jurisdiction) Complete the form provided by NSRDHDTD.

Follow these steps:

• Complete Part A of the form and send it directly to each jurisdiction where you are, or have been previously certified, licensed, or registered as a denturist.
• The jurisdictional regulatory body must complete Part B and send the completed form directly to the NSRDHDTD.

Note: If you currently hold an unrestricted practising licence in another Canadian Jurisdiction, please go to the page entitled Applicants Currently Registered or Licensed in another Canadian Jurisdiction, and follow the application steps provided there.

• Self-declaration: In addition to the good standing verification from other jurisdictions, as applicable, there are good character questions that you must self-declare on the application form.

F. Upload a permanent CPR Card/Certificate, completed at the level required by Board, taken within the last 12 months. Must include both a classroom instruction and a practical component. See CPR Information and Courses for further details.

G. Upload your Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) policy(ies), as required by legislation and Board policy. You must have PLI for the full period for which you are applying for your initial practising licence.

H. Evidence of English language proficiency, This is necessary for safe and competent practice. If there is no equivalent English proficiency requirement in the jurisdiction where you are currently registered, your primary language is not English and/or your program of study was conducted in a language other than English, you will be required to provide proof of English language competency. Please refer to the current English language requirements.

Time Frames for Processing Applications

Applications are processed in the order in which they are completed. We do our best to process all applications in a timely manner. Typically, applications take about 4-6 weeks to be completed and for individuals to be placed on the NSRDHDTD Register and issued a practising licence. This timing depends on the length of time it takes the applicant to provide all of the necessary documentation and fees. During busier times, e.g., renewals and when multiple new graduates apply, this time frame may be extended. Please inform potential employers of this time frame, so that they can schedule your anticipated start date, accordingly.

Payment Methods
For all applications, we accept certified cheques or money orders, e-transfers, and credit card payments. When an invoice is generated, it will include further details on how to complete the methods of payment. 

To ensure you are appropriately credited, provide the following information for all payment forms: 

• the first name and last name of the individual who submitted the application form.
  • This must match the name on the initial application.
• the invoice number related to that payment. Please remember that the invoice for your registration and licensing fee will be generated later in the application process. Your application invoice fee will be generated as soon as you submit your application.  

We accept credit card payment through Plastiq. Using Plastiq, a third-party service provider, you can pay with MasterCard, Visa or American Express:

• Go to: https://request.plastiq.com/pay-college-of-dental-hygienists-of-nova-scotia and register with Plastiq to create an account.
• Tell Plastiq the amount you want to pay and when you want to send it.

Please note that payments may take 3-5 business days to process and that a Plastiq service fee will be applied (up to 2.9% for credit cards, 1% for debit cards).

For more information about Plastiq, review Frequently Asked Questions About Plastiq

Applicants are required to meet with the Registrar, virtually.

This is the last step in the application process. An interview is not booked until the rest of the registration process is complete. Once an application is complete, the NSRDHDTD will contact you to schedule this interview.

The purpose of this structured interview is to ensure that newly licensing registrants understand their professional obligations regarding the practice of denturism in Nova Scotia, including obligations under the Act and Regulations. There is no advance preparation required by the applicant.

The interview will highlight:

• Relevent sections of the RHPA, the Regulations, sections 12,14,16, 23, 24, and 26, and Bylaws, sections 21-24 and 36-39;
• the NSRDHDTD Denturists Continuing Competency Program Requirements document; and
• any other relevant information pertinent to the specific registrant.

During this interview, you are able to ask questions and obtain clarity on any area of the legislation, or elements of denturism practice, that may be unclear.