Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Manitoba

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 32111

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba to work as a dental hygienist in Manitoba or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“All dental hygienists in Manitoba are licensed by the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba (CDHM) as outlined in the Dental Hygienists Act and the Dental Hygienists Regulation.”

From cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
  • Late registration renewal fee: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)
    Source
    “December 31st is the last day to complete your registration for 2023, *leaving 15 days to complete your registration renewal* to avoid a late fee of $200.00.”
    cdhm.info/dec-19-important-registration-renewal-information

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)

  1. Graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program in Canada or the United States.

    Source
    “Dental hygienists may apply for licensure in Manitoba if they have graduated from an accredited Dental Hygiene program from Canada or the United States.”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

  2. Take the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination administered by the FDHRC.

    Source
    “The National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE) is administered by the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC).”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

  3. Apply to the CDHM for licensure in Manitoba.

    Source
    “Dental hygienists may apply for licensure in Manitoba if they have graduated from an accredited Dental Hygiene program from Canada or the United States.”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CDHM

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

  • Late registration renewal fee: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)
    Source
    “December 31st is the last day to complete your registration for 2023, *leaving 15 days to complete your registration renewal* to avoid a late fee of $200.00.”
    cdhm.info/dec-19-important-registration-renewal-information

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)

  1. Arrange for a letter of good standing to be sent directly from each Canadian jurisdiction where you were registered in the past five years.

    Source
    “If you are applying for registration in Manitoba and were previously registered in another Canadian jurisdiction during the past five years, the CDHM requires that you submit Letter(s) of Good Standing with your application for each jurisdiction.”
    cdhm.info/registration-and-renewal/letters-of-good-standing-and-reg...

  2. Submit your registration application to the CDHM together with the letters of good standing.

    Source
    “If you are applying for registration in Manitoba and were previously registered in another Canadian jurisdiction during the past five years, the CDHM requires that you submit Letter(s) of Good Standing with your application for each jurisdiction.”
    cdhm.info/registration-and-renewal/letters-of-good-standing-and-reg...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CDHM

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

  • Late registration renewal fee: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)
    Source
    “December 31st is the last day to complete your registration for 2023, *leaving 15 days to complete your registration renewal* to avoid a late fee of $200.00.”
    cdhm.info/dec-19-important-registration-renewal-information

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)

  1. Apply to the FDHRC for an equivalency review of your dental hygiene education if your program is unaccredited.

    Source
    “Applicants from unaccredited Dental Hygiene programs may apply to the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) for an equivalency review of their dental hygiene education.”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

  2. Apply for licensure in Manitoba with the CDHM.

    Source
    “Dental hygienists may apply for licensure in Manitoba if they have graduated from an accredited Dental Hygiene program from Canada or the United States.”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CDHM

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

  • Late registration renewal fee: $200 (if registration renewal is not completed by December 31st)
    Source
    “December 31st is the last day to complete your registration for 2023, *leaving 15 days to complete your registration renewal* to avoid a late fee of $200.00.”
    cdhm.info/dec-19-important-registration-renewal-information

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Applicants must have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in Canada or the United States, or obtain an FDHRC equivalency review if their program is unaccredited.

    Source
    “Dental hygienists may apply for licensure in Manitoba if they have graduated from an accredited Dental Hygiene program from Canada or the United States. Applicants from unaccredited Dental Hygiene programs may apply to the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) for an equivalency review of their dental hygiene education.”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

Other

  • Registrants must maintain annual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

    Source
    “This interpretation guideline is to inform registrants of the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba (CDHM) about the current regulation requirement for annual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.”
    cdhm.info/new-interpretation-guideline-documents

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The pages state that applicants previously registered in another Canadian jurisdiction must submit letters of good standing with their application, but do not state whether they can register based on their current licence without an exam or assessment.

Source
“If you are applying for registration in Manitoba and were previously registered in another Canadian jurisdiction during the past five years, the CDHM requires that you submit Letter(s) of Good Standing with your application for each jurisdiction.”
cdhm.info/registration-and-renewal/letters-of-good-standing-and-reg...

  1. Submit letters of good standing

    Source
    “If you are applying for registration in Manitoba and were previously registered in another Canadian jurisdiction during the past five years, the CDHM requires that you submit Letter(s) of Good Standing with your application for each jurisdiction.”
    cdhm.info/registration-and-renewal/letters-of-good-standing-and-reg...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CDHM

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with CDHM

Exams

  • National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE)

    Source
    “The National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE) is administered by the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC).”
    cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with CDHM

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with CDHM

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with CDHM

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32111, Dental hygienists and dental therapists. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Manitoba and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Manitoba $43.00 $47.00 $53.97 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $32.00 $45.00 $60.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Manitoba

Wages in every province and territory

Dental hygienists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 8 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare dental hygienist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Who are Registered Dental Hygienists? – CDHM cdhm.info/who-are-dental-hygienists · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Letter of Good Standing Requests and Registration Cancellation Requests – CDHM cdhm.info/registration-and-renewal/letters-of-good-standing-and-reg... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. New Interpretation Guideline Document – CDHM cdhm.info/new-interpretation-guideline-documents · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. IMPORTANT Registration Renewal Information – CDHM cdhm.info/dec-19-important-registration-renewal-information · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a dental hygienist in Manitoba?

Yes. Registration with the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba is required to practise in Manitoba.

Which exams are required?

National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE).

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