How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Newfoundland and Labrador
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals to work as a dental hygienist in Newfoundland and Labrador or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“In Newfoundland and Labrador, only registrants with the NLCHP and NLCDH can use the following title or abbreviation.”
From nlchp.ca/colleges/nlcdh, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 1 step
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Trained outside Canada: 4 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
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You must apply for registration with the NLCHP and have confirmation that it is approved before starting work.
Source
“To practice in NL, you must apply for and have confirmation that your registration is approved before commencing employment.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
-
You must apply for registration with the NLCHP and have confirmation that it is approved before starting work.
Source
“To practice in NL, you must apply for and have confirmation that your registration is approved before commencing employment.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienist
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
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As a graduate of a dental hygiene program outside Canada, you must first apply to the FDHRC for an equivalency assessment of your educational credentials and qualifications.
Source
“As an applicant who graduated from a dental hygiene program outside Canada, you must first apply to the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) for an equivalency assessment of your educational credentials and qualifications to determine if they are substantially equivalent to the Canadian dental hygiene educational standards.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh -
Once you receive formal notice that you have been granted equivalency, you are eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination.
Source
“Once you have received formal notice that you have been granted equivalency, you are then eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE).”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh -
After passing the NDHCE, you must also successfully pass the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene before you can register to practice in NL.
Source
“Once you have passed the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE), you must then also successfully pass the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH) before you can register to practice in NL.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh -
You must apply for registration with the NLCHP and submit the required documents.
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
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.
- Unauthorized Practice Fee: $100 (per day worked without a valid practicing license)
Source
“Individuals who practice without a valid practicing license will be subject to a penalty of $100/per day worked and where the period of practice exceeds three days from and including the 1st day will be subject to discipline in accordance with Part V of the *Health Professions Act* (2010).”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Requirements
Education
You must have official transcripts or proof of education program completion sent directly from your educational institution to the NLCHP.
Source
“You must have official transcripts/proof of education program completion sent directly from your educational institution to the NLCHP.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Experience
Dental hygienists must confirm they have practiced 1500 hours in the previous four years.
Source
“Dental Hygienists must confirm that they have practiced 1500 hours in the previous four years.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienist
Police check
You must submit a Certificate of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Check dated within 6 months of your application date.
Source
“The Certificate of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Check must be dated within 6 months of your application date.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Insurance
You must have professional liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000.
Source
“Proof of professional liability insurance (PLI) must show your name, dates of coverage, and amount of coverage. Dental Hygienists must have a minimum of $ 1,000,000 PLI”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Other
You must complete required online courses, including a jurisprudence course, within 3 months of submitting your application.
Source
“Certificates of completion are required for the following online courses. Courses must be completed withing 3 months of the date your application is submitted.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-gradsYour CPR certification must be approved by the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dental Hygienists.
Source
“Your CPR certification must be approved by the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dental Hygienist (NLCDH), see CPR Policy”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-gradsIndividuals currently or previously registered in another jurisdiction must provide a Verification of Registration/Letter of Good Standing sent directly to NLCHP from the regulatory body.
Source
“Individuals currently or previously registered to practice in another jurisdiction must provide a Verification of Registration/Letter of Good Standing (s): These letters must be sent directly to NLCHP from the Regulatory Body.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienistYou must provide proof that you have successfully completed the National Certification Exam.
Source
“You must provide proof that you have successfully completed the National Certification Exam.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state whether applicants licensed in another Canadian province can register based on their current licence without additional assessments. Source
“Individuals currently or previously registered to practice in another jurisdiction must provide a Verification of Registration/Letter of Good Standing (s): These letters must be sent directly to NLCHP from the Regulatory Body.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienist
Provide letter of good standing
Source
“Individuals currently or previously registered to practice in another jurisdiction must provide a Verification of Registration/Letter of Good Standing (s): These letters must be sent directly to NLCHP from the Regulatory Body.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienist
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Credential assessment
Equivalency assessment
Assess educational credentials and qualifications of graduates of dental hygiene programs outside Canada against Canadian educational standards.
Source
“As an applicant who graduated from a dental hygiene program outside Canada, you must first apply to the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) for an equivalency assessment of your educational credentials and qualifications to determine if they are substantially equivalent to the Canadian dental hygiene educational standards.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh
Exams
-
National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE)
Source
“Once you have received formal notice that you have been granted equivalency, you are then eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE).”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh -
Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH)
Source
“Once you have passed the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE), you must then also successfully pass the Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH) before you can register to practice in NL.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh -
National Certification Exam
Source
“You must provide proof that you have successfully completed the National Certification Exam.”
nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 | $50.00 | $74.27 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $32.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 | — |
Wages by region and job outlook in Newfoundland and Labrador
Dental hygienists in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dental Hygienists (NLCDH) – NLCHPShapeGroup 11 nlchp.ca/colleges/nlcdh · fetched October 9, 2026
- Dental Hygienists – NLCHPShapeGroup 11 nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-new-grads · fetched October 9, 2026
- Dental Hygienists – NLCHPShapeGroup 11 nlchp.ca/dental-hygienist · fetched October 9, 2026
- Dental Hygienists (DH) – NLCHPShapeGroup 11 nlchp.ca/dental-hygienists-dh · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a dental hygienist in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. Registration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals is required to practise in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Which exams are required?
National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE), Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene (CPEDH), National Certification Exam.
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