1. When is the next examination?
2. Is the certification examination required everywhere in Canada?
3. I recently wrote the examination, when can I have my results?
4. If I pay extra money can I have my NDHCE results couriered to me?
5. I am a Dentist in my country and I want to practice dental hygiene in Canada, what must I do to be eligible to write the examination?
6. What does a notarized copy mean?
7. What constitutes a certified official translation?
8. If I attend a non-accredited dental hygiene program and graduate, will I be able to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination?
9. If I attend a dental hygiene program in Ontario does that mean that I have to write my examination at the school I am attending in Ontario?
10. What would you recommend I use to study?

1. When is the next examination?

All information about upcoming examinations, including the application deadlines can be found here.

2. Is the certification examination required everywhere in Canada?

No. The National Dental Hygiene Certificate (which can be obtained by passing with success the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination) is an essential requirement before you can apply for registration/licensing in all Canadian provinces except Québec.

3. I recently wrote the examination, when can I have my results?

While the results are posted in the “What’s New” section of our website as soon as they are available from the Testing Agency, the NDHCB has up to six weeks from the day you wrote the NDHCE to deliver examination results and all the supporting documents (typically the results are mailed out within two weeks after they are posted on the Web). We cannot respond to telephone calls asking when they will be sent, we can only say that they will be mailed out as soon as possible.

4. If I pay extra money can I have my NDHCE results couriered to me?

No! This is not an option. Passing results are mailed out by regular mail and failing results are sent by registered mail (due to the fact that there is a time limit for appeals we need to know the exact date they are received). Everyone’s results are sent on the same day.

5. I am a Dentist in my country and I want to practice dental hygiene in Canada, what must I do to be eligible to write the examination?

The NDHCB can only evaluate graduates of dental hygiene programs and does not evaluate individuals who have graduated from other Oral Health related programs even if some dental hygiene education component was taught during these programs.

6. What does a notarized copy mean?

Notarized means that you take the original of the requested document and you take it to an individual who is able to notarize documents (lawyer, notary, commissioner of oath). That individual will take your original, make a copy of it and then stamp it with a special stamp that indicates that the document has been notarized and is a true copy of the original. You may find a list of notary publics in the yellow pages of the phone book or seek out a lawyer to provide the service or you can go to City Hall and have a commissioner of oath provide the service.

7. What constitutes a certified official translation?

This means that someone who is a professional (certified) translator takes your document in its original language and translates it into English or French. That professional then places his or her stamp, seal or special paper attached to the documents indicating that it is a true translation of the document attached.

8. If I attend a non-accredited dental hygiene program and graduate, will I be able to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination?

If you graduate from a non-accredited dental hygiene program you are not automatically eligible to write the NDHCE. We have a special process for individuals who attend non accredited dental hygiene programs. You will need to go to our website and apply for examination eligibility as an individual.

9. If I attend a dental hygiene program in Ontario does that mean that I have to write my examination at the school I am attending in Ontario?

You can write the NDHCE at any of the testing sites that are listed on our website. Please go to “Publications and Form", and then click on the document: “Writing Centres and Institution Codes”.

10. What would you recommend I use to study?

Visit our website under publications and forms, and you will find all the materials that we offer to use as study materials including the list of some of the reference manuals we have used to develop the examination.