Give people a reason to smile.

  • Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
  • Algonquin College Dental Clinic provides the students with clients on-site to practice dental hygiene care under the supervision of Registered Dental Hygienists and Dentists
  • Graduates are eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam, which, once passed, allows for registration with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario.

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

International
Availability

Competitive?

Fall 2025

Yes

Schedule

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Program Summary

Credential

Ontario College Advanced Diploma (3 Years)

Program Delivery

Program Code

Area of Interest

Health Sciences

School

School of Health Studies

Campus

Ottawa

Work Integrated Learning

The three-year Dental Hygiene Ontario College Advanced Diploma program, delivered over two and half years, combines theory and hands-on skills to prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in preventive dental health care. It allows you to fulfil the role of the dental hygienist as researcher, advocate, educator, administrator, clinician and health promoter.

This program teaches you how to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care in collaboration with the client, community, and other healthcare providers. This happens through a variety of learning experiences including seminars, case presentations and on-site and off-site practicums. You provide preventive services in our on-site dental clinic under the supervision of Registered Dental Hygienists and Dentists. These experiences increase your employability upon graduation and help prepare you for the workforce....(read more)

Overview

Give people a reason to smile.

The three-year Dental Hygiene Ontario College Advanced Diploma program, delivered over two and half years, combines theory and hands-on skills to prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in preventive dental health care. It allows you to fulfil the role of the dental hygienist as researcher, advocate, educator, administrator, clinician and health promoter.

This program teaches you how to provide safe and effective dental hygiene care in collaboration with the client, community, and other healthcare providers. This happens through a variety of learning experiences including seminars, case presentations and on-site and off-site practicums. You provide preventive services in our on-site dental clinic under the supervision of Registered Dental Hygienists and Dentists. These experiences increase your employability upon graduation and help prepare you for the workforce.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Graduates are eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam, which, once passed, allows you to register with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario.

Once registered as a Dental Hygienist, you may find employment working in:

  • general and specialty practices
  • healthcare facilities
  • community health settings
  • research and education
  • dental sales
  • dental supply companies
  • independent dental hygiene practices

SUCCESS FACTORS:

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Are self-directed.
  • Are critical thinkers.
  • Are able to manage time and a demanding workload.
  • Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Are detail-oriented, organized and committed to achieving excellence in their work.
  • Enjoy working with people of different ages and backgrounds.

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.

Careers & Pathways

Careers

Graduates may find employment as dental hygienists working in general and specialty practices, independent dental hygiene practices, healthcare facilities, such as hospital dental clinics and long-term care facilities, community health settings, research and education, dental sales and dental supply companies.

Graduates must hold a credential as a Registered Dental Hygienist to practise in Ontario. In the final level of the program, students apply to the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) to write the national exam upon graduation. Successful candidates are then eligible to apply for registration with the dental hygiene regulatory body in Ontario, the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO).

Pathways

Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Practice in a professional and competent manner within the defined scope of practice and consistent with current regulations and standards of practice.
  2. Evaluate the client`s oral health status using determinants of health and risk analysis to identify needs, justify treatment decisions and provide appropriate referrals to other health care professionals as required.
  3. Design, implement and evaluate a range of primary, interceptive, therapeutic, preventative and on-going oral health-care services to meet the unique needs of clients.
  4. Analyze oral health issues in need of advocacy, identify networks and promote actions that will support change and facilitate access to care.
  5. Identify, select, implement and evaluate quality assurance standards and protocols which contribute to a safe and effective working environment.
  6. Establish and maintain professional and inter-professional relationships which contribute to client-care safety and positive health-care outcomes.
  7. Facilitate the development of specific oral health attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviours in clients by selecting and utilizing principles of teaching and learning.
  8. Develop and present a model for dental hygiene practice that addresses relevant business principles, current legislation and standards of practice.
  9. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2024/2025 Academic Year

Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator  

Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro  

Fees are subject to change.

Additional program related expenses include:

The fees to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam (NDHCE) and to obtain CDHO registration are approximately $1250, plus applicable taxes. These fees are current at the time of publication and are subject to change. Further information may be obtained by browsing the CDHO (www.cdho.org/) and NDHCB (www.ndhcb.ca/) websites. Hardcopy books, supplies and clinical items (uniforms, clinic shoes, lab coat, exam gloves, protective eyewear, masks, gowns and loupes (optional) cost approximately $11,500 (subject to change) for the program duration. See www.algonquincollege.com/coursematerials  for more information about books. Select items can be purchased at the campus store.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
  • Applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or Mathematics courses at the Basic Level, or with Workplace or Open courses, will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; OR
  • Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate; OR
  • General Educational Development (GED) certificate; OR
  • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing for which a fee will be charged.

Program Eligibility

  • English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher
  • Mathematics, Grade 11 or 12 (MBF3C or MAP4C equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher
  • Biology, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher
  • Chemistry, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher
  • All applicants must complete an assessment of their knowledge and skills through the Test Centre, and pay an exam fee. Results from the Algonquin College Health Program Admissions Test (AC-HPAT) will be utilized to
    establish minimum eligibility and applicant ranking. The AC-HPAT can only be written once per academic cycle. For further information on the HPAT and how to book your assessment, please visit Algonquin`s Test Centre.
  • Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
  • IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 88, with a minimum of 22 in each component: Reading 22; Listening 22; Speaking 22; Writing 22 OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 120, minimum of 120 in Literacy and no score below 105.

Not sure if you meet all of the requirements? Academic Upgrading may be able to help with that: https://www.algonquincollege.com/access/  

International Applicants

International applicants who meet the program eligibility requirements are required to complete preparatory courses (4-months in duration):

  • Introduction to Canadian Health Studies (ICHS)
  • Students who successfully complete the introduction will then proceed to their original health program of choice.
  • The ICHS requires applicants to submit an academic IELTS score.
  • Please click this link for more information http://www.algonquincollege.com/healthandcommunity/ICHS/  

Accepted applicants must complete ParaMed Requirements:

  • Vulnerable Sector Police Check (annual)
  • Clinical/Field Pre-Placement Health Form by week 8 of Program Start Date
  • Immunization for Hepatitis B is required
  • An immunization form for returning students must be submitted prior to the start of Level 04.
  • Provide evidence of a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate at the Basic Life Support (BLS). All CPR certification or recertification courses must include a hands-on component. Online CPR courses are not acceptable. This requirement must remain current until all program requirements are met.
  • N95 mask fit testing.
  • Provide evidence of a current Standard First Aid (13-hour course) certification. This requirement must remain current until graduation from the program.
  • Provide evidence of Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and Ontario Health and Safety Awareness (OHSA) Training certification. These courses meet program requirements are free to registered students and can be accessed through the Algonquin College website: http://www.algonquincollege.com/safety-security-services/home/occupational-health-and-safety/health-safety-training-resources/

Police Records Check Documentation

Though not an admission requirement, applicants must note important information listed below regarding Police Record Check program requirements.

Successful completion of clinical placement is a requirement for graduation from the Dental Hygiene program. Agencies that provide placement opportunities require you to have a clear Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS). Your acceptance for placement is at the discretion of the agency. If you register in the program without a clear PRCSVS and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to graduate.

Lab, Clinic and Placement Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in lab, clinic and placement activities, you must submit proof of a clear PRCSVS, which will be retained on yourdepartmental file and used only for purposes related to your lab, clinic and placement activities.

It is your responsibility to obtain the PRCSVS from your local Police Department prior to the deadline identified by your Department and to pay any associated costs. It may take 8-10 weeks to obtain this documentation; please submit your application as early as possible. Should you require further information, contact the Program Chair.

Application Information

DENTAL HYGIENE
Program Code 1927X01FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca  

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/  

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Additional Information

Program Resources

Please be advised that the Dental Hygiene program may have evening and Saturday classes scheduled.

Academic Year Schedule:

Year 1:
Level 01: September - December
Level 02: January - April
Level 03: May - August

BREAK TERM: SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER

Year 2:
Level 04: January - April
Level 05: May - August
Level 06: September-December

Students should be aware that if a course is in a failing position at the end of the term, a Supplemental Privilege (FSP) may be granted if warranted. FSP evaluations may be scheduled for the week prior to the start of the next term. Students must be available for FSP evaluations during this time period.

Completion of all Level 01, 02 and 03 requirements is mandatory before progressing to the subsequent levels of the program.

Contact

Michelle Atkinson

Program Coordinator

atkinsm@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext.6317

Room J117

View Bio

Michelle Atkinson

Program Coordinator

atkinsm@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext.6317

A graduate of Canadore College and Western University, Michelle is the coordinator of both the dental assisting and dental hygiene programs and also teaches in both programs. Michelle is a current CDHO Council member and a past President of ODHA.

Jodie O'Brien

Clinic Coordinator

obrienj@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 3450

Room J123

View Bio

Jodie O'Brien

Clinic Coordinator

obrienj@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 3450

A graduate of Cambrian College and the University of Ottawa, Jodie teaches science-related theory courses and is a clinician in the Algonquin College dental clinic. She has practised as a dental assistant and dental hygienist. As a clinical dental hygienist, Jodie worked in an orthodontic and periodotic specialty practice. She is a member of the Canadian Dental Hygienist Association and the Ontario Dental Assistants Association. Jodie was a nominee of the National Capital Educator’s Award in 2008.

Sofia de la Barra

Professor

delabas@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5011

Room J117

View Bio

Sofia de la Barra

Professor

delabas@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5011

Sofia de la Barra is a full-time Professor at Algonquin College. She is an Honours graduate of the Dentistry Program at the Universidad de Chile (Santiago, Chile). After moving to Canada, she obtained her Dental Hygiene diploma from Algonquin College, and holds a Teacher Development Program certificate of completion from Durham College. Sofia’s teaching philosophy is to facilitate student learning while promoting self-knowledge and social conscience. She strongly believes in the AC values of respect, integrity, learning, and caring. Sofia is also a regular item writer and reviewer for the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (previously NDHCB), and participates in ongoing professional development activities.

Tonia Peachman-Faust

Professor

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