The Health Professions Act (HPA or the Act) came into force in Alberta in 2001. The profession of dental hygiene was included in 2006 and the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta (CRDHA) was established as the governing body for the dental hygiene profession in Alberta.
There are currently 28 regulatory colleges established under the Act with delegated authority to govern health professions in Alberta. The job of a regulatory college is to protect the public from unsafe practice and to hold its registrants accountable for the care they provide.
The HPA places responsibility on the CRDHA to:
The unique aspects of the practice of Alberta dental hygienists are identified in schedule 5 of the HPA.
The Government of Alberta published a easy-to-read guide, the Health Professions Act Handbook, to assist in navigating the HPA.
The CRDHA published a 15-minute webinar on the Regulation of Dental Hygienists in Alberta. Click here to view.
Under the Health Professions Act, each profession has its own regulation. The Dental Hygienists Profession Regulation is the document that guides the College in its regulation of dental hygienists in Alberta.
Dental Hygienist Professional Regulation establishes, among other things, the requirements for:
It also identifies:
It is the responsibility of all Alberta registered dental hygienists to comply with CRDHA's Standards of Practice. This includes the Practice Standards, Code of Ethics, specific standards of practice, and Practice Guidelines. All regulated members must apply these Standards of Practice in their practice of dental hygiene care, regardless of practice setting or area of responsibility.
In 2022, the College revised and developed new Standards of Practice with consultation from registered dental hygienists and the public. These new Standards of Practice went out to the Government of Alberta for consultation in early 2023.
Practice Standards 2019
Code of Ethics 2018
Standards of Practice for Administration of Local Anaesthesia
Practice Guidelines are dynamic and intended to reflect current best practice in relation to specific areas of dental hygiene care.
Professional Boundaries for Dental Hygienists in Alberta Guideline
Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct of Clients Guideline
CRDHA Drug Guidelines
CRDHA Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Conscious Sedation Guidelines
Joint CRDHA, CADA and ADA&C Guidelines effective February 10, 2021:
Dental Practice Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic
New Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines have been developed as a collaboration between the CRDHA, the College of Alberta Dental Assistants, the College of Alberta Denturists, and the College of Dental Technicians of Alberta and have been approved by the Councils of all four Colleges. The new IPC guidelines went into effect on June 1, 2022.
A Continuing Competence Program is mandated by the Health Professions Act in Sections 50 to 53.
The Health Professions Act obligates all health professionals to view the maintenance of competence and the ability to apply advances in their profession as a lifelong process. It requires colleges to establish mandatory continuing competency programs in their regulations, and to link obtaining practice permits to participation in continuing competency programs.
The specifics of each college’s continuing competence program are explained in its regulation. All colleges approach continuing competence differently, but usually include one or more of the following: