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Non-Practising Class

The Non-Practising Class is a type of Certificate of Registration for RDHs who are not practising for an extended period, but who wish to maintain their registration with CDHO. Reasons to apply to the Non-Practising Class include:

  • Family/parental leave
  • Educational leave/returning to school
  • Temporary move to another jurisdiction
  • Medical/personal leave
  • Retirement/career change

The Non-Practising Class is not designed for short-term absences from practice (e.g., temporary unemployment, extended vacation, etc.). RDHs who are not planning to practise Dental Hygiene in Ontario may also consider resigning.

Definition of “Practising”

The practice of Dental Hygiene is the assessment of teeth and adjacent tissues and treatment by preventive and therapeutic means, and the provision of restorative and orthodontic procedures and services. When practising Dental Hygiene, and subject to specific rules, RDHs can perform the following controlled acts:

  1. Scaling teeth and root planing, including curetting surrounding tissue.
  2. Orthodontic and restorative procedures.
  3. Prescribing, dispensing, compounding or selling a drug designated in the regulations (i.e., chlorhexidine, fluoride).

If you are registered in the Non-Practising Class, you cannot practise as a Dental Hygienist in Ontario or perform any of the controlled acts listed above, even on a volunteer or temporary basis.

Certain acts, such as teeth whitening, polishing and oral hygiene instruction, fall within the Scope of Practice of Dental Hygiene, but can also be performed by non-regulated individuals because they are not controlled acts. Due to the legitimate expectation of clients that a person offering these services is practising as a Dental Hygienist, CDHO expects that RDHs who perform these types of activities are registered in the General or Specialty Class. RDHs who wish to do this work without being accountable to CDHO should resign.

RDHs who provide non-clinical instruction (i.e., theory rather than clinical instruction) in Dental Hygiene education programs may be registered in the Non-Practising Class.

To determine whether you are practising as a Dental Hygienist, consider the following questions:

  • Am I performing any of the controlled acts (i.e., scaling, root planing, restorative, orthodontics, prescribing)?
  • Do I use the title “Dental Hygienist” or “Registered Dental Hygienist” while providing clinical treatment, advice, education or other services within Scope?
  • Am I relying on my knowledge, skills and judgment as a Dental Hygienist to perform my duties?
  • Are clients seeking a treatment or service from me because of my training as a Dental Hygienist?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, you are likely practising and would not be permitted to hold a Certificate of Registration in the Non-Practising Class.

Eligibility

You may apply for the Non-Practising Class if you:

  • are a current holder of a General or Specialty Certificate of Registration, or
  • are registered as a Dental Hygienist in another Canadian jurisdiction and meet specified registration requirements in Ontario, or
  • are not registered with CDHO, but you meet specified requirements for registration with CDHO.

You may apply to the Non-Practising Class by submitting a request through the Self-Service Portal. If you meet the eligibility criteria but are not currently registered with CDHO, please contact the Registration Department at registration@cdho.org.

Use of Title

When registered in the Non-Practising Class, you may use the titles “Dental Hygienist” or “Registered Dental Hygienist” and the abbreviation “RDH”, but you should be careful not to claim to be able to practise as a Dental Hygienist in Ontario. It is good practice to list “Non-Practising” following the use of the RDH designation in professional materials (e.g., “Jane Smith, RDH (Non-Practising)”).

Requirements of the Non-Practising Class

RDHs registered in the Non-Practising Class:

  • Pay a reduced annual fee and still renew annually.
  • Do not need to hold Professional Liability Insurance for the time they are not practising (Please ensure you still hold “tail coverage” for the period in which you were practising).
  • Still participate in the Quality Assurance Program.

Returning to Practice

If you are registered in the Non-Practising Class for less than three years, you may return to the General or Specialty Class by applying to CDHO and paying the required fees. This process can take up to 10 business days, and you cannot practise until CDHO updates your Certificate of Registration.

If you have not practised for more than three years, you will also need to demonstrate current competence in Dental Hygiene before returning to practice. You can do this by any of the following means:

  • Having practised Dental Hygiene in another jurisdiction within the previous three years in a manner that demonstrates that you could meet the current standards of practice in Ontario.
  • Completing a refresher course approved by the Registration Committee.
  • Undergoing a professional competency assessment set by the Registration Committee and, if recommended by the assessment, completing upgrading courses approved by the Registration Committee.

If you have questions about the Non-Practising Class, please contact registration@cdho.org.