Prescribed qualifications for dental hygienists
Prescribed qualifications are the qualifications prescribed for a scope of practice under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
The Dental Council has prescribed the following qualifications for the scope of practice for dental hygiene.
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago1.
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology1.
- Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography2.
- New Zealand Defence Force training programme in Dental Hygiene and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography2.
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene issued by a New Zealand educational institution, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography2.
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene, University of Otago (orthodontic procedures conferred from 2002) and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic and extra-oral radiography2.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago2.
1 Before 1 November 2017.
2 Accreditation expired.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An Australian Dental Council accredited programme that included education in administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography3.
- An Australian educational institution qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of registration in dental hygiene in Australia that included education in administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography4.
3 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
4 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia
United Kingdom (UK)
- An approved UK educational institution dental hygiene qualification accredited by the GDC, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
- An approved UK educational institution dental hygiene qualification conferred by the GDC, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
United States of America (USA)
- A USA educational institution dental hygiene qualification accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
- A dental hygiene or dental qualification and a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and a pass in a USA state board dental hygiene clinical examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
Canada
- A Canadian educational institution dental hygiene qualification accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, and a pass in the Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
- A dental hygiene or dental qualification and a pass in the Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination, and a pass in a Canadian regional dental hygiene clinical examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
Other
- A dental hygiene or dentist qualification and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination.