Who can write the NDHCE? Eligibility for students and graduates
Before you pay for the NDHCE, there is one question to settle: are you actually eligible? The answer depends on where you studied and whether you have finished.
Here is how the FDHRC describes eligibility for students, graduates and people who trained outside an accredited program.
Short answer
A student in a CDAC or ADA/CODA accredited program can apply if they are within four months of completing the program on the application deadline date.
A graduate of a program that was accredited on their graduation date can apply.
A graduate of a non-accredited program needs an FDHRC equivalency assessment first, and a successful result is valid for three years.
If you're still in an accredited program
A student in a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) or the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA/CODA) may apply to write the NDHCE.
The program director or a designate has to confirm that, on the application deadline date, the student is within four months of completing the program.
If you've graduated from an accredited program
A graduate of a program that was accredited by CDAC or ADA/CODA on the date of the applicant's graduation may apply to write the NDHCE.
If your program wasn't accredited
A graduate of a program that was not accredited by CDAC or ADA/CODA on the graduation date is not automatically eligible. The FDHRC verifies eligibility through an equivalency assessment.
A successful assessment establishes eligibility to apply to write the NDHCE within three years from the date of approval.
What about work experience or a dentistry background?
In Canada, dental hygiene is considered a separate health profession from dentistry. The FDHRC says work experience is not a substitute for training in an educational supervised setting.
Passing the NDHCE isn't the same as a licence
The National Dental Hygiene Certificate is an essential requirement before you can apply for initial registration in every province except Quebec. The FDHRC does not register or issue licences, so you apply to the regulator in the province where you plan to work.
In short, students can apply when they are within four months of finishing, graduates of accredited programs can apply, and graduates of other programs need an equivalency assessment first.
Once you know you qualify, the next things to check are the dates and what the exam costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write the NDHCE before I graduate?
Yes, if your program is accredited by CDAC or ADA/CODA and your program director confirms you are within four months of completing it on the application deadline date.
Can a graduate of a program outside Canada write the NDHCE?
Not automatically. If the program was not accredited by CDAC or ADA/CODA when you graduated, you first need an FDHRC equivalency assessment. A successful result is valid for three years.
Can a dentist or someone with work experience write the NDHCE?
The FDHRC says dental hygiene is a separate profession and work experience is not a substitute for training in an educational supervised setting.
Is the NDHCE required in every province?
The National Dental Hygiene Certificate is required for initial registration in all provinces except Quebec, according to the FDHRC.
Sources
- FDHRC: Eligibility Criteriawithin four months of completion of the dental hygiene programChecked October 23, 2026
- FDHRC: NDHCE FAQessential requirement before you can apply for initial registration/licensing in all Canadian provinces, except QuébecChecked October 23, 2026