You Have Questions. We Have Answers.
FAQ for Dental Hygiene Students
What is BCDHA?
The British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association (BCDHA) is the professional organization representing dental hygienists in the province of British Columbia. BCDHA advocates for the dental hygiene profession and provides member resources, support, and education for its members.
What is BCDHA?
The British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association (BCDHA) is the professional organization representing dental hygienists in the province of British Columbia. BCDHA advocates for the dental hygiene profession and provides member resources, support, and education for its members.
What is CDHA?
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is the national dental hygiene member organization that supports dental hygienists across Canada. CDHA advocates for the dental hygiene profession and provides member resources, support, and education at a national level.
How are BCDHA and CDHA affiliated?
BCDHA is a provincial association affiliated with CDHA, meaning members of BCDHA are also CDHA members. This dual membership provides important member benefits at the provincial and national levels. Both organizations work together to ensure that resources are not duplicated so you get the most value for your membership.
Membership renewal is hosted by CDHA and coordinated with provincial associations nationwide, including BCDHA. This streamlines the payment process, ensuring members have access to both associations that are relevant to them.
Provincial Advocacy
What does provincial advocacy involve?
Provincial advocacy involves representing the interests of dental hygienists at the level of the provincial government. BCDHA works to influence public policy, promote the profession, and ensure that dental hygienists have a voice in legislative matters. BCDHA has several member-led committees including
- Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion (JEDI)
- Long-term care/Assisted living (LTC)
- Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC)
- DH Fee Guide Committee
- Practice Resources (PRC)
- Quality Assurance (QA)
What does provincial advocacy involve?
Provincial advocacy involves representing the interests of dental hygienists at the level of the provincial government. BCDHA works to influence public policy, promote the profession, and ensure that dental hygienists have a voice in legislative matters. BCDHA has several member-led committees including
- Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion (JEDI)
- Long-term care/Assisted living (LTC)
- Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC)
- Practice Resources (PRC)
- Quality Assurance (QA)
How does advocacy benefit me as a student?
Advocacy ensures that the oral health of BC residents and the dental hygiene profession remains strong and respected. This benefits all dental hygienists, including students and new graduates. For example, it can lead to greater public awareness, better DH job opportunities, improved working conditions, greater scope of practice opportunities, and greater recognition of the value of dental hygiene. It gives the members a strong voice where decisions are being made.
Professional Community
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
How can I get involved in the professional community?
Attend webinars and events, participate in member committees, and engage with BCDHA activities to build your professional network. Joining our monthly fireside/poolside chat is a great way to start!
BCDHA-CDHA Student Membership
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
What is the cost for a BCDHA-CDHA student membership?
BCDHA-CDHA membership is complimentary for dental hygiene students. This provides access to a wide range of benefits and resources at no cost during your studies.
How can I get involved in the professional community?
How do I sign up for student membership? A: BCDHA-CDHA student members register online allowing you to join with just one application. Join or Renew Your Student Membership (cdha.ca)
Graduated Student Membership
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
What will happen to my student membership after I graduate?
After graduation, student members must upgrade to a graduated student membership. This graduated student membership provides you with Professional Liability Insurance and continued access to expanded member benefits such as continuing education opportunities, job boards, networking opportunities, job and employment survey information, professional support, and so much more! It is important to stay connected to your professional Associations as you transition into your dental hygiene career. Join or Renew Your Student Membership (cdha.ca)
Student Leadership Program
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
What is the CDHA Student Leadership Program?
The Student Leadership Program is a CDHA program for CDHA-BCDHA members designed to develop leadership skills in dental hygiene students across Canada. It offers opportunities for students to engage in leadership activities, network with other DH students nationwide, and act as liaisons between their school and professional associations. BCDHA will coordinate with the CDHA student leadership representative with any provincial resources or information that needs to go to their DH classes.
Q: How can I participate in the Student Leadership Program? A: Your program and the CDHA will provide information on participation.
Student Grants
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
Are there funding grants available for dental hygiene student projects?
Yes, BCDHA offers student grants to support dental hygiene students who do outreach activities in the community.
How can I apply for a student grant?
Application forms and details are available on the Student Grant page within the BCDHA Student Resources section on the BCDHA website.
New Graduate Wage Survey
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
What is the new graduate wage survey?
The new graduate wage survey is a BCDHA provincial student resource that collects data on the wages of recent graduates to provide insights into the job market and help new graduates negotiate fair compensation packages.
How can I access the wage survey?
Students and new graduate members can access the wage survey results on the Employment Resources page within the BCDHA Student Resources section on the BCDHA website. Students hear about area-specific wage information during BCDHA in-class presentations arranged by your educators.
In-Class Presentations
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
What are in-class presentations?
BCDHA representatives offer in-class presentations hosted within your DH program to provide information on the Association and membership benefits and on a wide variety of topics that align with your course objectives. Some topics we have covered in the past include professionalism in dental hygiene, legal and risk reduction, dental hygiene practice & ethical documentation, billing and professional advocacy.
When are in-class presentations held?
These presentations are scheduled by your educators and occur typically during your dental hygiene professionalism classes, often as a virtual presentation. Stay tuned for announcements from your instructors.
Other New Graduate DH Presentations
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
Are there any other ways that BCDHA presents information to students?
Yes, after graduation, DH students are invited to a graduated student session where new graduates can ask any of their questions about working in BC. In the fall, there is a new graduate wage survey session where participants are invited to hear the survey’s results. This session is by invitation only for members who participated in the survey.
Job Boards
What is the professional community like?
The professional community of dental hygienists is supportive and collaborative. Membership with BCDHA and CDHA provides students access to the BCDHA job board, wage and employment surveys, educational opportunities, mentorship programs among other community resources.
I’m looking for a job in BC. Where can I find a job?
The BCDHA collaborated with the British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA) to create a co-branded platform where dental hygiene members can find job listings specifically for dental hygienists across BC. The link to this resource is on the Employment Resources page on the BCDHA website.
I think I might move across Canada; how do I find a job?
You can access a national job board through the CDHA website. Each month, CDHA sends an email with new job postings for DHs to review and a link to the national job board.
What if I am confused about my employment contract, who can help me?
BCDHA has a number of excellent supports for DH members to review tips on negotiating their contracts. These resources are accessible on the Employment Resources page within the BCDHA Student Resources section on the BCDHA website and include the BCDHA Guide to Employment Contracts, CRA documents on independent contracting, the new graduate wage survey report, and more. You can also access 3 employment webinars on our continuing education page under the Practice Supports section of the BCDHA website.