Refresher for Dental Hygiene

Registration for 2025 is now closed.

The following screening form is mandatory and must be completed if you are interested in registering for the Dental Hygiene Refresher or Remedial Program.

Course Selection

The Dental Hygiene Clinical Refresher Course is offered by the department of Continuing Dental Education in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Both a Five Day and a Ten Day Clinical Course are offered.

• The 5-day Dental Hygiene Refresher Course is designed for dental hygiene graduates who have been out of practice for less than 5 years and are wishing to re-enter the dental hygiene workforce, or are currently in the workforce and seeking to upgrade their competencies.

• The 10-day Dental Hygiene Refresher Course is designed for dental hygiene participants who have been out of practice for more than 5 years, or have graduated from a dental hygiene program greater than 15 years ago.

Course Details

Online, distance e-learning

Utilizing a variety of instructional technologies and techniques, the DH Refresher Course consists of a three month distance learning component and an on site clinical component.

• The distance learning component is facilitated through eClass, a web-based online learning platform.
• Participants complete a variety of online learning activities exploring Professionalism, Relational Teamwork and the Dental Hygiene Process of Care.
• The online learning environment provides participants with reading guides, engaging educational review activities, connection, collaboration and support as they prepare for the on site clinical component of the course.
• Students complete assignments and activities within the 3 learning modules over 3 months.
• There is a suggested timeline though the course is self paced. 
• Support and feedback is provided via email or Zoom meetings.
• A radiology lecture and pre-clinical lectures are scheduled during the last month of the course (also using Zoom).
• All participants must successfully complete course requirements and a final exam prior in order to be eligible for clinic.

In-person, clinical portion

The Clinical portion of the Refresher Course consists of instruction and continuous assessment and evaluation of didactic, pre-clinical and clinical procedures.

• The structure of continuous evaluation is designed to foster an environment of progressive learning and competence.
• Participants will spend the first portion of the Clinical component completing pre-clinical instrumentation review and will move to clinical delivery of dental hygiene care for the second portion of the Clinical component caring for clients with progressively challenging care needs. 
• Two clinical sessions per day-each lasting approximately 3 hours. The first day (5 Day Course) or two days (10 Day Course) include simulated instrumentation and Partners clinic. We then move on to patient care. Instructor ratios are no higher than 1:4 to allow for continuous teaching and assessment.

Course Schedule

2025 dates

Dates may be subject to change.

Payment schedule

If you opt for paying in installments, you must adhere to the following schedule:

Pricing may be subject to change.

Important: Failure to pay on time may result in late fees, an inability to access eClass and attend clinics, or removal from the course without a refund. Please note payment in full is required for our program coordinator to submit the report to the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists registrar (or applicable regulatory authority) following course completion.

Prerequisites

Participants must have a current CPR certificate. Certificates must be issued within the last 12 months and remain valid through the clinical session.

Out of province dental hygienists must provide CDE, in writing, confirmation of where to send results and reports for their registration acknowledging that evaluative information will be sent to the provincial regulatory body.

• It is the responsibility of participants to confirm with their regulator that this course will meet the requirements for recertification.

For Alberta registrants, please contact the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists registration coordinator at 780.465.1756 for information regarding registration in Alberta.

Online Component & Exam

Participants must have digital and internet access in order to do the online eClass.

• The required readings, reflections, video lectures, video resources and other learning activities will help prepare participants for the final exam, the on-site clinical component, and help supplement and enrich their preparations for returning to the workforce.

Upon completion of online course components, participants will write the final exam. The participant must successfully complete this PASS/FAIL exam before admittance into the clinical portion of the course. 

• External proctoring services must be arranged by the participant. The participant must email dentce@ualberta.ca of their proctor's email address and the date and time of their exam.
• If a participant has successfully completed either the NDHCB National Board exam or QA test within the last year, this requirement may be waived.

Required Text

Darby and Walsh: Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice. 5th edition. Elsevier, 2020. ISBN 978-0-323-47719-2

Available from Amazon.ca and Chapters.indigo.ca.