Course Overview
This is a comprehensive seven-module, fully online, certification course designed to ensure that dental hygienists have acquired the necessary skill sets before receiving their prescriber's ID number.
Register for each module with a continuous intake (based on availability) and flexible completion window (up to two years). This course is perfect for busy professionals seeking to enhance their expertise without compromising their schedules.
Each module must be completed sequentially and within the allocated time frame. Each module also has several assignments and quizzes that must be submitted with a passing grade to be eligible to take the next module in the sequence.
The exam prep and the exam can and should be taken in the same month.
Course Schedule
Participants must take the modules in order, but participants may otherwise enroll in a module at any time that it is offered. Please refer to the schedule below to see when modules are offered. The schedule is colour-coded to indicate the preferred or suggested paths of completion.
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Module Length
| Module 1: Professional Accountability, Collaboration & Communication |
1 Month from 1st - 25th |
| Module 2: Decision Making Related to Medication Use |
1 Month from 1st - 25th |
| Module 3: Principles of Pharmacology |
2 Months from 1st - 25th of the following month |
| Module 4: Drugs Used in Dental Hygiene |
2 Months from 1st - 25th of the following month |
| Module 5: Risk Management, Drug Errors, & Medical Emergencies |
1 Month from 1st - 25th |
| Module 6: Issuing a Prescription |
2 Months from 1st - 25th of the following month |
| Module 7: Storage, Disposal, and Labelling |
1 Month from 1st - 25th |
Zoom sessions
Once a month, there will also be a live Zoom meeting in which a pharmacist and the instructor will be available to students to ask questions and receive help. These monthly meetings are not required but are highly recommended.
Required Resource
Participants are required to have Lexicomp Online for Dentistry: Basic Package access for the course. A hard copy of the Lexicomp Drug resource is not required.
Policies
Please read carefully:
| Situation | Policy |
| Withdrawal before course materials have been accessed | Refunds will be subject to a 20% (of course cost) withdrawal fee. |
| Withdrawal after course materials have been accessed | Refunds are not available unless the withdrawal is due to a medical condition. |
| Changing exam dates | Candidates may apply for an extension to their prescription exam by emailing dentce@ualberta.ca - extension requests must be received 2 weeks before the scheduled exam date. Note, there is a maximum of 2 extensions per participant. |
| Missed exams |
Refunds are not available for missed exams. Missing an exam results in an unsuccessful mark and participants will need to register for a supplemental exam. |
| Rewriting the exam | If a participant is unsuccessful in their first exam attempt, participants will need to register for a supplemental exam. Participants are limited to 1 rewrite that must be completed within 3-months of the first attempt. |
| Failing the second exam attempt | If a participant fails to meet the passing grade or misses the supplemental they must retake the theory course after a 6-month waiting period. |
| Out-of-province interest | If you are taking this course while registered as a dental hygienist in a province other than Alberta, it is your (the participant's) responsibility to ensure that your regulatory body will accept course work completed through the University of Alberta. The University of Alberta takes no responsibility if you take a course through our institution, and your regulatory body refuses to certify you/allow you to practice a restricted activity. |
Have Questions?
Email dentce@ualberta.ca for more information.
Please note tuition may be subject to an increase for future course offerings.