20 comments
If a hygienist has passed our national boards in th US they should be able to obtain a license and practice.
To whom it may concern,
I am writing regarding the issue of licensure for Canadian-trained dental professionals in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In my view it seems that a Canadian-trained dental professional that undergoes the rigors of the same National Boards that American-trained dental professionals go through should be afforded the same opportunity for employment. Given that there is an existing reciprocal agreement between CODA and CDAC, it seems to me the spirit behind this agreement is for just this purpose.
Thank you,
Bruce Svechota-Kingsbury, DDS
I am pleased to learn that a formal petition for Rule-Making, regarding section 18VAC60-20-60 of the Regulations Governing Dental Practice is being reviewed. I am hopeful that the board will amend section 18VAC60-20-60 to accept programs accredited by the CDAC.
I am a graduate of the Dental Hygiene Program at Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ontario Canada. When I graduated in October of 2011 Georgian College was accredited by the CDAC and continues to maintain accreditation. I have recently moved to the state of Virginia and would like to obtain my dental hygiene license to be able to practice. In an attempt to apply for licensure in the state of Virginia, I was told that my application would be declined as Georgian College is not CODA accredited. At this time I was also advised that there is a reciprocal agreement between CODA and CDAC but this agreement does not grant CODA accreditation, which is required for licensure in Virginia.
I was very surprised to learn that although there is a reciprocal agreement between CODA and CDAC I am still not eligible for licensure. It clearly states on the CODA website that "graduates of Canadian dental schools and dental hygiene programs (accredited by the commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada) have the same eligibility for licensure examinations as United States graduates".
I successfully passed the NBDHE this year and had my results forwarded to your state board. This being said I have been informed that in order to obtain licensure in the state of Virginia I must attend and graduate from a CODA accredited school. I understand that it is your right to decipher and apply the requirements for licensure in a manner you see fit, however it seems unfair that my qualifications are not being accepted and I would have to start from the beginning in order to qualify.
I have been practicing Dental Hygiene in Ontario for the last three years, some of my duties / depths of responsibilities included; taking and interpreting radiographs, dental assessments including periodontal diagnose(s), planning of treatment(s) required, implantation of recommended treatment plans and evaluation of treatment outcomes. Extensive experience in deep scaling via hand and ultraSonic instrumentation resulting in maintenance of up to 7mm periodontal pockets and client based OHI/DHE. All treatments and treatment planing is centered around ensuring client centered care for optimal oral health.
I have forwarded a certificate of professional conduct from the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario to your organization. Please feel free to contact me regarding any more information you may need in order to confirm the accreditation of my Ontario License and education. As well, I welcome you to review the CDHO website at www.cdho.org, to further verify their standard of practice and review the commonalities between their college and your own. Thank you for your time and understanding in this matter.
Sincerely,
Amarah Benny
As a practicing registered dental hygienist in Ontario, Canada, I was surprised to learn that the state of Virginia, as well as as other individual states, does not recognize my education as being on par with the dental hygiene education provided in the United States of America. I underwent an extensive 2.5 years of schooling at a CDAC accredited college where I was given the knowledge, skills and experience to treat a variety of clients. My education was based on the client centred process of care, ADPIE (assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation). The classroom theory courses were centred around basic and dental sciences. I participated in numerous clinical hours treating a wide range of clients, from young children with primary dentitions to adults with aggressive periodontitis. I underwent rigorous certification, wrote and passed my national board exam and am member of the self regulating college in my province (The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario). I now practice dental hygiene in a private practice in Barrie, Ontario, Canada where the approach is to prevent oral diseases and maintain optimal oral health. I have and maintain a quality assurance portfolio. I continue my education, keeping current, through courses, self study, peer groups and various readings. I am proud to be a dental hygienist. I work hard. I am ethical and professional. It saddens me to think that my education and skills as a registered graduate from an accredited Canadian dental hygiene institution are not recognized in the state of Virginia. My hope in writing this, is to motivate change in the right direction. If myself, or any other Canadian educated dental hygienist, can successfully pass the rigours of the American National Dental Hygiene Board Exam and provide proof of training from an accredited Canadian school, I would like to see that recognized within the state of Virginia. I encourage the reviewers to visit the College of Dental Hygienist of Ontario (CDHO) website to become familiar with their code of ethics, standards of practice and mission. Upon extensive review of our educational and professional standards, I am confident you will see that they closely parallel those of the state of Virginia.
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding licensure for Canadian-trained dental professionals in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As a practicing hygienist I firmly believe that professionals who undergo the demanding and thorough 2.5 years of training and have passed the state and national board examinations should be allowed to practice in the Commonwealth. Considering how there is a reciprocal agreement between CODA and CDAC, and how the professional in question has passed both boards and has significant experience practicing in the field, I see no reason why the Commonwealth should bar her from practicing.
Sincerely,
Maryam Rohani, RDH
Not allowing a registered health professional to practice in their field when they have successfully passed the state/national board exam regardless of a schooling title is taking a step backwards in advancing the ealth professional field. Clearly, they have thorough and current educational and clinical knowledge to apply their trained skills in the field of dental hygiene. Time to step forward in the right direction! I support this petition.
Teegan Todd RDH
I attended one of the best schools in Canada for Dental Hygiene and worked equally as hard as any student in an american program. I believe that all accredited colleges in Canada hold only the highest level of expectation for graduating students and those who go on to pass the board exam and work within the field.
Going to another country or state to work should not be an issue granted that the individual can pass the state board exam. That would show the individual has a firm understanding of everything required to practice in that state from ethics, standards of practice and caring for each client. There for showing that individual holds the same knowledge as any current accreddited american university program.
I hope that one day soon Virgina and other states can recoginze CDAC accredited colleges for acceptable education and me writing this would further the support this petition.
A dental hygienist from an accredited Canadian college should be allowed to practice in any U.S. State.
A dental hygienist from an accredited Canadian college should be allowed to practice in any U.S. State.
As long as the dental hygienist has graduated from an accredited school and passed the board exam to be registered in the states then I don't see why they can't practice dental hygiene in Virginia or anywhere in North America for that matter. I hope that this can be changed so we can move forward as health professionals.
Laura Bowers, RDH
Georgian College in Ontario Canada has a notorious reputation of being a cutting edge teaching facility of Dental Hygiene. Countless hours are spent to prepare all student to provide client centered evidence based Dental Hygiene care for members of our community. It would be a shame not to incorporate Georgian College Dental Hygiene Alumni into you community, I know for members of my own family I would want access to the best care available. In this case you have a highly trained and knowledgeable Dental Hygienist reaching out to the community to provide preventitive health care and dening access to this care seems unethical.
As a recent dental hygiene graduate (May 2015), I understand the hard work that one must endure in such a demanding and rigorous program. I believe that if a Canadian hygienist has passed our national board exam, they should be just as eligible to be licensed as an American hygienist.
As a practicing Registered Dental Hygienist for the past 8 years in Canada, I was surprised to hear that a fellow registered dental hygienist colleague whom I have worked closely beside and who had recently passed the American National Dental Hygiene Board Exam had been denied her eligibility to practice her profession across the border in Virgina, USA. It is my understading that in order for her to practice as a registered dental hygienist in the state of Virginia, USA, she would have to complete the dental hygiene program for a second time. With respect, this policy seems unreasonable and unnecessary. As trained dental professionals in Canada, we take our role as health care providers very seriously and our dedication to the health and wellness of the client's in our communities/practices is paramount. If an RDH trained and educated in Canada has taken all of the necessary steps to become certified/registered to practice the profession of dental hygiene in Canada and has demonstrated that he/she has the knowledge and skill to practice the profession of Dental Hygiene in America by successfully passing the required testing in place (The American National Dental Hygiene Board Exam), than it stands to reason that the state of Virginia must re-examine its rules and regulations regarding Canadian-trained registered Dental Hygienists. Perhaps a clinical evaluation of skills my be added to the testing process along with the written examination to further qualify the candidate. Qualified Dental Hygienist's in Canada deserve the chance to demonstrate their knowledge and skill in the field of dental hygiene in Virginia, USA first and formost before being asked to complete the dental hygiene program for a second time. As a professional and ethical Canadian trained RDH, I kindly ask for your consideration, time and attention to this matter as I support this petition.
As a member of the medical community in Virginia, I am shocked that accredited dental hygiene schools aren't recognized as so many other professions are recognized and allowed to practice across boarders. We are neighboring countries and you wouldn't think that there'd be a significant difference in education and training. I implore you to research further into the phenomenal education that is received by the hard-working graduates of Canadian Dental Hygienist schools.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation has learned through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewPetition.cfm?petitionId=223) that the Virginia Department of Health Professions, Board of Dentistry, is seeking comment on a request to:
Amend 18VAC60-20-60 to accept dental school programs accredited by Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) since there is an existing reciprocal agreement between CDAC and Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) to bilaterally recognize programs that are accredited by either of these commissions.
Since its adoption in 1956, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) has maintained and expanded its reciprocal agreement with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).Under the reciprocal agreement, each Commission recognizes the accreditation of educational programs in specified categories accredited by the other agency.The following educational programs are included in the scope of the reciprocal agreement:
Predoctoral dental education
Dental hygiene
Level II dental assisting
All nine (9) ADA recognized advanced specialty education programs
Under this arrangement, the Commissions agree that the educational programs accredited by the other agency are equivalent to their own and no further education is required for eligibility for licensure. Commissioners and staff of the accrediting agencies regularly attend the meetings of the other agency and its standing committees, and participate annually in at least one site visit conducted by the other agency, to ensure an ongoing understanding of the accreditation process in each country and to ensure that the accreditation processes in each country continue to be equivalent.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation acknowledges that licensure matters rest within the purview of each state board of dentistry. The Commission on Dental Accreditation submits this comment to enhance understanding of the strength and rigor of the CODA’s reciprocal agreement with the CDAC.
Letter emailed to Ms. Elaine Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator.
To Whom it May Concern
It has recently come to my attention that a proposed amendment to the current state of acceptance of dental school programs accredited by Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) is in progress. I am firmly in support of this petition and hope to see change forthcoming.
It is my understanding that there is an existing reciprocal agreement between both the CDAC and the CODA which currently recognizes accredited Dental Hygiene programs across both countries. In recognizing this I also understand that each State operates registration independently through their own dental organizations.
With CDAC and CODA currently having the reciprocal agreement, both organizations have agreed through much research and understanding that the accreditation process remains rigorous and similar in equivalency in both Canada and the USA. If a registered, licensed clinician in Canada or the USA has successfully written the board exam in either/both countries and demonstrated competency to practice dental hygiene why would they need to complete any additional training to demonstrate eligibility to practice?
As a practicing dental hygienist and part time educator in Ontario Canada I can attest to the educational training and qualifications each clinician must attain in order to demonstrate the knowledge, judgement and skill required in the field of dental hygiene. In addition to the required training through an accredited institution and passing a rigorous board exam, the college of Dental Hygienists of Ontario has designed a mandatory Quality Assurance Program to ensure that continuing education and learning occurs to provide optimal, current client centered care.
In my opinion, a Canadian or American clinician who demonstrates professional competency graduating from an accredited institution and undergoing testing of similar National Board exams should be given equal opportunity for employment in either/both countries. Especially considering the existing reciprocal agreement already in place between CODA and CDAC.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this comment regarding your public petition for rule making: Acceptance of dental programs accredited by CDAC. It appears to me that by acknowledging this petition and opening up public/professional opinion regarding this proposed aforementioned amendment it is an indication that your organization is open to policy changes in the future.
Sincerely,
Tanya Rygersberg RDH (Self Initiated)
As a dentist, what matters most to me is that a dental hygienist is ethical, professional and well trained. Where this training takes place is of lesser importance. It seems to me that if CODA, the same organization that sets the standards of education and training for American dental hygiene graduates, recognizes, trusts and approves the accreditation of Canadian dental hygiene colleges, then the state of Virginia should do the same.
Oxana Arkhitko, DDS
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the petition for rulemaking regading the status of dental hygiene graduates of an accredited educational program in Canada and their ineligibility for registration in Virginia. This rule is in conflict with the concept of national credentialing particularly since the candidate was successful in the NBDHE. I would assume the regulatory body of VA is a stakeholder for the NBDHE, therefore, if the candidate is eligible to write the exam, then she should be eligble to register in the state. In addition, the rule is in contradiction to the reciprocal agreement between CDAC and CODA; the agreement is indicating that the programs that have been accreditated by these two bodies are equivalent in their standards for entry-to-practice education. Should the state feel that the scope of practice in dental hygiene is further advanced, then they should take the responsibilty of expoloring the differences in more depth and deciding on a path of advanced training for individual skills, such as local anesthetic delivery, rather than a flat denial of eligibility for registration.
Thank you.
As a dentist having worked in both the United States and Canada, I support accepting CDAC accredited Canadiab colleges as equivalent to American counterparts. The Canadian accredited schools are reputable, and graduate excellent hygientists, on a level playing field with American schools and hygienists. There is no real discrepancy between hygienists trained in the U.S. and Canada, therefore hygienists graduating from accredited Canadian colleges and passing US board exams should be allowed to practice in their respective states in the United States.