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Prescribed Qualifications for Registration as a Dental Hygienist
 
The Council has defined the following lists of prescribed qualifications:

Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice

  • Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago; or
  • Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology; and Dental Council approved course for Orthodontic Procedures; or
  • Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography; or
  • New Zealand Defence Force training programme in Dental Hygiene and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography; or
  • Diploma in Dental Hygiene issued by a New Zealand educational institution; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography; or
  • Diploma in Dental Hygiene, University of Otago (Orthodontic Procedures conferred from 2002) and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic and Extra-oral Radiography, or
  • Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago; or
  • an undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma from the Australian Dental Council or Dental Board of Australia accredited educational institution that included education in Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography and registration in Australia (*); or
  • an undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma, or undergraduate dental degree; and a pass in the Dental Council Dental Hygiene Registration Examination; or
  • an undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma or undergraduate dental degree and a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination or Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination and a pass in a USA or Canadian regional or state board dental hygiene clinical examination; and registration with a USA or Canadian dental authority; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography; or
  • a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma; a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination or Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination; and registration with a USA or Canadian dental authority; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography; or
  • a General Dental Council (GDC) accredited undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma from the United Kingdom; and registration with the GDC; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography; or
  • a Certificate or Diploma in Dental Hygiene conferred by the GDC; and registration with the GDC; and Dental Council approved courses for Administering Local Anaesthetic, Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures, Intra-oral Radiography and Extra-oral Radiography.
(*) With the introduction of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme in 2010 all Australian State Licensing Boards were replaced by the Dental Board of Australia.