The three-year period refers to hours practised in the three calendar years preceding the renewal year. For example, to renew your practising status in 2015/16, the timeframe for continuous practice hours is 1 January 2012, through 31 December 2014.
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Acceptable continuous practice hours include the provision of clinical dental treatment, employment as a dental educator or dental researcher, or full-time enrollment in a dental education program.
Dental reception hours are not eligible for your continuous practice requirement. In order to fulfill the requirement, a CDA must perform the restricted activities that a CDA may perform under the CDSBC Bylaws. If you work in both an administrative and clinical capacity, you should keep track of your clinical hours for your records and as a reference for the annual renewal process.
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You may submit documentation outlining what you propose to do to demonstrate competency. This might include successful completion of an exam, course, or other approved education and/or clinical mentorship. The appropriate committee will approve proposals on an individual basis. See instructions for dentists and CDAs below.
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Dentists
If you do not have the required continuous practice hours and wish to hold practising registration, please submit a letter to the
Registration Committee outlining your specific circumstances, and requesting information on what options are available to you.
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CDAs
If you do not have the required continuous practice hours and wish to hold practising certification, you must complete the
CDA Continuous Practice Request Form (PDF) and a submit a written proposal to the
CDA Certification Committee.
Your proposal may include: a guided mentorship in a dental practice with defined expectations; completion of the National Dental Assisting Examining Board two-part Written and Clinical Practice Evaluation; or completion of
Vancouver Community College's Certified Dental Assistant Refresher Course.
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No. The requirement for continuous practice applies to all dentists, dental therapists, and CDAs regardless of their individual circumstances. The underlying principle behind the continuous practice requirement is safety of the public. For this reason, if you do not meet the requirement, you will be unable to renew your practicing registration/certification. Renewal as a
non-practising dentist, dental therapist or CDA is available and may be held indefinitely.
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The following table may be helpful in calculating the hours you have worked based on working an 8-hour day for 48 weeks per year.
|
Days worked per week |
1-year total |
3-year total |
| 1 | 384 hours | 1152 hours |
| 2 | 768 hours | 2304 hours |
| 3 | 1152 hours | 3456 hours |
| 4 | 1536 hours | 4608 hours |
| 5 | 1920 hours | 5760 hours |
Over a three-year period, the full continuous practice requirement works out to approximately:
• 25 hours of work per month for dentists
• 25 hours of work per month for dental therapists
• 17 hours of work per month for CDAs
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Dentists or CDAs may hold non-practising registration/certification indefinitely. However, if you want to regain practising status, you will be required to meet the Quality Assurance requirements in place at that time.
Note: After an extended absence, educational credentials may not be recognized.
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CDSBC may grant temporary registration/certification to allow you to perform restricted activities as part of their accepted proposals (see
Question 2).
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