Public Announcement
January 15, 2024
The College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia (CDHNS), the Denturist Licensing Board of Nova Scotia (DLBNS), and the Nova Scotia Dental Technicians Association (NSDTA), are pleased to collaborate with the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) to amalgamate our professions into one regulatory body.
Regulatory Modernization by Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) has made regulatory modernization in the healthcare field a
priority. To initiate and support this endeavour, on Nov. 9, 2023, the Government passed the Regulated Health Professions
Act (RHPA). The RHPA’s intent is to create consistency across regulated healthcare professions in Nova Scotia by standardizing rules and processes and, making it easier to respond to future changes in the healthcare field. The RHPA supports the amalgamation of health profession regulators where there is a public interest in ensuring the appropriate financial, human, and professional service resources are in place to meet legislated mandates.
Based on these objectives, the Nova Scotia government determined that the College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia
(CDHNS), the Denturist Licensing Board of Nova Scotia (DLBNS), and the Nova Scotia Dental Technicians Association (NSDTA)
will amalgamate and become one regulatory body under the RHPA. The CDHNS, DLBNS, and NSDTA welcome the opportunity to collaborate and create one regulator for dental hygiene, dental technology, and denturism in Nova Scotia.
Benefits for the Professions and the Public:
- Amalgamation will enable the Regulators to strengthen their commitment to Nova Scotians through an enhanced,
consistent, efficient, and collaborative approach to regulation - Maintaining distinct and separate professions, scopes of practice, and entry-to-practice requirements for dental
hygienists, dental technicians, and denturists - Address the Mass Casualty Commission’s recommendations regarding regulatory oversight and defined protection for
marginalized communities facing barriers to reporting concerning behaviours
What these Changes Mean:
The RHPA will eventually replace 21 Acts, including the current Dental Hygienist, Dental Technicians, and Denturist Acts. It is
anticipated that the new Regulations for the three professions will take effect in 2024. Until the new Dental Hygiene, Dental
Technician, and Denturist Regulations come into force under the RHPA, the professions will continue to operate under their
current Acts and Regulations. Sections 16 – 22 of the RHPA apply to all regulatory bodies immediately (as of Nov 9, 2023).
Rest assured there will be no interruption of service to the public for these professions.
Want to know more about these professions? Click on this document for further details.