Career Map: Dental Technologist

This document was updated in collaboration with the Labour Market Integration Unit, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, in May 2007. Some requirements may have changed by the time you apply. Please contact the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario before completing your application.

Copyright of this career map is held jointly by the Queen’s Printer for Ontario and the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario, © 2007. This career map may be used or reproduced by any third party for non-commercial, not-for-profit purposes, provided that no fee, payment or royalty of any kind shall be charged by the third party for any further use of the career map by any person. Any proposed commercial or for-profit use or reproduction of this career map requires a written licence from the Queen’s Printer for Ontario and the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario.

In Ontario, dental technologists are registered (licensed) healthcare professionals. They are knowledgeable and skilled in the design, construction, repair or alteration of dental prostehtic, restorative and orthodontic devices that are prescribed by dentists or other qualifed healthcare practitioners for their patients. Only a dental technologist can supervise the operation of a dental laboratory.

The College of Dental Technologists of Ontario (CDTO) registers (licenses) dental technologists in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and the Dental Technology Act, 1991. No person can work as a dental technologist or use the title “dental technologist” or “RDT” (registered dental technologist) without a registration certificate (licence) issued by the CDTO. Registration means applying to the CDTO to get a Certificate of Registration. [General guidance on the registration process is described in this career map.]

Persons without registration (licence) can, however, work as assistants under the supervision of a registered member of the CDTO.

Registration Requirements in Ontario

Applicants for registration with the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario must meet the following requirements:

A. Education Requirements

Successful completion of:

1. Grade 12 education or equivalent 12 years of general education;
2. A recognized post-secondary education program in dental technology taken after Grade 12.

B. Other Requirements

• Completion of 1,950 hours (about one year) of supervised experience in Ontario, performing the full range of activities described in the document, “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists.”
• Successful completion of the CDTO registration examinations;
• Be a Canadian citizen, or legally allowed to work in Canada;
• Professional liablility insurance coverage to a minimum of $500,000.

Step 1 – Have Your Education Evaluated

Before applying to sit the CDTO registration examinations, an applicant must first submit their education transcript, diploma/certificate to a credential assessment agency for evaluation. The agency will verify the status of the school(s) attended by the applicant and compare, document by document, course by course, the secondary and post-secondary programs undertaken by an applicant before putting down their findings in a report.

The report will indicate whether the candidate has successfully completed:

• Ontario Grade 12 or equivalent education;
• a recognized dental technology program offered by an accredited post-secondary school; and
• whether the curriculum and actual training of the program covers at least 80 per cent of the “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists.” [this service is available only from ICAS, the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada]

The evaluation process, documentation requirements, fees and assessment timelines of each credential assessment agency may differ. At the minimum, applicants must be prepared to submit secondary (high school) and post-secondary (college or university) transcripts and diplomas/certificates; and if these documents are not in English or French, provide certified translation of each one.

Applicants are advised to directly contact each agency for information.

Applying Before You Immigrate to Canada

Before you come to Canada, you should write to a credential assessment agency to request an assessment package. This will help you understand if you meet the education requirements.
When you receive the assessment package, carefully read the instructions, then complete the application and return it with all required documents and fees to the agency. Missing documents will normally cause delay.

When You Arrive in Ontario

If you did not start the credential assessment process from overseas, contact a credentail assessment agency as soon as possible to have your education assessed.

If you have already completed the assessment before your arrival in Ontario, contact the CDTO by phone or in writing to set up an appointment with the registrar to present your credential assessment report. You will then be advised whether you have met the education requirements to sit the Registration Examination or the Eligibility Examination of the CDTO.

Step 2 – Apply for the CDTO Examinations

You may apply to the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario to sit the Registration Examination at any time during the year, after:

• completing the processes in Step 1; and
• completing 1,950 hours (about one year) of supervised experience in Ontario, performing the full range of activities described in the document, “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists.”

The CDTO usually holds a briefing session on the Registration Examination in November/December of each year. The session will help you to:

• better prepare for the examination;
• understand the policies and regulations of the examination;
• understand the legislation that governs the practice of dental technology in Ontario;
• decide whether you are ready to become a dental technologist as a regulated health professional.

If you are interested in attending this briefing session, please contact the CDTO by phone or visit their website for more specific information on dates.

Eligibility Examination

If the assessment of your dental technology education indicates that your study program is at post-secondary level but does not measure up to 80 per cent of the “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists,” you may apply to the CDTO to sit the Eligibility Examination to prove your standing. Apply in writing to the CDTO Registration Committee.

The Eligibility Examination is a three-hour written examination given in Ontario.

Section 1 of the examination is a test on general dental technology knowledge. Questions on this first section are based on the competency areas stated in the “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists.” Section 2 tests your English reading and comprehension abilities.

You must get a score of at least 60% in both Section 1 and Section 2 to pass the Eligibility Examination.

Once you have passed the Eligibility Examination and proved that you have completed 1,950 hours of supervised practical dental technology work experience in Ontario, you may then apply to take the Registration Examination.

The Registration Examination has two parts: written and practical.

The written part of the examination includes:

• A two-hour Theory Examination that tests your general and theoretical knowledge in all subject areas listed in the “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists.” The examination may include multiple-choice questions, labelling of diagrams, short answers or a combination of the above. The passing score is 60%.
  and
• A one-and-a-half-hour open-book Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination that tests your knowledge of current legislation and ethics that govern the practice of dental technology in Ontario. The examination is in the form of multiple-choice questions.

The practical part of the examination takes four to five days. It will test your understanding and interpretation of prescriptions, technical skills, time management, organization skills, equipment operation, and application of safety measures to the standards listed in the “Competency Profile of Canadian Dental Technicians/Technologists.” You will be asked to complete five or six dental technology projects according to prescriptions given. To pass the examination, you must:

• Complete all projects according to prescriptions given; and
• Each of your completed projects must meet the marking criteria set for each of the projects.

Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination Preparation: George Brown College normally offers a basic course on the jurisprudence and ethics of dental technology practice. Please contact the George Brown College Continuing Education Department for course dates and fees. [A study manual for the examination may be purchased from the CDTO.]

Step 3 – Apply for Registration

After you have successfully passed all parts of the Registration Examination, you are eligible to apply for your Certificate of Registration as a Dental Technologist. Contact the CDTO for the application package. You must provide proof of professional liability insurance coverage issued in your name, character references and declaration of any charge for criminal offence, professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity related to your practice of the profession in or outside of Ontario.

Labour Market Information

The outlook for the dental technology profession is fairly good and should continue that way into the future. Employment opportunities will increase as the population’s need for dentures, crowns and bridges, implants and orthodontic devices increases.

It is difficult to obtain detailed figures on wage rates. Laboratory owners generally offer minimum wage to assisting technicians with little or no training. The salary levels of qualified dental technologists vary a lot, depending on the person’s skill and experience. A skilled and experienced dental technologist working fulltime could earn from $600 per week to more than $1,200 per week.

For detailed labour market information about this and related occupations, visit the Ontario Job Futures website.

Fees

(in Canadian dollars)

Application for Assessment – contact credential assessment agencies directly

College of Dental Technologists of Ontario

Eligibility Examination	$100.00
Registration Examination Application	$200.00 (non-refundable)
Written (Theory) Examination	$150.00
Written (Jurisprudence and Ethics) Examination	$150.00
Practical Examination	$900.00
Application for Registration	$150.00
Annual Registration Fee	$1,017.23

If you are sending payment by mail, please make money orders payable to “College of Dental Technologists of Ontario.”

Contact Information

For more information on application requirements, examinations or fees, please contact:
The Registrar’s Office
The College of Dental Technologists of Ontario
2100 Ellesmere Road, Suite 260
Scarborough, Ontario, M1H 3B7
Canada
Telephone: (416) 438-5003
Fax: (416) 438-5004
E-mail: info@cdto.ca
Website: www.cdto.ca

For more information on assessment of your education credentials, please contact:
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
100 Stone Road West, Suite 303
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5L3
Canada
Telephone: (519) 763-7282 or (toll free) 1-800-321-6021
Fax: (519) 763-6964
E-mail: info@icascanada.ca
Website: www.icascanada.ca

World Education Services (WES)
2 Carlton Street, Suite 1400
Toronto ON M5B 1J3
Tel: 416-972-0070 or 1-866-343-0070
Fax: 416-972-9004
Email: inquiry@wes.org
www.wes.org/ca

For more information on requirements to enter the Dental Technology Program at George Brown College, please contact:
George Brown College
Casa Loma Registration Office
160 Kendal Avenue, Building C
Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1M3
Canada
Telephone: (416) 415-2000
Toll-free: 1-800-265-2002 (in Canada and the USA)
E-mail: info@gbrownc.on.ca
Website: www.gbrownc.on.ca

For information on how to prove the equivalent grade 12 education, please contact:
The General Educational Development (GED) Administrator
Independent Learning Centre Branch
20 Bay St., Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2W1
Canada
Telephone: (416) 325-3364
Toll-free: 1-800-573-7022
Fax: (416) 325-3383

For information on where and how to get help with settlement in Ontario, please contact:
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A3
Canada
Tel: (416) 322-4950 ext. 227
E-mail: generalmail@ocasi.org
Websites: www.ocasi.org
www.settlement.org

For information about accessing health related professions in Ontario, please contact:

HealthForceOntario
Access Centre for Internationally
Educated Professionals
163 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M5A 1S1
Tel. 416-862-2200 or 1-800-596-4046
TTY: 416-862-4817
Fax: 416-862-4818
Email: accesscentre@healthforceontario.ca
Website: www.healthforceontario.ca

Copyright of this career map is held jointly by the Queen’s Printer for Ontario and the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario, © 2007.

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