Registration of Dental HygienistsPractising Certificate
Registration of Dental Hygienists
Practising Certificate
In accordance with section 15H of the Dentists Registration Ordinance, a registered dental care professional of a class specified in column 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 must not practise as a dental care professional of the class in Hong Kong, unless he or she holds a valid practising certificate for that class.
Validity of Practising Certificate
- If a practising certificate is issued on an application made during a year in respect of that year, the certificate is, subject to section 15H(10) of the Ordinance, to be in force from the time of issue to the end of that year.
- If a practising certificate is issued on an application made during a year in respect of the following year, the certificate is, subject to section 15H(10) of the Ordinance, to be in force during that following year.
- A practising certificate issued for a class under section 15H of the Ordinance ceases to be in force if, during the currency of the certificate –
- its holder ceases to be a registered dental care professional of the class;
- the Dental Council cancels the certificate under section 15H(5) or section 11A(2B) of the Ordinance; or
- its holder becomes a person with provisional registration.
Issue of Practising Certificate
The Dental Council must not issue a practising certificate to the applicant unless the Dental Council is satisfied that the applicant has complied with the requirement regarding continuing professional development determined by the Dental Council as applicable to the applicant.
Every registered dental hygienist is invited to apply for issue of annual practising certificate and is informed of the application procedures by the Central Registration Office under the Department of Health in around September every year.
Failure to Renew Practising Certificate
Section 15K(4)(b) of the Ordinance provides that the Dental Council may order the removal from the Register of Dental Care Professionals of the name of a person who has failed to obtain a practising certificate and has not become a person with provisional registration within 6 months after the last of the following dates (if applicable) –
- the date of the person’s registration;
- the expiry date of the last practising certificate issued to the person;
- the date on which the person’s name is restored to the Register of Dental Care Professionals.
If a person’s name is removed from the Register of Dental Care Professionals, he / she will cease to be a registered dental care professional. It is a criminal offence under section 3 and/or section 25B of the Ordinance for any person, not being a registered dental care professional to practise dentistry in Hong Kong. The offence is punishable by a fine and imprisonment.