Frequently Asked Questions

The information posted on this site is available to registrants, potential registrants, and the public. Questions will be selected on the basis of their applicability to the widest audience.

Registrants are welcome to contact the College directly however, regarding any question or concern they may have.

1. CAN THE COLLEGE HELP WITH PROBLEMS SUCH AS:

• Employment standards
• Fees charged by laboratories
• Collecting overdue accounts?

No. These kinds of concerns fall within the sphere of business rather than the regulation of the profession. Of course private associations such as the Dental Technicians Association of British Columbia (DTABC) or any other voluntary member service organization may choose to assist their members with these issues. A member organization is free to act as an advocate for the profession, or address the business interests of their members.

2. HOW CAN I GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE COLLEGE?

You can get involved with the College in three ways:

• Run for election
• Volunteer for committees
• Volunteer to be an examiner.

Email the Registrar at registrar@cdt.bc.ca for further information.

3. WHY AM I REQUIRED TO PAY REGISTRATION FEES TO THE COLLEGE?

The College of Dental Technicians of BC is mandated with regulating the profession of dental technology and administering the Health Professions Act in the public interest. As is the case for all self-regulated professions, the cost of the regulation is borne by the registrants of their particular college. This is part of what is expected in order to have both the privilege and the responsibility of being a "self-regulated profession". The fees assessed to registrants must cover the costs of operating the College on an annual basis.

Over the last several years, the College has been able to limit any increase in fees to an incremental amount equal to the annual cost of living increases as provided by Statistics Canada. During that same time period however, the cost of operating the College has increased by a somewhat larger amount. The College Board does everything possible to ensure that it fulfills all of its obligations under the HPA in the most cost efficient manner.

Any further increases to registration fees that the Board determines are necessary will be based on the need to meet those obligations.

4. WHY ARE DENTAL TECHNICIANS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE?

Members of virtually all professions, and certainly those who are regulated under the Health Professions Act, are required to have professional liability insurance in order to practice. Recent changes to the HPA brought a sense of urgency to the need to establish a requirement for mandatory liability insurance coverage for dental technicians. The College has been considering introducing this requirement for some time and the establishment of liability insurance has been the subject of numerous discussions and newsletter articles dating back to at least 1996.

The liability insurance serves both as a means to protect the public by providing available compensation for a claimant in case of civil litigation, and provides the dental technician with protection through access to legal defence and pays any settlement awarded.

5. HOW DO I FIND OUT HOW MANY CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS I HAVE?

Contact Ms. Susan Still at the College office by email at manager@cdt.bc.ca. The College maintains records for each Dental Technician. Note that the office will record credits to a maximum of 30 credits, and sends Dental Technician registrants a copy of their record annually.

All Dental Technicians should maintain their own records in any event, and keep all documents related to their attendance at continuing education courses.

6. HOW DOES THE COLLEGE KNOW THAT I WAS AT A PARTICULAR COURSE?

Typically, after a course has been given, the College receives a list of names provided by a course sponsor or presenter, who attests to the presence of the persons named on the list. If the names are legible, and the corresponding signatures are present, the College will post credits on each Dental Technician's Continuing Education record to a maximum of 30 credits.

The College also receives individual requests for credits arising from a variety of other sources, such as, attendance at conferences locally and abroad, completion of educational tapes or quizzes, course preparation and/or presentation, or study group.