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International dental hygienists · 22 routes, 9 languages

International dental hygienists: practising in Quebec at Go Dentiste

Are you a dental hygienist trained in Ontario, Switzerland, the United States, Italy, the Philippines or elsewhere, or a foreign-trained dentist considering dental hygiene? Here, route by route, is the way to the Ordre des hygiénistes dentaires du Québec permit, French, the work permit and immigration, with official sources, and what Go Dentiste does to welcome you: a position right now, employer steps, then autonomous practice in three new clinics.

Talk to the team
The hygienist position
Hygiéniste dentaire pendant un nettoyage dans une salle de soins Go Dentiste
Licence-on-licence, Swiss arrangement or equivalency: the right route for you
Shortage occupation: simplified LMIA processing in Quebec
Work as a dental assistant while your file progresses
Extended autonomy under Bill 29: assessment and hygiene care
Three new clinics, Valleyfield open 7 days, flexible schedules
A team of hygienists and seven dentists to integrate you
Hygienist trained outside Quebec? Tell us your country and the step you have reached: Maryse Milton (514 561-5399, maryse@go-dentiste.com) calls you back with a concrete plan, and an assistant position can start before your permit. Talk to the team now → The dental hygienist position → The dental assistant position →

Five routes to the OHDQ permit, depending on your training

In Quebec, dental hygiene is a profession regulated by the Ordre des hygiénistes dentaires du Québec: oral assessment, scaling, root planing, radiology, local anaesthesia and, since Bill 29, extended autonomy. The permit requires a DEC in dental hygiene techniques or a recognized equivalency, and appropriate French proficiency. The path depends on your training: a licence from another province, a Swiss diploma covered by the mutual recognition arrangement, a diploma from another country assessed by the admissions committee, or a dentistry diploma leading to the Saint-Hyacinthe bridge. Hygienists are in shortage in Quebec and on the simplified-processing LMIA list: it is one of the most accessible dental professions from abroad. Each page details the steps, 2026-2027 fees, French, immigration and the welcome at Go Dentiste, with official sources.

Other Canadian provinces: licence-on-licence

Your provincial licence gives you the OHDQ permit, with no exam and no reassessment of your training. A few weeks.

Other Canadian provinces and territoriesDental hygienist licensed in another Canadian province: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.

Switzerland: the mutual recognition arrangement

The ES diplomas of the four Swiss schools are recognized, with targeted compensatory measures unless exempted on the basis of experience. The most direct route from abroad.

SwitzerlandSwiss-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.

Other countries: equivalency recognition

The OHDQ committee compares your training with the DEC; validation exam, CEGEP internship or courses depending on the gaps. About seven months for the decision, then the measures and French.

United StatesUS-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.United KingdomUK-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.IrelandIrish-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.AustraliaAustralian-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.New ZealandNew Zealand-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.NetherlandsDutch-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.BelgiumBelgian-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.ItalyItalian-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.SpainSpanish-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.PortugalPortuguese-trained oral hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.GermanyGerman-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland)Dental hygienist trained in Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Finland: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.PhilippinesPhilippine-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.IndiaIndian-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.ColombiaColombian-trained oral hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.JapanJapan-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.South KoreaKorea-trained dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.South AfricaSouth African-trained oral hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.

Foreign-trained dentists: becoming a hygienist in one year

The Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe AEC (51 weeks) leads to the hygienist permit after a partial equivalency notice from the OHDQ.

Foreign-trained dentistForeign-trained dentist who wants to become a dental hygienist: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.

France: the real options

The profession does not exist in France; here is what really works for a French dental assistant or dentist.

FranceDental professional trained in France: steps, French, immigration, welcome at Go Dentiste.

Your country is not listed?

Equivalency recognition applies to graduates of every other country where the profession exists; any page in the third group gives you the steps. If your country has no dental hygienists (like France or most Maghreb countries) and you are an assistant, you can work with us right away as a dental assistant and consider the DEC; if you are a dentist, the Saint-Hyacinthe bridge or the international dentists route apply.

What Go Dentiste offers, whatever your country

  • A dental assistant or clinical coordinator position right now, before your permit, to earn a living and learn the Quebec system
  • A team of hygienists and seven dentists in three new clinics (Valleyfield open 7 days a week), with flexible schedules
  • An operations director who coordinates the employer steps (simplified-processing LMIA, documents for the CAQ and work permit)
  • Bill 29 professional autonomy respected, continuing education encouraged, a bilingual environment to progress in French
  • A region 45 minutes from Montreal where housing remains affordable
How long before I can practise as a hygienist?

From a few weeks (licence-on-licence) to a few months (Switzerland) or one to two years (equivalency recognition with compensatory measures), plus French if your studies were not in French.

Does Go Dentiste sponsor foreign hygienists?

In Canada the employer does not ‘sponsor’: it obtains an LMIA and supports the work permit application, and you obtain your practice permit from the Order. For hygienists, the LMIA benefits from simplified processing in Quebec. Go Dentiste fully assumes this employer role, without being able to guarantee the outcome, which depends on the authorities.

Can I start the process before arriving?

Yes: the OHDQ application, certified translations and French preparation are done remotely. The validation exam and internships take place in Quebec.

Go further

Official sources

General information written by the Go Dentiste team from official websites consulted in September 2026; the organizations’ texts prevail. Neither legal nor immigration advice.

Content prepared by the Go Dentiste team (Dr Dominic Morel-Maynard, general dentist and owner). Last updated: September 25, 2026. General information for guidance only: only an in-clinic exam can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.