News

Registrant Feedback on CDTA Communications 

Are you getting the information you need to easily meet regulations? As an oral health care professional, it’s important that you receive practical and timely information about regulatory requirements. 

For over 20 years, College of Dental Technologists of Alberta (CDTA) has been working with registrants like you to ensure Albertans receive safe, competent, and ethical oral health care. Your input is a critical part of this shared goal! By taking this short survey you’ll help the CDTA provide resources that matter, when you need them most. 

Take the 5-minute CDTA Communications Survey now. This survey also includes the signup to be interviewed as part of a professional research initiative later this spring. All interview participants will earn 1 credit towards their CDTA Continuing Competency Program for the 2024/2025 year! 

Thanks for doing your part to shape the future of Alberta’s dental technology professions. College of Dental Technologists of Alberta 

Learn more about who we are and what we do in our CDTA 2024 – 2027 Strategic Plan

Participate in CADTR’s PLAR Pilot 

Have experience in dental technology but not yet licensed in Canada? 

Join the PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) pilot and get your skills formally recognized. 

What You Get: 

  • Have your application and credential fees waived (for one PLAR attempt). 
  • Receive formal recognition of your existing knowledge and experience. 
  • Get a personalized outcome report outlining your strengths, areas for improvement, and next steps. 
  • Receive a letter or certificate confirming your participation and hours completed. 
  • Be notified if you’re eligible to apply for the Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment (DTETPA).

Who’s Eligible: 

  • Fluent in English or French 
  • Living in Canada or eligible to immigrate 
  • 5+ years (6,500+ hours) of dental tech experience (1 year recent) 
  • Minimum high school education (or equivalent) 

Find out more information and apply here: 

https://cadtr-acortd.com/2025/04/plar-pilot/

The application deadline is 11:59 PM EDT May 31, 2025.  

2025 Election Update

We are looking to fill our vacant Regulated Member position on Council for the term April 30, 2025 – April 30, 2028. 

We are moving to an Expression of Interest process. If you are a Regulated Member in good standing and you meet all of the criteria to be considered for this vacancy, we invite you to apply! For more information on how to apply, visit our 2025 Council Election page. 

CADTR Knowledge-Based Assessment (KBA) Registration OPEN

The KBA is scheduled on Friday, June 27, 2025 – Registration is now OPEN. The deadline for registration is 10 days in advance of the KBA date.

Register here:

https://cadtr-acortd.com/

Committee Opportunity

Join the Hearing Tribunal and Complaint Review Committee roster and help support the CDTA’s professional conduct process.

The College is seeking applicants for the  Complaint Review Committee & Hearing Tribunal roster.

Committee members are provided with training and other support to prepare for their roles on a Hearing Tribunal or Complaint Review Committee. They are compensated with an honorarium and may claim continuing competence credit for their participation in meetings.

You can find out more information about each committee and how to apply by clicking on the links above.

IPC Guideline Updates

In 2022, we introduced infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, developed as a collaboration between the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta, the College of Alberta Dental Assistants, the College of Alberta Denturists and the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists.

The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines have been updated to reflect current best practices and align with provincial and national health resources. These revisions are part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety and care.

Key revisions include:

  • adding detailed information about control measures, inspection of instruments and storage and handling
  • emphasizing the importance of a point-of-care risk assessment for decision-making
  • aligning with CDSA’s Infection Prevention and Control Standards and Risk Management for Dentistry and Alberta Health Standards
  • incorporating the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta’s new branding and the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists’ new name and branding

A summary of changes is available for your review here. 

We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with these updates to ensure compliance and maintain the highest level of infection prevention and control in your practice.

You can access the updated guidelines here.

Access to Dental Technology (ADT), Phase II Project

The Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators (CADTR) is excited to announce the launch of Access to Dental Technology, Phase II project. Funded in-part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, this 3-year project aims to increase and streamline opportunities for licensure for internationally educated applicants seeking licensure in one of Canada’s regulated jurisdictions. 

Read More Here  

Standards of Practice Consultation  (CLOSED)

Consultation is open August 21 - September 4, 2023.

Find more information, access the DRAFT standards of practice, and provide feedback here: Standards of Practice Consultation: August, 2023.

Changes to Regulatory Documents

March 31, 2023

The College of Dental Technologists of Alberta (CDTA) Council and the Government of Alberta have approved amendments to the Dental Technologists Profession Regulation, which come into force on March 31, 2023. 

These amendments are part of the ongoing work relating to Bill 46, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2), which introduced changes to the Health Professions Act (HPA). 

Read More: Bill 46: Changes to Regulatory Documents

NEW: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines

In early 2020, the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta, College of Alberta Denturists, College of Alberta Dental Assistants, and the College of Registered Dental Hygienists undertook a project to collaborate on the development of common Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines.  These common Guidelines support the professions by providing a consistent standard for oral health care professionals in Alberta. 

The Guidelines support dental technologists and dental technicians by: 

  • identifying principles 
  • giving instructions
  • offering information and direction 
  • providing a framework for decision making

Get the Guidelines here.

In November 2021, as a part of the consultation process, an earlier draft of these Guidelines was shared with you. Regulated members were encouraged to provide feedback at that time. The development process included an IPC subject matter experts and collecting feedback from regulated members of all the participating colleges to ensure that the guidelines fulfilled the colleges' mandate of protecting the public. 

Following the New Guidelines 

The new IPC Guidelines go into effect today, June 1, 2022. You are expected to read, understand, and to begin taking the necessary steps to implement and adhere to the Guidelines.  

Each regulated member is responsible to familiarize themselves with the Guidelines and ensure that the IPC program in their workplace complies with the Guidelines following the implementation schedule. 

Dental Technologists and Dental Technicians are responsible to know and understand all sections of the document and implement all requirements that apply to their individual practice and practice setting regardless of employment status. 

Understanding the New Guidelines 

The Colleges created the Guidelines based on the best evidence and the most current data. As such, the IPC Guidelines are dynamic and intended to reflect current best practices. It is required that you follow the Guidelines, and that you adjust current workplace IPC practices if you find that your current practice does not meet or exceed the Guidelines. 

To ensure that you understand the new Guidelines, you are encouraged to: 

  1. read them thoroughly more than once 
  2. print them off and keep a copy in your practice 
  3. discuss the new guidelines with your colleagues 
  4. compare the new guidelines to your office's existing policies and procedures and 
  5. use them to develop updated policies and procedures, if necessary

Questions? 

Contact the College office: 

Email: tara@cdta.ca 

Phone: 780-469-0615 

June 1, 2022