Regulatory Documents & Practice Resources

The College of Dental Technologists of Alberta is a statutory body established under the Health Professions Act in 2004. 

It is the professional responsibility of Registered Dental Technologists and Registered Dental Technicians to know, understand and adhere to the laws and rules that are relevant to their practice. 

Legislation

Health Professions Act

The Health Professions Act (HPA) establishes a common regulatory framework across regulated health professions in Alberta.

The HPA provides colleges with the authority to regulate their professions.

The Health Professions Act Handbook summarizes the HPA and is intended to act as a guide to the principles and provisions of the HPA. It is not a substitute for the HPA and regulated members are encouraged to review the HPA directly.

Regulation

There are a number of regulations under the Health Professions Act. Each regulated health profession has its own regulation that sets the profession-specific requirements.  

The Dental Technologists Profession Regulation regulates the Dental Technology Profession under the Health Professions Act.

The Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation establishes which restricted activities each regulated health profession may be authorized to perform.  Find out more information about restricted activities in Dental Technology here: Restricted Activities

Other Legislation Affecting the Practice of Dental Technologists & Dental Technicians

Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics

Standards of Practice

The Standards of Practice define the minimum level of professional performance that Registered Dental Technologists and Registered Dental Technicians are expected to demonstrate to ensure competent, safe and ethical practice.

All Registered Dental Technologists and Registered Dental Technicians have a professional responsibility to know, understand and comply with the CDTA's Standards of Practice.  This includes the Standards of Practice (General) and all specific Standards of Practice that are applicable to your area of practice, regardless of practice setting. 

Standards of Practice: General

Standards of Practice: Restricted Activities

Standards of Practice: Supervision of Restricted Activities

Standards of Practice: Continuing Competence

 

Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics is a set of principles of professional conduct that all Registered Dental Technologists and Registered Dental Technicians are expected to meet or exceed. 

Guidelines & Other Resources

National Essential Competencies for Dental Technology Practice in Canada

The National Essential Competencies for Dental Technology Practice in Canada are the competencies and performance indicators which describe the knowledge, skill, ability, and judgment that a fully licensed Dental Technologist/Technician will require at the beginning of their careers in Canada.

The entry-to-practice competencies and indicators were identified through a comprehensive process involving both focus groups and an only survey and comprised of a nationally representative sample of practicing Dental Technologists/Technicians.

Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines have been 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 and have been approved by the Councils of all four Colleges.

Effective June 1, 2022  
Revised July 10, 2024 Summary of Changes

Continuing Competence Program Manual

The Continuing Competence Program Manual provides an overview of the Continuing Competence Program.  It is the responsibility of each regulated member to become familiar with the program and to participate it in.

Find more information about the program here: Continuing Competence Program Information

COVID-19 Guidelines

The CDTA office is currently closed to visitors. For the quickest response, please contact the office by email: tara@cdta.ca or membersinfo@cdta.ca

Update- February 25, 2022

On May 14, 2020, the College released COVID-19 Return-To-Work Guidelines for Dental Technologists and Dental Technicians to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The guidelines provide specific direction to regulated members for safe practice during the pandemic.

  • Regulated members are encouraged to continue to take precautions to protect, patients, clients and each other and should continue to employ appropriate Infection Prevention and Control Measures to decrease the risk of transmission.
  • Regulated members are encouraged to maintain new procedures (eg., patient pre-screening; limiting people in the waiting area; screening of staff; enhanced cleaning and disinfection; physical distancing; masking) and habits (eg., enhanced hand hygiene; staying home when not feeling well) that resulted from the Guidelines. These new procedures should be considered best practice going forward.
  • Regardless of your vaccination status or that of your patients, clients, colleagues or staff, regulated members must use appropriate clinical judgment regarding masking with medical grade masks and use of any other workplace controls/PPE necessary for safety.
  • It remains critical to screen patients for symptoms and to implement a point of care risk assessment. (see appendix C/D of the COVID-19 Return-To-Work Guidelines for Dental Technologists and Dental Technicians)
  • It is important that regulated members continue to remain informed and use professional judgement in applying the public health orders and guidance within their practice.
  • Regulated members must review, understand and implement Occupational Health and Safety responsibilities and best practices for the assessment and control of hazards in the workplace.

COVID-19 Practice Guidelines

An updated guideline has been created to ensure the health and safety of both the public and CDTA Members. Members are expected and required to read this document and the associated links and to fully understand what is required of them.

This document replaces the CDTA’s COVID-19 Return-To-Work Guidelines for Dental Technologists and Dental Technicians and is intended to guide CDTA Members in Stage 3 and onward.

Members are encouraged to maintain any new procedures and habits (eg., enhanced hand hygiene; staying home when not feeling well) that resulted from the COVID-19 Return-To-Work Guidelines and may be considered best practice going forward.

Questions?

Should you have any questions, please contact us at:

El: tara@cdta.ca

Tl: 780-469-0615

Governance

Bylaws

The College Bylaws are the rules which the College follows in the provision of its regulatory functions.

The current Bylaws were approved by Council effective March 11, 2024.