Registered Dental Hygienists can practise Dental Hygiene through a health professional corporation. Your health professional corporation must comply with the requirements below to obtain a Certificate of Authorization from CDHO to practise through a corporation.

Step 1 — Establish a Health Professional Corporation

You can establish a health professional corporation with the Ontario Government.

CDHO cannot provide legal or business advice on how to establish a health professional corporation. You are strongly encouraged to seek professional advice from an accountant or lawyer to assist you with incorporating.

Step 2 — Confirm Requirements for a Certificate of Authorization

The health professional corporation must meet the following requirements to obtain a Certificate of Authorization:

• Registration Status
  • You must be currently registered in good standing with CDHO in the General or Specialty Class
• Directors and Shareholders
  • All directors and shareholders of the corporation must be currently registered in good standing with CDHO in the General or Specialty Class
  • All the issued and outstanding shares of the corporation must be legally and beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by RDHs who are currently registered in good standing with CDHO in the General or Specialty Class
  • All officers and directors of the corporation must be shareholders of the corporation
• Articles of Incorporation
  • The articles of incorporation must state that the corporation cannot carry on a business other than the practise of Dental Hygiene and activities related to or ancillary to Dental Hygiene
• Corporation Name
  • The name of the corporation must comply with section 3.2 of the Business Corporations Act as follows:
    • The name cannot be a number
    • The name must include the words “Professional Corporation” or “société professionnelle”
    • The name must include the surname of one or more of the shareholders as it appears on Find a Registered Dental Hygienist. The name may also include one or more shareholder’s given name(s) or initials
    • The name must include the profession being practised by the corporation (i.e., Dental Hygiene)
    • The name cannot already be in use by another corporation. You can check this through the corporate name-checking service NUANS.

Step 3 — Apply for a Certificate of Authorization

You can apply for a Certificate of Authorization through the Self-Service Portal.

As part of the application, you will be required to submit the following documents:

• A copy of the Ontario Certificate of Incorporation, including the articles of incorporation
• A copy of any other Certificate of Incorporation for the corporation that has been endorsed under the Business Corporations Act as of the date of the application (if applicable)
• A copy of the Corporation Profile Report issued by the Ontario Government (or one of the private-sector service providers under contract to the government) dated not more than 30 days before the application is submitted
  • The Corporation Profile Report must show that the corporation is active

Step 4 — Maintaining your Incorporation

Annual Renewal

If you wish to continue practising through your health professional corporation, please renew your Certificate of Authorization annually by March 1st through the Self-Service Portal. Renewal fees are found in CDHO’s fee schedule.