Three Routes Start
College diploma

Dental hygiene

DEC Techniques d'hygiène dentaire (3 years) + OHDQ permit

22 of 30 verified for Quebec; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Quebec works differently: trades are a nearly free DEP then a CCQ apprenticeship; college is a 3-year DEC at a cégep (tuition-free for residents); university is 3 years after a 2-year pre-university DEC. Numbers from IMT en ligne, CCQ, FIQ scales and the Relance surveys.
Years to credential3
First real paycheque~3 years
Time in a classroom55%
Total cost$6,100
Typical debt after$0
Demand in QuebecHigh

The first ten years

schoolschoolschoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$545k3 years at $0 while in school, then $64,500 rising to $83,200 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$6ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$539kthe number on the card
Low to high$456k to $621kpay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the Quebec median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isCleanings, assessments and patient education in dental offices. Regular hours, no nights.
What actually stops peopleCompetitive admission and expensive instruments and licensing.
The downsideRepetitive physical strain (neck, wrists). Many hygienists work part-time across several clinics rather than one full-time job.
If you're the parentHigh hourly pay and predictable hours in three years. The upfront cost is higher than most diplomas.
Local opportunities in Quebec

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How to enter

What you need
  • Courses: Biology, Chemistry
  • Average around 75+
Deadlines in Quebec
  • SRAM (cégep) March 1 for fall; a DEC takes 2 or 3 years
  • AFE in spring

Next steps in Quebec

  1. 1
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  3. 3

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In QuebecA fraction of Ontario's $30,000 route. Many hygienists work under full-time hours.
www.quebec.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for Quebec Sources: Cégep fees plus ~$3,500 instruments; IMT 32111 wages (min $31, median $40/h); MESS Diagnostic 2025-2029: déficit

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