Malta

Information to work in this country is available from

Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine (CPCM)
SLH - OPD (Level 1)
St. Luke's Square
G'Mangia, Malta
cpcm@gov.mt

Procedures and/or documents that are necessary to be able to work in this country

Registration with CPCM and work permit (for non EU citizens). A Diploma or first degree in Dental Hygiene that meets the Maltese CPCM benchmarks for dental hygienists. If the professional qualification is not obtained from an Accredited Institution in Malta, a letter must be issued from the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre, certifying that the Institution from where the professional qualification is obtained is duly accredited and indicating the level of the qualification in accordance to the Malta Qualifications Framework. This must be forwarded to the Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine (CPCM) for registration.

Official licensing body in the country

Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine (CPCM)

Special conditions that may apply for hygienists that obtain employment

Hygienists do not practice independently.

Hygienists practice under 'clinical supervision'.

Must be proficient in both Maltese and English (Maltese is a requirement in the Public sector). The Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine requires applicants originating from countries that do not have English as their first Language to meet the Council’s level of Proficiency in the English Language. All professionals seeking registration are requested to present a Secure English Language Test (SELT) certificate, which indicates the Examining Boards recognized by the Council and the minimum required standards accepted by the Council.

Contact for Work Permit and/or Visa

The Maltese Embassy/Consulate in the country of residence.

If you are not a citizen of an EU country, you need an employment license in order to be able to work in Malta. EU nationals [except citizens of Croatia], EEA and Swiss nationals do not require an employment license (work permit) to work in Malta. Non EU citizens need to apply for a work permit from the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC).

http://etc.gov.mt/Category/3/18/Non-Maltese-Workers.aspx

Is a job offer required before a Work Permit/Visa is issued?

Yes

Main local and/or official language(s)

Maltese and English are both official languages.

Are hygienists qualified overseas required to sit the country's national examination?

The CPCM assesses every non local qualification on a case by case basis after evaluation of transcript and considering evidenced work experience and alignment to the CPCM dental hygiene benchmarks is carried out.

Information on the local working environment

The number of dental hygienists are employed in the public sector while others are employed in private dental practices (general or specialist) on part time or full time basis. Other dental hygienists are employed by the University of Malta.

Standard tasks that a hygienist is allowed to undertake in the country

The Dental Hygienist can:

Perform Scaling and Polishing of teeth, that is to say the removal of deposits, accretions and stains from the surfaces of the teeth which are exposed or which are beneath the free margins of the gums, including the application of medicaments, solutions, varnishes, gels and fissure sealants appropriate thereto.
Perform subgingival scaling including comprehensive root surface debridement, which may involve infiltration anesthesia together with placing of antimicrobial agents when necessary.
Monitor periodontal disease by using current indices.
Treat patients under conscious sedation or under general anesthesia provided a dentist is present throughout the treatment.
Participate in Dental Health Education in the principles and practice of oral hygiene on individual and group basis of all ages inclusive of professional personnel. They provide detailed oral hygiene and dietary advice.
Develop a home care plan for individual patients to maintain oral health.

Country Statistics

Total Population	514,564 (2019)
Number of Dental Hygienists, Female / Male	24 / 14
Number of Dentists	248
Number of Dental Hygiene Schools / Students per year	1 / 7*
Practicing Dental Hygienists: Full-time / Part-time	26 full time (Private or public service)/ 4 part time only/ 9 work full time public service and part time private practice
Number of Dental Hygienists in private sector / public sector	26 full time (Private or public service) / 4 part time only private practice and 1 part time public sector/ 9 work full time public service and part time private practice
Number of Dental Hygienists practicing as Clinicians	14
Number of Dental Hygienists practicing as Educators	4
Hygienists practicing as Administrators and/or Consultants	1
Number of Dental Hygienists in other practice settings	0

Links to related web sites

http://maltahygienists.com/
https://ehealth.gov.mt/healthportal/others/regulatory_councils/professions_compl._to_medicine/professions_compl_to_medicine.aspx
http://maltahygienists.com/images/pdf/copdentalhygiene.pdf
http://www.maltahygienists.com/images/pdf/dentalhygienecodeofethicscpcm_2010.pdf

Information based on data received by IFDH in:

2020

NOTE: The information provided above is for general guidance only. The International Federation of Dental Hygienists advises all hygienists to contact the country's relevant licensing bodies and agencies for current information and regulations.