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A periodic inspection is required for all dental facilities, per BC Safety Code 30 (SC30)

An external inspection is not explicitly required; however, facilities must be able to produce documentation of a compliant inspection to be considered compliant under SC30

Your facility may be referred to the BC Dental College or WorkSafe BC for investigation

XRAA certification ensures that an inspection has properly verified compliance with Safety Code 30, and is recognized by the British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA). XRAA also maintains a publicly-searchable database of certified facilities that patients and regulatory bodies may utilize. Finally, XRAA offers support to facilities receiving or pursuing certification with assistance on regulatory and safety questions pertaining to radiation.

In recognition of the previous inspection programme under the BCDA, for the duration of 2025, the radiation safety certificate issued by XRAA is valid until the end of the month five calendar years from the date of inspection. In recognition of the new SC 30 issued in 2022, beginning in 2026, the radiation safety certificate is valid until the end of the month three calendar years after the date of inspection.

Typically inspectors will take measurements on-site, and then analyze the data back at their offices, to minimize the time they are disrupting your clinic.  Therefore, inspectors generally cannot tell you whether your tests passed inspection on-site, the typical turnaround.  You should speak with your inspector about the expected turnaround time for reports, as it could be a few days to a few weeks, depending on workload and scheduling.

Additionally, inspection reports and results will not be released until after payment has been received for the inspection.  This avoids a potential conflict of interest incentivizing inspectors to pass equipment to avoid the risk of non-payment of invoices.

See our Standards for Inspectors

Anyone meeting XRAA’s Standards for Inspectors may become an XRAA-accredited inspector. Interested applicants should use our contact page.

The 2022 update of SC30 no longer requires a daily step-wedge QC for non-film imaging systems.

As of 2022, SC30 only requires use of lead aprons for patients undergoing a CBCT exam if it will not interfere with the image or for a non-clinician (such as a family member) near the patient during an x-ray exposure.

Any facility having installed a CBCT prior to June 1, 2025  must have issued all staff a dosimetry badge for a period of no less than a year (365 days) following first use, per previous instructions under the BCDA inspection program. Facilities that have issued dosimetry badges may discontinue use following the 1-year period if they are satisfied that no staff member will reach 1 mSv of dose per year. As of 2022, SC30 only requires personal dosimeters if a worker is likely to receive a radiation dose in excess of 1 mSv per year. Practically, however, most dental workers will not reach this threshold. If you are unsure about your specific case, you may reach out to XRAA or an XRAA-accredited inspector.