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Information on requirements to practise
The practice of dentistry is regulated in Canada. In order to practise the profession or use the title of dentist or dental surgeon, you must be licensed as a member with one of the provincial/territorial regulatory bodies. These bodies set the standards for entry into the profession of dentistry and for issuing licences to those who meet the established standards of qualifications and practice. Once you know where you will settle and work, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body for information on licensing procedures (see list below).
All provincial and territorial regulatory bodies recognize the certificate of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). For more information on the NDEB exam and certificate, you may contact:
National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
100 Bronson Ave, Suite 203
Ottawa ON K1R 6G8 Canada
Phone : (613) 236-5912
Fax : (613) 236-8386
In order to write the NDEB exam, an individual must be a graduate of an accredited program in either Canada or the United States of America (USA). Currently reciprocal agreements do not exist with other countries. Graduates of dental programs outside of North America must take a two-year qualifying program.
For further general information on dental occupations in Canada, you may contact the Canadian Dental Association, "the national voice of dentistry" in Canada:
Canadian Dental Association (CDA)
1815 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa ON K1G 3Y6 Canada
Phone : (613) 523-1770
Fax : (613) 523-7736
At the same address, but operating at arm's length from the CDA, the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) defines acceptable national standards for educational institutions in the field, and cooperates with provincial/territorial regulatory bodies, the NDEB, and other organizations to develop the accreditation process. For more information on the CDAC and accreditation in Canada, contact the Commission:
Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
1815 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa ON K1G 3Y6 Canada
Phone : (613) 523-7114
Phone (alternate): 1-866-521-2322
Those who wish to work in a dental specialty should also consult the dental regulatory body in the jurisdiction where they want to practise (see list below), because many jurisdictions require licensure for specialties through the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC). The RCDC offers specialist examinations in: dental public health, dental sciences, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine and oral pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Successful completion of one of these specialty examinations may lead to a Fellowship in the College and the designation FRCD(C).
To write the National Dental Speciality Examination administered by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC), one may be required to be a graduate of an accredited program. Contact the RCDC for more information:
Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC)
180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2003
Toronto ON M5G 1Z8 Canada
Phone : (416) 512-6571
Fax : (416) 512-6468
Information on assessment of qualifications
Foreign-trained dentists, regardless of education, licensure, or experience, must obtain a Canadian licence to practise dentistry in Canada. Those who wish to obtain further information about qualifying programs and the Eligibility Examination for enrolling in them should contact the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD):
Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD)
100 Bronson Avenue, Suite 204
Ottawa ON K1R 6G8 Canada
Phone : (613) 237-6505
Fax : (613) 236-8386
If you plan to work in Quebec, you should contact l'Ordre des dentistes du Québec, and in Alberta, you should contact the Alberta Dental Association and College. Please note that the review of your credentials determines only your eligibility to write a certification exam; it does not guarantee recognition of your credentials for the purpose of employment or licensure in Canada.
You may also consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada," for further general information.
Other relevant information
University of Toronto, faculty of Dentistry.
International Dentist Advanced Placement Program for Foreign-Trained Dentists
The International Dentist Advanced Placement Program (IDAPP ) is a special university program held over five months. After successful completion of this program students are fully integrated into the third year of our four year Doctor of Dental Surgery Program (DDS), leading to the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. The program is intended for graduates of non-accredited dental programs, i.e. educational programs that have not been recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) or the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. Its purpose is to prepare students to take the examinations of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), the same examinations which graduates of accredited dental programs must take to obtain certification. Upon successful completion of the International Dentist Advanced Placement Program and the NDEB examinations, the candidate will be eligible for licensure/registration as a Dentist in all provinces in Canada .
