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Applying as a General Dentist

Applicants for registration as a General Dentist must meet the requirements of:

  • the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA); and
  • the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) General Dentist Examination.
National Dental Examining Board of Canada

All applicants must pass the National Dental Examining Board of Canada Examination in order to be eligible to apply as a General Dentist.

Transferring to Alberta from another Province or Territory

Dentists must be registered with the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta in order to provide dental treatment to Albertans. Currently there are trade agreements in place with British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which can make it easier for dentists who are already registered in another province or territory to become registered in Alberta.

New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA)

The New West Partnership Trade Agreement is an agreement between the Governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, to facilitate easier movement between the provinces. This agreement allows registered dentists in these four provinces to apply for registration, as long as they meet the provincial requirements of the province they are applying in. The NWPTA does not apply to the Education and Research Register, the Education and Research General Residency Program Register, the Education and Research Graduate Student Program Register, the Courtesy Register or the Volunteer Register. In order to transfer from another province or territory applicants will need to meet the requirements of the entire application process required of all applicants.

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, applicants may be eligible to register on the CDSA’s Main Register. Applicants are required under this agreement to fulfill CDSA’s application requirements including the Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination. The CFTA does not apply to the Education and Research Register, the Education and Research General Residency Program Register, the Education and Research Graduate Student Program Register, the Courtesy Register or the Volunteer Register.

Fair Registration Practices Act (2019)

The Fair Registration Practices Act provides the authority to require regulatory authorities of regulated occupations and trades to ensure that their registration practices are transparent, objective, impartial and fair. There are timelines and specific processes as a result of this legislation.

Bill 21 – An Act to Protect Patients (2019)

This Act is now law and part of the Health Professions Act. It protects patients and applies consistent penalties to all health professionals regulated under the Health Professions Act for findings of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. Mandatory penalties for regulated health professions include cancellation of a practice permit for any health professional whose conduct is deemed to be sexual abuse of a patient, and suspension of a practice permit for any health professional whose conduct is deemed to be sexual misconduct toward a patient.

A health professional whose practice permit is cancelled because of a hearing tribunal decision that they engaged in sexual abuse of a patient or because the health professional was convicted of specific provisions under the Criminal Code of Canada, cannot reapply for reinstatement at any time. Health professionals are prevented from applying for reinstatement for at least 5 years if their permit has been cancelled as a result of conduct deemed to be sexual misconduct. As a regulatory college the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta has a Standard of Practice: Sexual Abuse, Sexual Misconduct, and Female Genital Mutilation.

By law, the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta has established a fund to pay for treatment and counselling for patients who allege sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by a dentist. There is also a patient relations program that includes training for dentists and College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta staff to prevent and address sexual abuse and misconduct and information to help Albertans understand the complaints process.

The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta is also required to post dentists’ discipline history for sexual abuse or misconduct on our public facing website.

Bill 49 – Labour Mobility Act (awaiting Proclamation)

The Labour Mobility Act creates a standardized approach to recognizing other provincial credentials and clarifies requirements for Alberta’s professional regulatory authorities. This law will apply to an individual who is seeking to be registered in the regulated profession in Alberta that they are currently registered with another provincial regulator, outside of Alberta. The Alberta Government is currently drafting the Regulation for this Act. The Alberta Government will not proclaim the Act until the Regulation is finalized.

This Act introduces maximum timeframes for regulatory authorities to make registration decisions after receiving a complete application. Regulatory authorities are required to establish an internal review or appeal process for registration decisions within a reasonable timeframe. Under the Act, the documentation required to evaluate an applicant is limited to include proof of certification in a Canadian jurisdiction and in any other documentation stated in the Regulation.

The information on required registration documents and fees is available to the public on the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta website.

Application Forms

  • Document List for Applicants Applying as a General Dentist
    • Completed application form for registration as a General Dentist, including payment of the $500.00 application fee.
    • Notarized or certified copy of passport, birth certificate, citizenship card or proof of permanent residency status, or a notarized or certified copy of the authorization issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada which permits you to engage in the practice of dentistry in Canada.
    • Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check (performed within the last 12 months). Applicants are responsible for all fees charged by the police to obtain these records.
          • Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution related to dental education. Transcripts must list courses taken, grades obtained, and if applicable to that educational institution, that a degree or diploma has been awarded. Documents not in English or French must be accompanied by translations. Undergraduate transcripts are not required. NOTE: Applicants must request their transcripts to be sent directly from the educational institution to the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta. Transcripts received that are sent by the applicant will not be accepted, including transcripts that are in a sealed envelope.
    • Notarized or certified copies of degrees or diplomas earned.
          • Certificates of Standing from each province where the applicant is/was registered is required. If the applicant is/was registered in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, the U.S.A. or internationally, a Letter of Good Standing from each jurisdiction in which the applicant is/was registered is required.
          • NOTE: Certificates of Standing and Letters of Good Standing are valid for 8 weeks from the date of issuance and must be sent directly to the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta from each regulatory body in which the applicant is/was registered. Certificates of Standing and Letters of Good Standing sent by an applicant will not be accepted.
    • An individual Consent for Release of Information form is required to be completed and submitted for each jurisdiction in which the applicant is/was registered.
    • Three (3) written letters of character reference from colleagues or friends. Family members or classmates cannot provide character reference letters. Letters must be signed, dated and contain contact information of the person writing the reference. These letters may be submitted by the applicant.
    • If an applicant is currently in practice and has been in practice for two years or more, verification of 60 continuing education hours over the last two-year period must be provided. Certificates and/or letters of successful completion are required. Continuing education transcripts will not be accepted.
    • One (1) current passport-sized photograph (taken within the last 6 months).
Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination Requirement

The Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination is a required examination for all applicants applying for the Main Register as a General Dentist. The examination can be written at any time by emailing a request to Registration@cdsab.ca. The examination is written; it is not multiple choice and not open book, and will be proctored online by Zoom teleconference. The password will be given by separate email to attendees once the examination is in process.

Registration Process

Once an applicant has written and passed the Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination and their application documentation is completed and approved by the CEO/Registrar, the applicant will be invited to attend an Orientation and Registration Session. Applicants will be offered a selection of available dates. The Orientation and Registration Sessions are administered online by Zoom teleconference, and once an applicant has attended a Session and paid the registration and permit fees, they will be eligible to start working the following day.

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