Dentistry is a regulated profession in Canada. Each provincial dental regulatory authority is responsible for establishing the registration requirements in their province. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) is the organization responsible for establishing and maintaining a national standard of competence of dentists in Canada.
The NDEB Equivalency Process includes three examinations. Successful completion of the examinations allows individuals to move on to the next step, the NDEB Certification Process.
The NDEB website details the steps to follow in applying to the NDEB Equivalency Process.
Accredited Qualifying and Degree Completion Programs are offered by select Faculties of Dentistry in Canada. These programs are designed to familiarize international graduates to dentistry and dental practice in Canada. Upon successful completion of a Qualifying or Degree Completion Program, individuals are eligible to participate in the NDEB Certification Process.
If you are a graduate of an accredited dental program, have successfully completed a Qualifying or Dental Completion Program, or have completed the NDEB Equivalency Process, you are eligible to apply to the Certification Process.
The NDEB website is a valuable resource for applicants to find Examination Dates and Locations, How to Apply, How to Prepare, and Frequently Asked Questions.
I would like to work as a dentist in Alberta. How do I do that and what documents does the CDSA require?
The first step in the process of being able to work as a dentist in Alberta is that you must take all required examinations administer by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). You will need to contact the National Dental Examining Board of Canada regarding the exams you will be required to take. Once you have fulfilled this requirement, you will then be eligible to apply for registration with the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA).
I know I need to write the NDEB examinations, but how do I know if the University I graduated from is accredited and I am eligible to write their exams?
Accredited Universities and Non-accredited Universities are determined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Visit the
Qualifying and Degree Completion Programs page or contact the NDEB.
Once I have received my National Dental Examining Board of Canada certificate, how long after that can I start working in Alberta?
The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta will require a copy of your NDEB certificate, along with all other listed documentation on your application. You will then need to write and pass the CDSA Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam. Once the CDSA Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam has been passed and all documents have been received and determined to be in good order, they will then be forwarded to the CDSA CEO/Registrar for review. Once the CEO/Registrar has approved your application, an Orientation and Registration Session will be scheduled with you by the Registrations Department. This is a mandatory requirement for all applicants, as is the Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam. Once you have attended an Orientation and Registration Session and paid the registration and annual fee, you will then be eligible to start working as a dentist in Alberta the following day.