How to Apply

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.

General Dentist Application Form

This application type is for dentists who have recently completed a University dental program and that have not been registered in any other jurisdiction(s) within Canada, North America, or Internationally.

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

• have recently completed a University dental program and that have not been registered in any other jurisdiction(s) within Canada, North America, or Internationally
• the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA); and
• the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) General Dentist Examination.

New Graduate – General Dentist Application Form

There are two paths for dentists applying for Dental Specialists Permit. Applicants that hold the NDEB may apply for a General Dentist & Dental Specialist permit.

Applicants for registration as a General Dentist & Dental Specialist 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; and
• The National Dental Examining Board of Canada – National Dental Specialty Examination (NDEB NDSE); OR
• The Royal College of Dentists of Canada if an applicant wrote the specialty examination before January 1, 2020 or after June 1, 2024.

General Dentist &Dental Specialist Application Form

There are two paths for dentists applying for Dental Specialists Permit. Applicants that do not hold the NDEB requirement may apply for a Dental Specialist Permit.

Applicants for registration as solely a Dental Specialist must meet the requirements of:

• The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA); and
• The National Dental Examining Board of Canada – National Dental Specialty Examination (NDEB NDSE); OR
• The Royal College of Dentists of Canada if an applicant wrote the specialty examination before January 1, 2020 or after June 1, 2024.

Dental Specialist Application Form

This application type is for dentists who are currently or were previously registered in another jurisdiction within Canada, North America, or Internationally.

Applicants for registration of the General Residency Program must meet the requirements of:

• Registration on the Main register to attend the University of Alberta’s General Residency Program (GPR).
• The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA); and
• The National Dental Examining Board of Canada – National Dental Specialty Examination (NDEB NDSE)

General Residency Program Application Form

This application type is for registration to attend the University of Alberta’s Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Fellowship.

Applicants for registration of the OMFS Fellowship must meet the requirements of:

• The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA); and
• a letter from the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry confirming an appointment and outline of duties

OMFS Application Form

• Completed application form and application fee.
• Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution related to dental education.
  • Applicants must request their transcripts to be sent directly from the educational institution to the CDSA.
  • Transcripts must list courses taken, grades obtained, and if applicable to that educational institution, the degree or diploma awarded.
  • Documents not in English must be accompanied by certified translations.
  • Undergraduate transcripts are not required.
• Certificates of Standing (if applicable).
  • If currently or previously registered in any Canadian province.
  • Certificates of Standing are valid for 8 weeks from the date they are issued.
  • The applicant is responsible for ensuring this information is current.
  • The Certificate of Standing must be emailed directly to the CDSA from each regulatory body in which the applicant is/was registered. Certificates of Standing sent by the applicant will not be accepted.
• Letter of Good Standing (if applicable)
  • If currently or previously registered in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, the U.S.A. or
    Internationally.
  • This is to be included from any other dental professions currently or previously registered with (i.e,
    Hygienist, Assistant, etc.).
  • The letter must be emailed directly to the CDSA from each regulatory body in which the applicant is/was
    registered. Letters of Good Standing sent by the applicant will not be accepted.
  • Letters of Good Standing are valid for 8 weeks from the date they are issued.
  • The applicant is responsible for ensuring this information is current.

The following information must be supplied to the CDSA by the applicant. All documents must be clear and
readable.

• Completed application and payment of $500 Canadian.
• Notarized or Certified copy of government issued photo identification.
  • Passport, citizenship card, or proof of permanent residency status. Or a certified copy of the authorization issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada of a person lawfully permitted to work in Canada.
• Statutory Declaration (attached to application form)
  • Must be completed and notarized by a Notary Public or commissioner for oaths.
• Notarized or Certified copy of dental degree(s) or diploma(s) earned.
  • Testimurs are not accepted.
• Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check from within the last 12 months.
• Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check Consent form.
• A copy of the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) of Canada Certificate.
• Proof of current HCP/CPR including AED or equivalent certification within the last 6 months.
• Consent for Release of Information Form(s) for each jurisdiction in which the applicant is/was registered.
  If transferring from another jurisdiction, applicants must include a Consent of Release of Information form that permits the CDSA to communicate with the applicant’s previous regulators

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.

Dental Specialists recognized in Alberta are:

• Endodontists;
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists;
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons;
• Oral Medicine and Pathology Specialists;
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedists;
• Pediatric Dentists;
• Periodontists;
• Prosthodontists and;
• Public Health Dentists.

To practice as a Dental Specialist in Alberta you must include the following with your application:

• Notarized or Certified copy of Diploma or certificate from Specialty program
  OR
• Transcripts from specialty program. If applicant’s transcripts are submitted, the CDSA must receive the transcripts directly from the educational institution. Transcripts received from the applicant will not be accepted, including transcripts that are in a sealed envelope.
• Certificate from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada – National Dental Specialty Examination (NDEB/NDSE) advising of successful completion of the specialty examination, if written after January 1, 2020.
  OR
• Proof of successful completion of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC) examination if applicant wrote RCDC Specialty Examination before January 1, 2020. This document must be forwarded to the CDSA directly from the RCDC.

Applicants must successfully pass the CDSA Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam. The exam can be taken at any time during the application process after an application form and payment have been submitted.

The exam is proctored online, and applicant are given 1 ½ hours to write the exam. Successful completion of the exam is 75% or higher.

To register for an upcoming exam date email Registration@cdsab.ca

The Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam is based on the following six documents:

• College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta Communication Guide
• Dentists Profession Regulation
• College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta Advertising Statement 
• Health Professions Act – An Overview
• Health Professions Act – Schedule 7, Sections 1-3 and 11-18
• Alberta Dental Association and College – Code of Ethics

Sufficient study time to prepare for the exam is encouraged.  The exam is not multiple choice, nor open book, and is graded according to answers provided.

The Health Professions Act and the Dentists Profession Regulation require an applicant to have demonstrated proficiency in the English language as required by the Registrar. All applicants registering as dentists in Alberta must demonstrate proficiency in speaking, listening, writing, and reading in English.

English Language Proficiency (ELP) can be proven by graduating from a dental education program in a country where English is the first or native language.

Proof of graduation or completion of a dental program in English can be provided through one of the following:

• Transcripts,
• Notarized/certified copies of dental degrees earned, or
• Providing a letter or certificate of standing from a jurisdiction that meets ELP requirements.

An English language proficiency test is required when the dental school or postgraduate education program was conducted in a language other than English, or the applicant is coming from a jurisdiction where there is no English language proficiency requirement.

For more information on the ELP tests and minimum passing grade, exclusions, practice permit renewals, definitions, and a listing of countries recognized as having English as a first or primary language please refer to the English Language Proficiency registration policy.

Letter of Good Standing Payment Form
Required when requesting a Letter of Good Standing from the CDSA

Certificate of Standing Payment Form
Required when requesting a Certificate of Standing from the CDSA

Certificate of Registration Status Payment Form
Required when requesting a Certificate of Registration from the CDSA. For Nunavut, the Northwest Territories or the Yukon, the USA or an International country ONLY.

Application for Relief Form
CDSA Members may request a waive of the fees for a Letter of Good Standing or Certificate of Standing. This request will be reviewed and approved by the CEO/Registrar.

Vulnerable Sector Check Criminal Record Search Consent Form

RCMP Vulnerable Sector Check Letter Request

Applicants from another province or territory must meet the CDSA and NDEB requirements for registration.

When registering in Alberta after service in another Canadian jurisdiction, applicants are required to provide the CDSA with a Certificate of Registration and Letter of Good Standing from the jurisdiction the applicant is looking to transfer from. A Consent of Release of Information will also need to be provided to the CDSA, which allows the CDSA to communicate directly with the regulator regarding an applicant.

Applicants from outside Canada must meet the CDSA and NDEB requirements for registration.

When registering to practice dentistry in Alberta from another country, applicants must have a notarized/certified copy of a citizenship card or proof of permanent residency status, or a certified copy of the authorization issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Applicants are required to have a degree from a dentistry program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. If the school the applicant attended is not on the list, then they must follow the steps set out by the NDEB Equivalency Process.

Applicants are required to provide the CDSA with a Certificate of Registration Status and Letter of Good Standing from the jurisdiction the applicant previously provided service. A Consent of Release of Information will also need to be provided to the CDSA, which allows the CDSA to communicate directly with the regulator regarding an applicant.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 you will need to meet the requirements of the entire application process required of all applicants.