For Dentists/Specialists from programs outside Canada
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.
The Association of Prosthodontists of Canada does not determine or assess credentials, nor does it administer examinations for licensure. The provincial and territorial bodies set the standards for entry into the profession of dentistry and for issuing licenses 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 provincial or territorial regulatory body for information on licensing procedures in that area.(please see links below)
Many jurisdictions require successful completion of the National Dental Specialty Examination (NDSE) for licensure as a Specialist. This examination is currently administered by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB).
In order to write the NDEB exam, an individual must be a graduate of an accredited program in Canada, the United States of America (USA), New Zealand, Australia or Ireland.
Graduates of general dental programs outside of Canada, USA, NZ, AUS and Ireland must take a two-year qualifying program at an accredited university. (https://ndeb-bned.ca/en/accredited)
For Internationally Trained Dental Specialists who graduated from a non-accredited dental specialist program and intend become eligible for the National Dental Specialty Examination, the first step is to apply to the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) for the Dental Specialty Core Knowledge Examination (DSCKE). Reciprocal agreements for dental specialties programs currently exist with no countries other than the USA. (https://ndeb-bned.ca/en/specialty and https://ndeb-bned.ca/en/non-accredited)
For more information on the NDEB exam and certificate, you may contact:
The National Dental Examining Board of Canada
80 Elgin Street, 2nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 6R2
Tel: 613-236-5912
Fax: 613-236-8386
Contact by email at info@ndeb-bned.ca
NDEB Certification does not guarantee licensure to practice. Licenses to practice are granted by the provincial regulatory authorities.
Foreign-trained dentists, regardless of education, licensure, or experience, must obtain a Canadian license to practice 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)
- #350, 2194 Health Sciences Mall
- Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
- Phone : (604) 827-1083
- Fax : (604) 822-4532
- Email : admin@acfd.ca
- http://www.acfd.ca/
Once you know where you will settle and work, you should contact the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body for information on licensing procedures in that area.
There is more detailed information on assessment of international qualifications at the following 3 websites:
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
https://www.cicic.ca/938/dentists.canada?id=44
The National Dental Examining Board of Canada
https://ndeb-bned.ca/en/specialty
Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD)
http://www.acfd.ca
Royal College of Dentists of Canada
http://www.rcdc.ca/
List of dental regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta Dental Association and College (ADAC)
- 8230 - 105th St., Suite 101
- Edmonton AB T6E 5H9 Canada
- Phone : 780-432-1012
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-843-3848
- Fax : 780-433-4864
- Email : adaadmin@telusplanet.net
- http://www.abda.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC)
- 500 - 1765 West 8th Avenue
- Vancouver BC V6J 5C6 Canada
- Phone : 604-736-3621
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-663-9169
- Fax : 604-734-9448
- Fax (alternate): 1-866-734-9448
- Email : info@cdsbc.org
- http://cdsbc.org/
Manitoba
- Manitoba Dental Association (MDA)
- 698 Corydon Avenue, Suite 103
- Winnipeg MB R3M 0X9 Canada
- Phone : 204-988-5300
- Fax : 204-988-5310
- Email : office@manitobadentist.ca
- http://www.manitobadentist.ca/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Dental Society (NBDS)
- P.O. Box 488, Stn. A
520 King Street, Suite 820 - Fredericton NB E3B 4Z9 Canada
- Phone : 506-452-8575
- Fax : 506-452-1872
- Email : nbds@nb.aibn.com
- http://www.nbdental.com/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland & Labrador Dental Board (NLDB)
- 139 Water Street, 6th Flr.
- St. John's NL A1C 1B2 Canada
- Phone : 709-579-2391
- Fax : 709-579-2392
- Email : nldb@nf.aibn.com
Northwest Territories
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories
- Box 1320, CST-8
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : 867-920-8058
- Fax : 867-873-0484
- Email : samantha_vangenne@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/professional-licensing/dentists
Nova Scotia
- Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia (PDBNS)
- 1559 Brunswick St., Suite 102
- Halifax NS B3J 2G1 Canada
- Phone : 902-420-0083
- Fax : 902-492-0301
- Email : info@pdbns.ca
- http://www.pdbns.ca/
Nunavut
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
- P.O. Box 390
- Kugluktuk NU X0B 0E0 Canada
- Phone : 867-982-7672
- Phone (alternate): 867-982-7668
- Fax : 867-982-3256
- Fax (alternate): 867-982-7640
- Email : hssnunavutregistrar@gov.nu.ca
Ontario
- Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO)
- 6 Crescent Road
- Toronto ON M4W 1T1 Canada
- Phone : 416-961-6555
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-565-4591
- Fax : 416-961-5814
- Email : info@rcdso.org
- http://www.rcdso.org/
Quebec
- Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ)
- 625, boul. René-Lévesque Ouest
15e étage - Montréal QC H3B 1R2 Canada
- Phone : 514-875-8511
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-361-4887
- Fax : 514-393-9248
- Email : dsp@odq.qc.ca
- http://www.odq.qc.ca/
Saskatchewan
- College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS)
- 728 Spadina Cres. E., Suite 202
- Saskatoon SK S7K 4H7 Canada
- Phone : (306) 244-5072
- Fax : (306) 244-2476
- Email : cdss@saskdentists.com
- http://www.saskdentists.com/
Yukon
- Professional Licensing, Department of Community Services, Government of Yukon
- P.O. Box 2703, (C-5)
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
- Phone : 867-667-5111
- Fax : 867-667-3609
- Email : consumer@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/dental/index.html