Equivalency Process
The Equivalency Process provides an alternate route to certification as a dentist in Canada for graduates of non-accredited dental programs. This process is also integrated with the admission process for the Qualifying and Degree Completion Programs. The Equivalency Process comprises three Assessments. Successful completion of the Assessments allows you to participate in the NDEB Written and OSCE Examinations. Canadian Faculties of Dentistry also use your results on select Assessments in the admission process for Qualifying and Degree Completion Program.
Below are links to review and preparatory courses for the Equivalency Process offered by Canadian Faculties of Dentistry. The RCDSO does not endorse or sponsor any of these courses and offers this information simply to try and be of assistance. As the information is always changing you need to contact the schools directly for specific information regarding how to apply and fees.
Restorative Dentistry Review - Schulich School of Dentistry, Continuing Dental Education
Assessment of Clinical Skills and Assessment of Clinical Judgement Review - University of Toronto
Clinical Skills Enrichment Course (CSEC) for Foreign Trained Dentists - University of British Columbia
Clinical Skills Preparation - University of Manitoba
Once granted the certificate of the National Dental Examining Board, in order to obtain a General Certificate of Registration (the most common form of certificate used to engage in general practice) from the College you must:
have a degree in dentistry showing that you have successfully completed a course in dental studies of at least four years at a university-based dental school;
have passed the Canadian National Examination and obtained a certificate from the NDEB;
be reasonably fluent in either English or French;
have successfully completed the College’s examination in Jurisprudence and Ethics;
be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada or have received the appropriate authorization from Citizenship and Immigration Canada permitting you to engage in the practice of dentistry in Ontario;
be mentally competent and physically able to safely practice dentistry;
have sufficient knowledge, skill and judgment to competently engage in the practice of dentistry;
have a clear record wherever you are or have been registered/licensed or otherwise entitled to practise dentistry in another jurisdiction and/or have engaged in the practice of dentistry anywhere in the world. You must not currently nor in the past have been:
found guilty in relation to a criminal offence;
the subject of an investigation or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence, incapacity or a similar investigation or proceeding;
the subject of a finding of professional misconduct, incompetence, incapacity or a similar finding.
To verify this information, the College’s Certificate of Standing form (available on our website under Forms) must be completed by the Governing/Regulatory Authority in every jurisdiction where an applicant has practised or been granted the right to practice. If your governing authority refuses to complete this form, then you must submit a letter or other substitution containing the required information outlined above. Reference letters or photocopies of a licence will not be accepted in place of this official notice.
If you are still practising in the respective jurisdiction at the time you submit your application for registration in Ontario, please note: this information/form must be current and is therefore only valid for three (3) months.
Requirements are subject to change. Please contact the College directly for the most up-to-date information or if you have any questions. The entire Registration Regulation can be found on the College’s website.
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