To practise as a dentist in Canada you need a recognized dental degree, certification from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), and a licence from your province. The NDEB exam is now a single test, the Virtual OSCE[5], and dentists trained abroad follow the Equivalency Process (AFK, ACJ and NDECC)[6].
Becoming a dentist in Canada is dependent on certain factors including the province/territory you wish to study in and the school at which you were educated at. This post provides a detailed insight into the process of becoming a dentist from start to finish, no matter what educational background or country you come from. There are 5 steps in becoming a practicing dentist in Canada:
- Obtaining a Bachelor’s Undergraduate Degree
- Obtaining a University Degree in Dentistry
- Completion of an Exam from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada
- Registration with the Dentistry College in your Province/Territory
- Additional Steps for International Applicants from Non-Accredited Universities
Obtaining a Bachelor’s Undergraduate Degree
Depending on the country you reside in the dental school requirements differ around the world. For example, some universities in Europe accept dental school applicants directly from high school, which offers a quicker route to your dental degree but also creating some challenges to those wishing to practice in Canada (More on that later).
The easiest route to becoming a practicing dentist in Canada is to study dentistry in Canada. If you wish to study dentistry in a dental school in Canada please be aware that these programs are not a direct entry program. This means that qualified applicants must have completed 2, 3 or 4 years of undergraduate university study first. The exact nature of your degree does not matter, however you must be certain that you meet specific requirements for each dental school in Canada if you wish to pursue a dental education in Canada. This will include course prerequisites, program length, and GPA requirements.
Obtaining a University Dental Degree: Non-Accredited vs Accredited
The next step to becoming a dentist involves obtaining a dentistry degree from a 4-year program at a University.
In Canada, dental educational institutions are categorized into two groups: accredited university degrees and non-accredited university degrees. The full list of accredited university degrees in Canada includes:
- All ten dental schools in Canada. Those who wish to know more about the entry requirements for these dental schools can click here.
- All dental schools in the USA accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (76 schools in the 2025-26 survey). Those who wish to know more about the entry requirements for these dental schools can click here.
- All accredited dental programs in Australia (for graduates on or after March 31, 2010)
- The New Zealand dental program (for graduates on or after December 14, 2011)
- 2 of the 3 dental schools in Ireland: the University of Dublin and National University of Ireland (for graduates on or after December 5, 2012)
- King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia (for graduates on or after August 1, 2019)
The NDEB keeps the official list of recognized programs[1]. All other university dental programs are not accredited in Canada. Graduates from non-accredited universities must complete additional steps to become practicing dentists in Canada. These steps will be listed at the end of this post.
Gaining a Certificate of Completion for the National Dental Examining Board of Canada
The National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) is the organization liable for establishing and maintaining the national standard for all practicing dentists in Canada. Every dentist must complete an examination from the NDEB before being able to practice. Usually, this examination is taken upon completion of a dentistry degree.
When this guide was first written, there were 2 parts to the NDEB examination:
- Written Exam
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Both parts of the exam are based on the competencies of a beginning dental practitioner in Canada. These competencies include one’s understanding of dental concepts and theories, their applications, as well as the ethical and legal requirements of your profession.
The NDEB written examination has been comprised of 150 multiple choice questions for the past few years. Dentists must receive at least a re-scaled score of 75/150 to pass. In general, dentists who have performed well in dental school have reported no difficulties passing this exam.
The OSCE is a clinical scenario-based exam, the format of which consists of single answer and multi-answer multiple-choice questions, as well as long answer questions.
The current exam: the Virtual OSCE
The NDEB has since replaced the Written Examination and the OSCE with a single exam, the Virtual OSCE[5]. Graduates of accredited programs now follow three steps: apply to the Certification Process, pass the Virtual OSCE, then receive NDEB certification[1].
| Virtual OSCE | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 200: 50 single-answer multiple-choice questions and 150 case-based questions[5] |
| What it can include | Photos, radiographs, charts and other case material |
| Fee | $1,750, plus a one-time $450 application fee[2] |
| Attempts | A maximum of three[5] |
Practising for the Virtual OSCE?
DentPrep has a Virtual OSCE question bank with more than 2,900 practice questions and three full 200-question mocks that use the real split of 150 case-based and 50 standard questions. You can try 10 questions without signing up.
DentPrep is run by the same team as Master Student. Paid plans unlock the full question banks.
NDEB fees by route
Total NDEB application and exam fees if you pass everything on the first try, in Canadian dollars.
Fees effective July 1, 2025. They do not include tuition, travel, study materials, provincial licence fees or repeat attempts.
New dentists certified by the NDEB each year, by route
General dentistry certifications.
| Year | Canadian dental schools (DDS/DMD and degree completion) | Equivalency Process (trained abroad, non-accredited) | Accredited programs in the US, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 558 | 307 | 235 | |
| 2018 | 553 | 312 | 278 | |
| 2019 | 553 | 263 | 278 | |
| 2020 | 575 | 257 | 273 | |
| 2021 | 551 | 23 | 142 | |
| 2022 | 532 | 246 | 259 | |
| 2023 | 567 | 131 | 250 | |
| 2024 | 585 | 447 | 271 | |
| 2025 | 593 | 745 | 308 | [4] |
In 2025 the NDEB certified 1,646 general dentists. About half of the dentists certified each year were trained outside Canada.
Becoming a Member of the College of Dentistry in the Province/Territory you wish to Practice in
In Canada, only licensed dentists may practice dentistry. Each province/territory has its own dental governing body in place from which they can obtain their license. Some people get adventurous and try to practice without a license, which can result in various disastrous consequences such as getting taken to court.
Most dental colleges require dentists to meet certain requirements. The main requirements are:
- Obtain a university degree in dentistry, must be at least 4 years of dental study
- A certificate of completion from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have the authorization by the Government of Canada to work as a healthcare professional in Canada
In addition to this, some colleges have additional requirements. For example, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) also requires practicing dentists in Ontario to complete an RCDSO’s Jurisprudence and Ethics course. We have an in-depth guide for becoming a dentist in Ontario for those who are interested. For other provinces/territories, we recommend that you double-check specific requirements with each college listed below:
- Ontario: Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
- British Columbia: BC College of Oral Health Professionals (formerly the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia)
- Quebec: Ordre des dentistes du Québec
- Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Regulator of Dentistry and Dental Assisting (formerly the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia)
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Board
- New Brunswick: New Brunswick Dental Society
- Prince Edward Islands: Prince Edward Island Dental Council
- Alberta: College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (formerly the Alberta Dental Association and College)
- Saskatchewan: College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan
- Manitoba: Manitoba Dental Association
- Yukon Territory: Yukon Dental Association
- Nunavut/Northwest Territories: Northwest Territories & Nunavut Dental Association
Upon successful licensing congratulations! You are now free to practice in the province/territory you work in!
Additional Steps for International Applicants from Non-Accredited Universities
If you are a graduate of a non-accredited university you must meet either of two special requirements before being allowed to practice anywhere in Canada. Only one of these options has to be completed:
- Completion of an accredited Qualifying/Degree Completion Program as well as the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) assessment
- Completion of the NDEB Equivalency Process which involves three assessments:
The Equivalency Process today
Two things have changed since this guide was first written. The Assessment of Clinical Skills (ACS) has been replaced by the NDECC, and there is now a third route, the BTDPC bridging program[6]. After any of the three routes, you take the Virtual OSCE like every other candidate.
| Step | What it is | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application | One-time, non-refundable | $900[3] |
| AFK | 200 single-answer multiple-choice questions in two parts of two hours each. A score of 75 is a pass. Maximum three attempts[7] | $1,000 |
| ACJ | A 5.5-hour exam of 120 to 150 questions on diagnosis, treatment planning, clinical decisions and radiographic interpretation. Maximum three attempts[8] | $1,350 |
| NDECC | Two components: clinical skills, and situational judgement[9] | $6,500 ($3,250 each) |
| Virtual OSCE | The certification exam described above | $450 application + $1,750 |
Qualifying and Degree Completion Programs are offered at eight Canadian universities: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Western, Toronto, McGill, Dalhousie and Laval[10]. BTDPC is for people who have started the Equivalency Process and have not yet passed the NDECC[6].
Practising for the AFK?
DentPrep has an AFK question bank written to the 2026 AFK blueprint: 3,611 original questions, including four full 200-question timed mocks, with every answer choice explained. You can try 10 questions without signing up, and a free account adds 40 more plus a timed mini-mock.
DentPrep is run by the same team as Master Student. Paid plans unlock the full question banks.
How to become a dentist in Ontario
Ontario follows the same national steps as the rest of Canada, plus two requirements of its own from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).
Becoming a member of the RCDSO
All practicing dentists in Ontario must be registered and obtain a license from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).
Some people get adventurous and try to practice without a license, they get taken to court and are ordered to stop practicing. In Canada, the practice of dentistry is restricted to licensed dentists.
To be a registered and licensed member of the RCDSO you must meet certain requirements, the main requirements are:
- Obtain a university degree in dentistry, must be at least 4 years of dental study
- Receive a certificate of completion from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
- Successfully complete the RCDSO’s Jurisprudence and Ethics course
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have the authorization by the Government of Canada to work as a healthcare professional in Canada
The RCDSO jurisprudence and ethics course
Once you obtain the NDEB certification, the last step to obtain registration and license with the RCDSO is to take and pass the RCDSO ethics course.
The RCDSO’s Jurisprudence and Ethics course is designed to provide applicants with information about the legal and ethical responsibilities for practising dentistry in Ontario. It is composed of four sections which span a length of 13 modules, and the passing grade on the final exam is 60%[11]. The four sections are:
- About the RCDO and your Introduction to Jurisprudence & Ethics (three modules)
- Patient Care (three modules)
- Legal Responsibility (four modules)
- Practice Management (three modules)
Throughout the course, you will be required to complete quizzes and scenarios related to the workplace. This course is very straightforward compared to all the other testing leading to this final step.
Step-by-step timeline for Ontario
- Obtain an Undergraduate University Education
The requirements for dental school differ around the world. Dental schools in Canada and the USA are not a direct entry program which means that to become a qualified applicant for dental school one must do 2, 3 or 4 years of undergraduate university studies before being eligible to apply to dental school.
- Obtain a Dental Degree
Get a 4 or 4+ year dental degree from a university anywhere in the world. The path to becoming a dentist in Ontario will differ depending on if the dental program you attended is accredited by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).
- Acquire certification by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
If your dental program is accredited by the RCDSO, to get the NDEB certification, you will be writing 2 exams in the final year of your dental program: the written NDEB exam and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
If your dental program is not accredited by the RCDSO, to get the NDEB certification, you have two paths to becoming a dentist in Ontario.
Path #1: Write the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) which is administered by the NDEB, then apply and complete one of the accredited Qualifying/Degree Completion Programs. In the final year of the dental program, you will be writing the same two NDEB exams as the students from accredited dental programs.
Path #2: NDEB Equivalency Process consists of 3 examinations: 1) Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) and 2) Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ) and 3) Assessment of Clinical Skills (ACS). Then, like students from accredited universities, two more exams: Written NDEB Exam and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
- Registration with RCDSO: Specific Additional Requirements:
- Successful completion of the RCDSO’s Jurisprudence and Ethics course
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have the authorization by Government of Canada to work as a healthcare professional in Canada
CONGRATULATIONS, you are now a licensed dentist in Ontario!
How long does it take to become a dentist in Ontario?
There are many paths to becoming a dentist in Ontario. The most common path takes 8 years: 4 years of undergraduate studies and then 4 years of dental school.
There is a considerable range in how long it takes to become a dentist in Ontario from 5 years to 14 years.
The fastest path to becoming a dentist in Ontario would be to go to dental school at the Université de Montréal (UdeM). They accept applicants directly out of high school into their 5-year program. So the absolute minimum number of years from high school graduation to become a practicing dentist can be 5 years. The labour mobility agreements between Ontario and other Canadian provinces/territories grant graduates the ability to apply for a licence in Ontario without obtaining or undergoing additional training, experience, examinations or assessments. This means that out-of-province graduates have the ability to practice in Ontario.
The other 9 dental schools in Canada are 4 years in length, but require a different minimum number of years of undergraduate studies before being able to apply. 4 of the 10 dental schools in Canada require 2 years, 3 schools require 3 years, 2 schools require 4 years. So respectively it can take 6, 7 and 8 years to become a dentist.
Getting into dental school is very competitive. It is common for students with master’s degrees and even PhDs to be entering dental school, as such for these students the path is respectively 10 and 14 years to become a dentist.
The above timelines do not include the time it takes to become a specialist such as an oral surgeon, orthodontist or endodontist which takes another 3-4 years of additional training depending on the specialty.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a dentist in Canada?
The most common path takes eight years: four years of undergraduate study and four years of dental school. It can range from five to fourteen years.
What exam do you need to become a dentist in Canada?
The NDEB Virtual OSCE, a 200-question exam. It replaced the earlier Written Examination and OSCE.[5]
How much does the NDEB exam cost?
Can a foreign-trained dentist work in Canada?
Yes. Graduates of non-accredited programs can take the NDEB Equivalency Process (AFK, ACJ and NDECC), a Qualifying or Degree Completion Program, or the BTDPC program, then the Virtual OSCE.[6]
What is the RCDSO Jurisprudence and Ethics course?
An online course of 13 modules in four sections that every applicant for an Ontario licence must complete. The passing grade on the final exam is 60%.[11]
Sources
- NDEB: graduates of accredited dental programs
- NDEB: Certification Process fees (effective July 1, 2025)
- NDEB: Equivalency Process fees (effective July 1, 2025)
- NDEB: certification numbers by year
- NDEB: Virtual OSCE
- NDEB: graduates of non-accredited dental programs
- NDEB: Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK)
- NDEB: Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ)
- NDEB: NDECC
- NDEB: entry-to-practice education programs
- RCDSO: Jurisprudence and Ethics course
Figures were checked against these sources on November 11, 2026. Exam formats, fees and statistics change, so confirm on the official site before you rely on them.
Hello! I’m dentist from argentina and i’d like to get more information about NDEB equivalency
Hello good time. I am 32 years old and I have just arrived in Toronto and I am planning to study dentistry. But due to the fact that I studied mathematics in high school and architectural engineering university, I don’t know which university I should enroll in for dental prerequisites. I kindly ask you to guide me. Thanks
Hi Sareh. Any Canadian university will be sufficient for meeting the requirements. This prestige of the university does not matter to Canadian dental schools. Since you are located in Toronto I would recommend York, TMU, or UofT if you are looking for close options.
I appreciate the complete information you provided. In Canada, I earned a master’s degree in business administration. I also have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from my country. For entry into Dental School, do I need to pass the prerequisite? Do you know which university in Canada offers the shortest-term program?
Hi, can I work in Canada after completing my dental degree in Australia and getting my license there? Or do I need to write the license in Canada too?