Information for foreign-trained dentists/dental surgeons
(3113) Verified: 2007 02 28
Information on requirements to practise
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. These bodies set the standards for entry into the profession of dentistry and for issuing licences 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 regulatory body for information on licensing procedures (see list below).
All provincial and territorial regulatory bodies recognize the certificate of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). For more information on the NDEB exam and certificate, you may contact:
- National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
- 100 Bronson Ave, Suite 203
- Ottawa ON K1R 6G8 Canada
- Phone : (613) 236-5912
- Fax : (613) 236-8386
- Email : director@ndeb.ca
- http://www.ndeb.ca/
In order to write the NDEB exam, an individual must be a graduate of an accredited program in either Canada or the United States of America (USA). Currently reciprocal agreements do not exist with other countries. Graduates of dental programs outside of North America must take a two-year qualifying program.
For further general information on dental occupations in Canada, you may contact the Canadian Dental Association, "the national voice of dentistry" in Canada:
- Canadian Dental Association (CDA)
- 1815 Alta Vista Drive
- Ottawa ON K1G 3Y6 Canada
- Phone : (613) 523-1770
- Fax : (613) 523-7736
- Email : reception@cda-adc.ca
- http://www.cda-adc.ca/
At the same address, but operating at arm's length from the CDA, the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) defines acceptable national standards for educational institutions in the field, and cooperates with provincial/territorial regulatory bodies, the NDEB, and other organizations to develop the accreditation process. For more information on the CDAC and accreditation in Canada, contact the Commission:
- Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
- 1815 Alta Vista Drive
- Ottawa ON K1G 3Y6 Canada
- Phone : (613) 523-7114
- Phone (alternate): 1-866-521-2322
- Email : cdac@cda-adc.ca
- http://www.cda-adc.ca/cdacweb/
Those who wish to work in a dental specialty should also consult the dental regulatory body in the jurisdiction where they want to practise (see list below), because many jurisdictions require licensure for specialties through the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC). The RCDC offers specialist examinations in: dental public health, dental sciences, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine and oral pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Successful completion of one of these specialty examinations may lead to a Fellowship in the College and the designation FRCD(C).
To write the National Dental Speciality Examination administered by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC), one may be required to be a graduate of an accredited program. Contact the RCDC for more information:
- Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC)
- 180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2003
- Toronto ON M5G 1Z8 Canada
- Phone : (416) 512-6571
- Fax : (416) 512-6468
- Email : office@rcdc.ca
- http://www.rcdc.ca/
Information on assessment of qualifications
Foreign-trained dentists, regardless of education, licensure, or experience, must obtain a Canadian licence to practise 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)
- 100 Bronson Avenue, Suite 204
- Ottawa ON K1R 6G8 Canada
- Phone : (613) 237-6505
- Fax : (613) 236-8386
- Email : director@acfd.ca
- http://www.acfd.ca/
If you plan to work in Quebec, you should contact l'Ordre des dentistes du Québec, and in Alberta, you should contact the Alberta Dental Association and College. Please note that the review of your credentials determines only your eligibility to write a certification exam; it does not guarantee recognition of your credentials for the purpose of employment or licensure in Canada.
You may also consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada," for further general information.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
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
- Fax : (780) 433-4864
- Email : adaadmin@telusplanet.net
- http://www.abda.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC)
- 1765 West 8th Ave, Suite 500
- 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, Carleton Place 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, Suite 401
- St. John's NL A1C 1B2 Canada
- Phone : 709-579-2362
- Fax : 709-579-1250
- Email : nfdental@nfld.net
Northwest Territories
- Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories
- Box 1320
5022 49th Street, C5-8
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
- Phone : (867) 920-8058
- Fax : (867) 873-0484
- Email : jeannette_hall@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/professional_licensing/default.htm
- Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories
- Registrar, Professional Licensing
P.O. Box 1320, 8th Floor Centre Square Tower- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : 867-920-8058
- Fax : (867) 873-0484
- Email : professional_licensing@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/professional_licensing/default.htm
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
- Nunavut Registrar's Office
- P.O. Box 390
- Kugluktuk NU X0B 0E0 Canada
- Phone : 867-982-7668
- Fax : 867-982-3256
- Email : kharvey@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/
Prince Edward Island
- Dental Council of Prince Edward Island
- 184 Belvedere Avenue
- Charlottetown PE C1A 2Z1 Canada
- Phone : 902-892-4470
- Fax : 902-892-4470
- Email : dapei@pei.sympatico.ca
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 : elsie@saskdentists.com
- http://www.saskdentists.com/
Yukon
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
- 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/consumer/pl.html
List of dental associations in the provinces and territories
British Columbia
- British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA)
- 400-1765 West 8th Avenue
- Vancouver BC V6J 5C6
- Phone : (604) 736-7202
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-396-9888
- Fax : (604) 736-7588
- Email : post@bcdental.org
- http://www.bcdental.org/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association
- 139 Water Street, Suite 401
- St. John's NL A1C 1B2 Canada
- Phone : (709) 579-2362
- Fax : (709) 579-1250
- Email : nfdental@nfld.net
- http://www.nlda.net/
Northwest Territories
- Northwest Territories & Nunavut Dental Association
- P.O. Box 24
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2N1 Canada
- Phone : (867) 873-6416
- Fax : (867) 920-7798
- Email : nwtnudentalassoc@theedge.ca
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Dental Association (NSDA)
- 101-1559 Brunswick Street
- Halifax NS B3J 2G1 Canada
- Phone : (902) 420-0088
- Fax : (902) 423-6537
- Email : nsda@eastlink.ca
- http://www.nsdental.org/
Ontario
- Ontario Dental Association (ODA)
- 4 New Street
- Toronto ON M5R 1P6 Canada
- Phone : (416) 922-3900
- Fax : (416) 922-9005
- Email : info@oda.on.ca
- http://www.oda.on.ca/
Prince Edward Island
- Dental Association of Prince Edward Island
- 184 Belvedere Avenue
- Charlottetown PE C1A 2Z1 Canada
- Phone : (902) 892-4470
- Fax : (902) 892-4470
- Email : dapei@pei.sympatico.ca
- http://www.dapei.ca/
Quebec
- Federation of Dental Specialists of Quebec (FDSQ)
- 5757, Ave. Decelles, Bureau 212
- Montreal QC H3S 2C3 Canada
- Phone : (514) 737-4901
- Email : info@fdsq.qc.ca
- http://www.fdsq.qc.ca/
- Quebec Dental Surgeons Association
- 1425 - 425, boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest
- Montréal QC H3A 3G5 Canada
- Phone : (514) 282-1425
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-361-3794
- Fax : (514) 282-0255
- Email : info@acdq.qc.ca
- http://www.acdq.qc.ca/
Yukon
- Nunavut & Northwest Territories Dental Association
- P.O. Box 24
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2N1 Canada
- Phone : (867) 873-6416
- Fax : (867) 920-7798
- Email : nwtnudentalassoc@theedge.ca