Modifications to the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's certification process

Following a lengthy and intense consultation with stakeholders, and an analysis of the present certification process, the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) and the 10 provincial licensing authorities recently approved major changes to the certification process for dental licensure in Canada. As of January 1997, graduates of dental programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA Commission) must complete successfully the same examinations as graduates of programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) to be licensed to practice in Canada. In addition, NDEB's examination system for graduates of dental programs that are not accredited by CDAC or the ADA Commission (i.e. international programs) will be discontinued on December 31, 1999. As of January 1, 2000, graduates of non-accredited programs will be required to complete a CDAC accredited, university-based qualifying program to be eligible to participate in the same certification process as graduates of ADA Commission and CDAC accredited dental programs.