International Applicants
Qualified persons educated outside Canada may apply to write the NDAEB examination. Applicants must be prepared to provide proof of education which is substantially equivalent to the NDAEB standard.
To be eligible to write the NDAEB examination, applicants must be qualified as intra-oral (Level II) dental assistants, through formal dental assisting education or other formal allied dental healthcare educational programs such as dentistry or dental hygiene. At minimum candidates must show proof of formal education in the following mandatory skills:
- Chairside dental assisting (Level I)
- Exposes dental radiographs
- Provides oral hygiene instruction
- Provides dietary counselling relative to oral health
- Applies and removes dental dam
- Performs selective rubber cup polishing
- Applies anti-cariogenic agents
- Obtains preliminary impressions
- Applies and removes matrices and wedges
- Applies treatment liners (no pulpal involvement)
- Applies pit and fissure sealant
- Applies desensitizing agents
- Applies topical anaesthetic
- Performs tooth whitening using trays
The NDAEB written exam constitutes Part I of the mandatory two-part NDAEB certificate for international applicants. Part II requires the successful completion of the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE). (For details on the CPE, please see the CPE Candidate Handbook elsewhere on this site).
International applicants may choose to attend intra-oral (Level II) upgrading at a Canadian dental assisting program rather than challenge the CPE. Upgrade programs must include the following intra-oral skills:
- Exposes dental radiographs (HARP Commission approved course taken in Ontario*)
- Applies and removes dental dam
- Performs selective rubber cup polishing
- Obtains preliminary impressions
- Applies treatment liners (no pulpal involvement)
- Applies and removes matrices and wedges
- Applies fluoride
- Applies pit and fissure sealant
- Applies desensitizing agents
- Applies topical anaesthetic
- Performs tooth whitening using trays
Applicants choosing to attend academic upgrading in lieu of the CPE are advised to attend a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Please refer to the list of schools on this website.
Applicants should be aware that while the NDAEB recognizes upgrading completed at schools listed on its website, some Dental Assisting Regulatory Authorities may require non-accredited program graduates to complete the Clinical Practice Evaluation prior to considering them for licensure or registration.
Note:
The NDAEB requires applicants to be educated to perform the mandatory skills as the operator as opposed to assisting a dentist with the procedure.
Applicants must submit their academic credentials for review to a Canadian international qualifications assessment service, acceptable to the NDAEB. The NDAEB utilizes the credential assessment service of the following agencies in Canada. Applications are available on the agencies' web site:
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
International Qualifications Assessment Service
9th Floor 108 Street Building
9942 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2J5
Telephone: (780) 427-2655
Fax: (780) 422-9734
http://immigration.gov.ab.ca/iqas
Type of report required: Basic report with dental assisting course work report review.
International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5G 3H2
Tel: (604) 432-8800; Fax: (614) 435-7033
http://www.bcit.ca/ices
Type of report required: Comprehensive Report
World Education Services - Canada (WES)
45 Charles Street East, Suite 700
Toronto, Ontario
M4Y 1S2
Tel: (416) 972-0070; Fax: (416) 972-9004
http://www.wes.org/ca
Type of report required: Course-By-Course Report
Following qualifications assessment by one of the previously named agencies, a report will be issued to the candidate and the NDAEB. The NDAEB Candidate Eligibility Assessment Committee will then assess the report and the candidate's credentials to determine eligibility to write the NDAEB examination.
To assist the NDAEB in determining a candidate's education level, the NDAEB requires candidates to complete the Dental Assisting Course Work Report. When submitting the Dental Assisting Course Work Report to the NDAEB, applicants must provide certified / notarized copies of transcripts and diplomas sent to the credentials evaluation service.
The Dental Assisting Course Work Report certified / notarized copies of transcripts and diplomas, translated into English, must be forwarded to the NDAEB office separately from credentials application forms. Where there has been a name change due to marriage or divorce, candidates must provide proof by way of notorized copy of marriage license. Please be sure to advise the NDAEB office in writing as to the date your application was sent to the international qualification service you have selected from the list above. The completed documents will be held by the NDAEB until such time as the credentials evaluation report is received.
Please note, all fees associated with academic credentials evaluation service are the responsibility of the candidate and not the NDAEB. Examination fees levied by the NDAEB are charged separately at time of application for the exam and are not included with credentials assessment service fees.
Candidates may be required to undergo academic upgrading as determined by the NDAEB. All costs associated with academic upgrading are the responsibility of the candidate and must be completed at a dental assisting educational institution, the graduates of which are eligible to write the NDAEB examination. Prior to enrolling in dental assisting educational programs, candidates are advised to ensure the program's graduates are eligible to write the NDAEB examination.
Once eligibility is granted, candidates may then write the NDAEB examination at the next available sitting. Please note, the NDAEB examination is available only in Canada. The examination dates, application deadlines and locations across Canada can be found on the Exam Schedule page.
For more information on the NDAEB's Candidate Eligibility Assessment process or to receive application forms, please contact the NDEAB office by email: office@ndaeb.ca or by telephone: (613) 526-3424.
