News

The Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD) Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada program (BTDPC) recently received preliminary accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). Obtaining accreditation confirms that the program includes direct patient care experiences, alongside theoretical and simulation-based training. The BTDCP’s accreditation was an important step for the ACFD and its partners as well as for the NDEB.

With this change, the NDEB has confirmation that individuals who complete an accredited BTDPC program have received structured education and supervised clinical experiences aligned with the competencies expected of a beginning dental practitioner in Canada.

Considering this, the NDEB has adopted a new eligibility category for the Certification Process. Effective July 1, 2026 graduates of a non-accredited dental program who complete a bridge training program accredited by the CDAC will be eligible to apply to the Certification Process without taking the NDECC.

This change only affects eligibility for entry into the Certification Process. All individuals, no matter which entry to practice pathway they take, must continue to successfully demonstrate competence through the same national certification examination.

Holding an NDEB Certificate continues to represent successful completion of a national competency-based assessment process.

What does this mean for ITDs?

The implementation of the BTDPC introduced a third option for ITDs to obtain NDEB certification and provincial licensure. With the new eligibility criteria for the Certification Process, ITDs who complete  the BTDPC will no longer need to pass the NDECC before being eligible for the Certification Process.

Who can go to a BTDPC?

The BTDPC program is for individuals who have completed the first two examinations of the NDEB Equivalency Process and are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Detailed information about the program is available on the ACFD website.