News

In 2025, the NDEB launched a five-year strategic plan to guide future initiatives. The plan aligns with our mission to contribute to the oral health of Canadians by providing fair, valid, and reliable evaluation of competence.

The strategic plan has four main goals: to understand the different needs of candidates and help them work toward certification; explain the value of competency-based testing through clear, planned communications; use information technology to improve services; invest in research to support decisions and improve exam development and delivery.

As we move forward with the strategic plan, we continue to focus on best supporting our candidates and improving exam services. The following updates show what we have accomplished so far and how this work is strengthening the certification process.

Registration Changes

On September 1, 2026, we changed our registration process. The new process adds a second registration period when candidates can register or transfer if seats become available because of withdrawals or increased exam capacity. The new process gives candidates a set time to check for available seats, reducing the need to check repeatedly and making access to available seats simpler.

Learning Tools

We recognize that people learn differently, and we want to make sure our candidates have access to a variety of learning tools. The NDEB hosts exam information sessions virtually throughout the year. The webinars are recorded and uploaded  to our video library for candidates to reference at their convenience. We also continue to hold information sessions in collaboration with organizations that assist applicants and candidates. Since 2025, we have been expanding our video resources. We have videos that cover how to apply, exam orientation, information sessions, and more.

Social Media

Many candidates use social media to quickly access key information. To reach them more effectively, we have increased our presence on social media. To provide candidates with timely information, we are sharing more Facebook content a bout registration, exam security, policies, and resources.  In 2025, we created a LinkedIn page to communicate broader organizational updates, including project progress, research opportunities, and collaborations with healthcare organizations. We will continue to build our presence on LinkedIn and keep stakeholders informed about our work.

Electronic Delivery

We are continuing to invest in solutions that will support online delivery of exams. To ensure electronic delivery runs smoothly, we test systems, including Wi-Fi stability, ahead of exam administration. Staff also receive basic training to resolve common technical issues, with additional support available as needed. We are also looking to increase our test capacity and move away from paper exam sites by 2027.

Security Awareness

On July 1, 2026, updated NDEB By-Laws came into effect. The updates introduced an Illegibility and Misrepresentation clause. Misrepresentation occurs when someone provides the NDEB with false, misleading, inaccurate, or incomplete information, whether intentionally or by mistake. The updated clause reinforces that candidates must meet all eligibility requirements and act honestly throughout the Certification or Equivalency Process. Any form of misrepresentation can have serious consequences.

To help keep NDEB processes fair and accessible to all candidates, we have provided clear guidelines and examples of common breaches on our website and will continue to update our social media channels.

What’s next?

In the coming year, we will be making improvements to our website, starting with easier navigation and greater accessibility. We are also reprogramming our chatbot tool to provide users with better support.

These are just some of the projects underway. Stay tuned for more updates.