In February 2021, the NDEB\u00ae announced its vision for a modified Equivalency Process for graduates of non-accredited dental programs.<\/p>\n
The multi-stage plan included changes to each examination in the Equivalency Process, with significant changes to the existing Assessment of Clinical Skills\u2122 (ACS\u2122).<\/p>\n
The ACS\u2122, in its current format, will be administered for the last time in December 2021 after which it will be replaced by the National Dental Examination of Clinical Competence\u2122 (NDECC\u2122).<\/p>\n
The NDECC\u2122, will become the third examination in the Equivalency Process. It has been designed to assess the clinical competence of dentists trained in non-accredited dental programs through a series of clinical and situational judgment requirements.<\/p>\n
The clinical requirements on simulated patients will assess clinical skills and techniques relevant to current Canadian standards while a series of situational judgement scenarios will assess judgement required to solve problems in work-related situations. These scenarios will focus on patient-centered care, professionalism, communication and collaboration, practice and information management, and health promotion.<\/p>\n
The NDEB\u00ae<\/sup> is expecting to administer the first NDECC\u2122 in June 2022 at their in-house Test Centre located in Ottawa, ON.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a difficult two years for examinees who are eligible to take the ACS\u2122\u201d, stated Executive Director Marie Dagenais. \u201cThe pandemic and associated lockdowns and capacity restrictions have had a significant impact on our ability to run the ACS\u2122. With our own test centre, we expect to be able to offer the NDECC\u2122 multiple times a week throughout the year. Creating ample opportunity for examinees to test.\u201d<\/p>\n As well as being accessible throughout the year, examinees will also be able to take the NDECC\u2122 an unlimited number of times in a 60-month period. This is a significant change from the current regulation that allows examinees to take the ACS\u2122 a maximum of three times.<\/p>\n