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Entry-to-Practice: Dental Specialists

Entry-to-Practice: Dental Specialists
Home » Specialty Certification » Entry-to-Practice: Dental Specialists

Dental Specialties

There are nine recognized dental specialties in Canada.

  • Dental Public Health
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  • Periodontics
  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Oral Medicine and/or Oral Pathology
  • Endodontics
  • Prosthodontics

Dental specialists have advanced education and training in a specific discipline. Recently, the responsibility for certifying candidates for specialty disciplines has shifted from the NDEB to the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC). For your convenience, we include here the basic process on how to obtain a license as a dental specialist.

How to obtain a license as a dental specialist

There are two pathways to become licensed as a dental specialist in Canada. The path you take will depend on whether you received your specialty training from an international non-accredited program or whether your specialty program is recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).

Pathway for graduates of international non-accredited specialty programs

If your education is from an institution that is not accredited in Canada, then you will need to begin by taking a Dental Specialty Assessment and Training Program (DSATP) through one of the Faculties of Dentistry in Canada. Please note, not all Faculties in Canada offer programs in the dental specialties.

This pathway is for you if:

  • You hold a masters degree in a dental specialty from a university that is authorized by the government of that country in which it is located to issue such degrees,
  • Your dental specialty is recognized in Canada, and
  • Your degree is not recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).

You can find a list of the Canadian Faculties of Dentistry and their contact information here.

Pathway for graduates of Canadian and US specialty programs

If your education is from a program in Canada or the United States that is accredited by CDAC, then you will need to begin your application for the National Dental Specialty Examination (NDSE) through the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC).

This pathway is for you if:

  • You are a graduate in a dental specialty that is recognized in Canada, and
  • Your dental specialty degree is from a university dental institution recognized through an accreditation process approved by CDAC.

For more information visit the NDSE website or contact ndse@rcdc.ca.