Canada- the land of maple syrup, fresh air, and a provincial kindness known the world over is actively seeking more dentists. Overseas-trained dentists are now eligible for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Immigration Program. That means if you have the qualifications and are willing to take the NDEB Canada exams, you too could find a new life in one of the most beautiful and naturally resource-rich countries in the world.
Over the last few decades, more and more of the public has been waking up to the fact that quality dental health is critical to the entire body. Nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 20-64 have cavities in the US alone. So it only makes sense that the demand for quality dental care and professionally trained dentists is rising.
Canada is one of the best places for Internationally Trained Dentists (ITDs) to immigrate. It is considered a leading economy as far as income and starting salaries. Not to mention the food is fantastic, the people are friendly, and the culture is surprisingly diverse.
So as an ITD seeking your Canadian qualifications, how do you get started? Where do you find the answers to how to become a dentist in Canada?
Luckily you landed in our community because we have put together a stellar list of the best 5 NDEB Canada Training Institutes that will take you from newly arrived immigrant to dental superstar in no time. First, a little background.
What is the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) Canada Exam Process?
The individual steps you will need to succeed are going to depend on your background, dental education, and country of origin. There are subtle differences in dental practice between a South American country and a European country, and finding that happy middle ground while ensuring you have Canadian-based training and dental education is essential.
In general, you can expect these steps:
♦ Go to the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) website and create a login account.
♦ Fill out the forms on the website and submit all required documents.
♦ Take the AFK (Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge)
♦ Either take the ACJ or NDECC Exams. Otherwise, you’ll need to take a Degree Completion Program.
♦ Go through the Certification Process by taking the NDEB written exam and OSCE exam.
There are other subtleties about the pathways for how to become a dentist in Canada for internationally trained dentists (ITDs) that you can read more about from our blog post here.
That may seem like a massive amount of info, and you’re right. It is. The good news is that you can get help from qualified and experienced dental centers that specialize in helping internationally trained dentists through the immigration and qualification process.
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♦ 5 Best Ways to Finance Your NDEB Canada Exams for Internationally Trained Dentists
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Here is our list of NDEB Canada Training Institutes for internationally-trained dentists
1. Prep Doctors– Best All-Around and Highest Rated Coaching Program
Prep Doctors was founded in 2011 and offers preparatory courses targeting the NDEB exams, specially designed for foreign-trained dentists. This is an organization full of dentists and specialists from all over the world coming together to help infuse the Canadian dental world with highly trained and qualified licensed dentists.
This is an excellent company if you are entirely new to the Canadian culture and need advice from people who have been in your shoes before. They offer a ton of bespoke dental sciences courses and are a Certified Educational Institution by the Canadian government with an A+ rating from the BBB, meaning they deliver on their promise of quality.
ITDs that use Prep Doctors are twice as likely to pass the NDEB’s clinical skills and situational judgment exam because this center focuses on simulating the exam environment as much as possible.
Students’ Reviews (Source: Prep Doctors Facebook Page)
♦ Sarah Salem – I highly recommend prep doctors for sure! They helped me to pass AFK and ACJ, and I just passed my ACS from the first attempt with all A/A+ results! I can’t thank enough everyone on the team for feeling like a family, helping and leading us to success step by step.
♦ Ali Al-Ezzi – Huge thanks to the PrepDrs team for all the hard work they put into the ACS Course, their course is well structured, sufficient, and exam-oriented. The staff is very friendly. Strongly Recommended.
2. DSTC Dental
Most dental centers in Canada will instruct ITD students about the NDEB exams as well as some information about practicing in the United States. DSTC Dental wraps that education into its programming from the beginning. If you are an ITD looking to learn how to become a dentist in Canada with your sights set on eventually going to the USA, this may be your best option.
DSTC has the exam prep and technical equipment needed to get you through the tests of the NDEB examination. They also have a heavy presence in India which is helpful as Indian Canadians have the highest volume of immigrants moving into the country. It really helps to have a dental center that leans more towards the country Canada receives the most internationally trained dentists.
DSTC does not have as many locations as some of the other centers on our list but hits the big three in Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver. They are a little on the higher side as far as fees are concerned at around CAD 4,350 for the NDECC program, but you also get access to an extensive student alumni network which helps you secure a placement after completing your credentials.
3. Confidentist
The nice thing about ConfiDentist is the brand messaging and access to incredible resources. This dental center may not have all the bells and whistles of an entire dental school, but it comes incredibly close.
When you study how to become a dentist in Canada, you need access to in-depth clinical resources, technology, practical classrooms, and more. Those are all available with ConfiDentist. They place a high value on mock testing and practical skills, which many ITDs find refreshing as the quickest way to learn something new is to physically give it a try.
Tuition runs anywhere from $1,000 and up depending on the coursework you wish to take. We highly suggest checking ConfiDentist out through its social media. They have a decent presence that will give you valuable insight into whether or not this is the dental center for your ITD transition to a fully qualified and certified Canadian dental practice.
4. Scholars Dental
The first thing you’ll notice about Scholars Dental is their commitment to the AFK exam. This is the first step after signing up for Canadian qualification as an internationally trained dentist which requires some real work.
With Scholars Dental, you get a personalized learning plan that combines live sessions, online videos, and flexible payment plans that you can use from anywhere in the world. We like this dental center because it is a great barometer for figuring out if the move to Canada will be right for you or not.
Before you spend a lot of resources moving to Canada and trying to find a place to live, it makes sense to use a dental center like this to ensure you are ready.
The dental institute offers a free consultation before you begin so you can learn more about funding and payment options.
Students’ Reviews (Source: Prep Scholars Dental Facebook Page)
♦ Nada Oag – The best decision I made was to go along with this course! Big thank you to Dr. Ahmad, Dr. Hajer, and Dr. Sherief for simplifying things for us.
Your Source of NDEB Canada Information for Foreign-Trained Dentists
We hope this post has been helpful and directed you toward a quality future as a Canadian dentist. Every one of these centers can offer you a lot of help, guidance, and training needed to pass the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) Canada exams and qualifications.
If you would like to learn more about the entire process of immigrating to Canada with your dental background, be sure to browse the rest of our website.
We are the number one trusted source for ITDs looking to navigate the process of how to become a dentist in Canada and are constantly updating our site with the latest tools, resources, and support you need.
Do us a big favor. When you do contact these dental centers, let them know we sent you over. There is always an opportunity to grow with these fantastic organizations so we can create a smooth transition for all ITDs as they make a move to the natural beauty and incredible culture of Canadian living.
