3 Jobs You Can Get in Ontario While Completing the NDEB Process

Posted on Apr 5, 2023Feb 22, 2024 by ankush

If there is one question we get asked the most, it’s “What job can I get while completing the NDEB process?”

We get it.

With NDEB exam fees, travel costs, and caring for your family in a new country, the weight of needing a steady income while training to become a certified dentist in Ontario is heavy. The trouble is that the job market for an international dentist can seem very limited when you are working towards your dental equivalency.

Through the years, our trainees have taken up various roles, such as dental assisting or leadership positions in a dental office, without the need to be fully “certified.” Nevertheless, in Ontario, there are legal requirements you need to know about. We asked our Compliance & Education Specialist, Dr. Lesia Waschuk, to outline three possible job opportunities you can take up in a dental office or commercial dental laboratory and the duties you can perform as allowed within our provincial regulatory framework for the oral health professions.

Let’s dive in.

1) Working as a dental assistant or receptionist

As an international dentist, you could work as a chairside dental assistant or a dental receptionist in a dental practice, independent dental hygiene practice or denturism practice without certification by the Ontario Dental Assistants Association.

2) Working as a treatment coordinator

Some dental offices have treatment coordinators who also don’t need to be certified or licenced; however, in Ontario, communicating a diagnosis as the cause of a patient’s symptoms is a controlled act restricted to dentists. It’s important to understand it is a dentist’s legal obligation to obtain the patient’s informed consent to treatment, so there is some information that the dentist must provide to the patient themself.

In a treatment coordinator role, your responsibilities could range from providing general information about the nature and timeline for treatment or arranging an appointment schedule to making financial arrangements for payment with the patient or the individual responsible for the patient’s account. Additionally, you could provide information about the mechanics of treatment, review audiovisual recordings or interactive online learning material with the patient, supply written information (as requested by the patient or directed by the dentist), or show models or examples of devices the dentist has prescribed. The dentist is responsible for discussing the prognosis, risks, side effects and expected (therapeutic or cosmetic) benefits and answering any questions related to the patient’s clinical condition or alternative forms of treatment that could be provided.

3) Working as an (uncertified) lab technician

Without certification, it is possible to work as a lab technician in a commercial dental laboratory under the supervision of a dentist or registered dental technologist; you can also work in private practice under the supervision of a dentist in an in-office dental laboratory.

In this role, though, you cannot identify yourself as a dental technician or dental technologist because that is a protected title in Ontario, and you would need to be registered (licenced) with the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario in order to use it. In any case, you would not be providing any services directly to patients, and you would not be performing any intraoral procedures.

Now, there are a few other statutory requirements that you should be aware of if you want to perform these functions in Ontario:

If you want to be able to take dental radiographs as prescribed by an RCDSO-registered dentist:

In order to expose dental radiographs that have been prescribed by a dentist who is registered in Ontario, you need to be “HARP-certified.”

The Healing Arts Radiation Protection (HARP) Act is a provincial statute; the X-Ray Safety code is a regulation that further sets out the installation, testing and quality assurance requirements for diagnostic radiographic equipment and the qualifications of “dental x-ray workers” who can operate the equipment. To operate diagnostic radiographic equipment in Ontario, you would have to complete a full dental assisting program or course in dental radiography that has been approved by the Director of X-ray Safety at the Ministry of Health. (Members of the RCDSO and the CDHO are able to take X-rays by virtue of their license.)

We suggest looking for a program that is “HARP-approved.” If you are considering taking a dental assisting program (level I or level II) at a community college or private career college, or a continuing education course in dental radiography in Ontario, contact us, and we will let you know whether the program is on the updated list of HARP-approved programs and courses that we have received from the Ministry.

If you want to be able to perform intraoral procedures as a level II dental assistant:

To perform intraoral procedures (that are considered in the public domain and are not considered controlled acts) as a level II dental assistant, you would have to successfully complete the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) examinations.

You can register for the NDAEB exams on the basis of your qualifications as an international dentist, and if you have registered for the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) examinations, you can use the documentation of your registration with the NDEB when you register with the NDAEB. You do not need to have your educational credentials reassessed again in that case.

If you have not completed a formal program in dental assisting in Canada, you will need to successfully complete both the NDAEB Written Examination and the NDAEB Clinical Practice Evaluation to attain your NDAEB certificate. You can find further information about how to register for the NDAEB exams on the NDAEB website.

If you want to perform additional intraoral procedures as a level II dental assistant:

Level II dental assistants in Ontario who have successfully completed a supplemental course in orthodontics or restorative dentistry for level II dental assistants can now also perform (prescribed) orthodontic or restorative procedures, respectively. You can read more about the requirements for the two supplemental courses in the RCDSO Standard of Practice for the Performance of Intra-Oral Procedures that are Not Controlled Acts by Preventive Dental Assistants, Level II Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Hygienists.

Further, Prep Doctors offers a supplemental course in orthodontics for level II dental assistants. To learn more or to register for our next session in June, take a look at our Practical Orthodontic Skills course page.

As you can see, a range of opportunities exists even while you are working your way through the equivalency process. The best thing you can do is reach out to different dental clinics to see what options are available and keep your eyes peeled for our next blog post about other positions in the dental industry that our doctors have taken up.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our social media channels for the latest news from Prep Doctors and what our graduates are up to next.

Meet the Replacement for ACS: The NDECC™

Posted on Dec 7, 2021Dec 20, 2023 by ankush

Nearly eight months ago, the NDEB released considerable changes to the Canadian equivalency process for international dentists. Most notably, the ACS examination received the most significant modifications to its existing structure, content, and overall format.

Under the “Develop” component of their multiple-step strategy called Vision 2022: The Future of the Equivalency Process, the ACS examination was set to receive a new blueprint, skills requirements, and a facility to be constructed and opened for operation in 2022. However, on October 29, the NDEB announced that the current format of the ACS examination would be replaced by a modified skills examination known as the National Dental Examination of Clinical Competence™ or NDECC™, for short.

In their official release, the NDEB stated the ACS exam in its current format will be administered for the final time in December 2021, while the NDECC™ will become the third examination of the equivalency process in 2022 following the AFK and ACJ.

So, what is the purpose of the NDECC™?

The NDECC™ will continue to evaluate an examinee’s clinical abilities much as the ACS did. This exam will consist of two components requiring dentists to perform seven clinical requirements on simulated manikin-patients in a clinical setting in the first component and ten situational judgment requirements in the second. A basic outline for the NDECC™ is now available on the NDEB website.

Based on the announcements so far, here is our breakdown of the two components:

When will the NDECC™ take effect?

The first NDECC™ exam will be held in June 2022 at the NDEB’s new testing facility in Ottawa, Ontario, and will be given multiple times a week throughout the year.

Where is the facility located?

The NDECC™ Test Centre is located at 340 Albert St. 12th Floor Ottawa, ON. The facility includes many other operational rooms, including separate situational judgement rooms and the simulation clinic.

How long does it take to write each component?

The NDECC™ exam will take place over two days, with clinical skills on the first day and situational judgment on the second day.

What materials are needed to take the NDECC™?

A complete list of equipment, materials, and supplies provided by the NDEB will be released in a practical guide soon. You can bring your own protective eyewear and dental loupes. A disposable gown will also be provided.

There have been notable changes to the typodonts, teeth, and handpieces (Kavo) used during this exam. Therefore, pay close attention to the lists provided by the NDEB.

Please note, the preliminary lists do not include equipment and dental supplies needed during training.

How many attempts will the NDECC™ allow?

The NDECC™ can be taken an unlimited amount of times in a five-year period (60 months).

What does this new exam mean for the future of equivalency in Canada?

While it may seem like the equivalency process is unpredictable at times, the NDECC™ is a positive change towards the future of equivalency in Canada. In fact, the pandemic has shone a light on the significant hurdles the ACS faced and needed to be addressed.

“The main positive point I see from this announcement is the unlimited attempts. Back in the older system, it used to be three attempts for clinical skills,” said Prep Doctors co-founder Dr, Marwan Al Rayes during our live webinar. “The environment is also going to be standardized, and now it is going to be the same environment in which the exam is going to be conducted; the flexibility of time [too] are the main advantages.”

Dr. Al Rayes also spoke to the necessity of dentists enhancing their time management and organization skills in preparing for the two exam components. Listen below to hear more of his thoughts:

For more information and to read the NDECC™ outline, click here. To learn more about the NDECC™ materials list, click here. To purchase dental materials, please visit Knurling Dental here.

For more details, please direct specific questions about Vision 2022 directly to the NDEB. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our dental equivalency newsletter for our future breakdowns of equivalency-related announcements and Prep Doctors’ course updates.

If you have any questions about our upcoming courses, send us a message on Facebook here.

How I Created My NDEB Profile

Posted on Oct 1, 2021Dec 20, 2023 by ankush

In the pursuit of my dreams, I was often reminded of a quote from Alice in Wonderland. It was the Cheshire cat who said, “Every adventure requires a first step,” my first step was to create a profile with the NDEB. This required getting my credentials verified, and my candidacy approved.

Doesn’t sound very dreamy or adventurous, does it? Well, you’re right. It wasn’t.

The NDEB has a comprehensive list of documents that one must carefully put together to make sure there are no delays in an already long procedure. I was lucky that my academic institution back home, Manipal University, was instantaneous in sending a Confirmation of Degree form and Official Academic Record requested by the NDEB in a sealed, stamped envelope to their main offices in Canada.

The next step was to send in a list of documents from my end, including my original dental degree and internship completion certificate. Just like you, I was very anxious to be sending in my originals. The mere thought of what I would do if they got lost in an international courier, or if they didn’t make it to the right address or back to me, was terrifying. Nevertheless, I had to bite the bullet and have faith in the process. I took coloured photocopies of my originals, got them notarized (to have some form of approved document of my dental degree on me), took one long last look at my hard-earned degree and internship certificate, and prayed to all the gods in the universe for their safety, while crossing all my fingers and toes, and sent my paperwork through a blue dart.

Then eight months, three days and several hours later, the documents had been accepted and my profile approved! Within two weeks of approval, my documents had found their way back to India and were safely in my hands. Better late than never! I had decided to take the AFK as soon as possible and study in Canada instead of staying back and studying at home. With my PR stamped and profile approved by the NDEB, it was now time to hop on the first flight!

Arriving in Canada was a surreal experience. I landed in October 2019 with crisp weather and beautiful brown leaves on trees, courtesy of the fall season. I had been lucky to have an aunt living here in Mississauga, Ont., for many years who graciously took me into her home for as long as I needed. I spent the initial days understanding the public transport system, getting a library card, SIM card, and discovering the neighbourhood. Following this, I started taking classes and began preparing for the AFK exam. But first, to get some inspiration and feel connected to Canadian dentistry, I decided to visit an acquaintance who was a practising dentist. That was a conversation I will never forget.

Dr. Pallak Razdan is a dentist and the Social Media Director at EDMS Dental. She is a contributing Prep Doctors’ writer focusing on her journey to Canada, the NDEB equivalency process, and a broad scope of Canadian dentistry.

5 Tips for How to Study for the ACJ Exam

Posted on Sep 13, 2021Dec 20, 2023 by ankush

Like it or not, intense studying is a crucial part of being prepared for the Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ) exam. Whether you decide to cram a few months before, practice trial and error, or take an exam prep course to dive deeper into the topics of periodontics, endodontics, and restorative dentistry, finding the right approach to passing is key.

As you navigate which study habit is the most effective for you, follow our five tips from Prep Doctors’ instructor, Dr. Khalid Khalid, for how you can study for the ACJ exam to feel most comfortable and confident come exam day.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice.

The ACJ exam is a 5.5-hour test consisting of 120 to 150 single-answer and multi-answer multiple-choice questions that offer a case-based assessment to evaluate an examinee’s clinical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills. The exam is divided into two booklets. The first hones in on a candidate’s know-how to formulate a diagnosis and draw clinical conclusions from dental charts, case histories, and photographs. The second booklet looks to test a candidate’s knowledge in oral radiology and their ability to make a radiographic interpretation and diagnosis through radiographic images.

We have found the best path to succeeding in these assessments is to practice… a lot. As ACJ instructor, Dr. Khalid Khalid, who has personally helped many dentists pass the exam, says, “Each x-ray looks different. When we look at x-rays in clinic, that’s in conjunction with what we see in the patient’s mouth, so that’s helpful, for example, for diagnosing caries or diagnosing bone loss or periodontal disease or an infection. It’s not that there is individuality between people. There is individuality between x-rays.”

“With radiology, you can get any x-ray in the exam. We’ve tried to include as much practice as possible in the (ACJ) course for x-rays so when someone is in the exam attempting those questions on their own, they will have that same exact approach of examining the x-rays,” says Dr. Khalid. Looking at x-rays top to bottom, left to right and building on each tooth’s visible structure can allow candidates to comprehensively analyze multiple x-rays as a practice method for “the more you look at x-rays, the more you are able to get from them, in general,” suggests Dr. Khalid.

2. The right approach is balance.

Passing the ACJ exam is all about having the tools needed to approach it with certainty. At Prep Doctors, we are constantly asked what approach candidates should take when they are up against an x-ray that accompanies a question allowing several options to the correct answer. Figuring out how conservative or aggressive you want to be on the exam is not the hurdle you should focus on. As Dr. Khalid says, the answer is neither. Instead, candidates should examine every x-ray singularly and weigh each selection they are given against one another to see which options are clear and worth choosing and which they should leave aside based on uncertainty.

3. Don’t think of the ACJ exam as an open battlefield.

When taking the ACJ exam, there’s typically a debate about the number of correct answers to choose for a single question. As Dr. Khalid mentions, this is “a challenging aspect of the exam to get a grasp on,” as it is relatively subjective.

However, the ACJ is designed to cover basic radiology for a general practitioner. On that account, there is a specific structure to the two main components (patient cases and x-rays) of the exam.

Put simply, try not to worry about the stress of choosing a certain number of answers; alternatively, “Think of it as a finite number of questions that you might get,” advises Dr. Khalid.

4. Understand the basics and focus on what’s important.

Coming out of the AFK exam, candidates have an immense amount of knowledge. However, with the ACJ, it’s not always about how much you know, but rather, about focussing on the basic concepts being examined.

“Try to approach different diseases, medical conditions, and aspects of patient care from as many viewpoints as possible and build on it,” says Dr. Khalid. Bring in as many cases as you can of similar diseases with different presentations and cases of different diseases with similar presentations.

At Prep Doctors, we look at the NDEB’s references for specific topics; including but not limited to, pathology, periodontology, endodontics, radiology, and anesthesia, and cover these evidence-based concepts in our lectures and course material formulating questions, answers, practice sessions, quizzes, and mock exams from them to fully understand and solidify their weight to increase a candidate’s retention of learning.

5. Take an exam preparation course with us.

Prep Doctors follows a practice-heavy, cover-all-bases approach with more than 100 in-class hours and a problem-based learning method specially tailored to equip you with strategies you can’t find anywhere else. With four computer-based ACJ mock exams and multiple practice sessions for individual cases and radiographs, taking the Prep Doctors ACJ course ensures your success above all else.

To find out the winning ACJ approach and more tips like these from your instructors, Dr. Marwan Al Rayes and Dr. Khalid Khalid, enroll here. You can also learn more about our ACJ course and what you can expect, watch our ACJ Course Breakdown below or on our YouTube channel here.

Have a question about the ACJ exam that you need personally answered? Our team is always available to answer any questions about the NDEB process and dental equivalency. So, please reach out to us through our Facebook page or email us at info@prepdoctors.ca. We are more than happy to help!

For all other essential details and some ACJ study materials from the NDEB’s ACJ Protocol, click here.

How I Immigrated to Canada as a Dentist

Posted on Jul 9, 2021Dec 20, 2023 by ankush

Dreams don’t work unless you do.

Remember, we shared a dream? Receiving a Doctor of Dental Studies degree. Well, I had to work hard to turn it into reality.

The first step towards my vision was to immigrate to Canada through permanent residency (PR).

A quick google search gave me the following prerequisites including:

: – The creation of an Express Entry profile;
: – An equivalency evaluation of my university credentials with World Education Services (WES);; – An IELTS score of 7 or higher;
: – And steady financial resources to undertake the journey.

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When deciding to move to a new country, support from my family became the backbone of the transition. Being a young dentist, I couldn’t afford to shoulder the expense of immigration plus the cost of settling in Canada on my own. Fortunately for me, my parents decided to tackle the money monster so I could work towards my DDS dream.

However, that wasn’t all. There was also the dilemma of whether uprooting myself from my comfort zone was necessary? As a practicing dentist, should I give up a clinical practice, everything I worked so hard for from the tender age of 17, and move to a new country where I’d have to recertify and prove my credentials again? What about the settling struggle? Since my degree would be non-accredited, I wouldn’t be able to step foot into a dental office to even be an assistant without first getting an assisting (HARP) license. I had to be ready to do odd jobs to support myself. How would I silence the voice in my head that would constantly tell me, “But you’re a doctor in India, and you’re serving coffee in Canada?” Not to forget the fact that my peers would have finished their Master’s by the time I was only halfway through my licensing.

Would the DDS be worth it all?

The decision wasn’t easy but for me, it had to be made, and I agreed to give myself a fighting chance. Ten years down the line, I did not want to wake up with the regret of not trying just because I was scared of the struggle. Time was going to run its course, and I’d get older anyway. Why not try and achieve something I really wanted in the meantime?

In an attempt to put my best foot forward, I decided to engage with two immigration services to help me with my application process for a PR visa. They were my first contacts with the Canadian world, answered all my doubts patiently, and held my hand every step of the way, making sure there were no complications with my profile. If this was what Canadian culture was all about, boy, was I excited to immigrate!

Once my profile was created, it was time to start working on my supporting documentation. I immediately applied to take my IELTS exam and got in touch with my alma mater, Manipal University, to have my academic records sent to World Education Services. Fortunately, there weren’t any hiccups and my decision to engage in professional services felt right.

Once all the documents had been submitted, the waiting games had begun. From being picked in the draw to my visa application approval, the process took almost 14 months and my peace of mind. Since this wasn’t in anyone’s control, my application was life’s practical lesson in patience and I learned it the hard way!

Before then, I was naive enough to believe that I had weathered the storm. However, the visa was just a wave in a pre-stormy sea.

Little did I know that the real storm was going to be the NDEB…

Dr. Pallak Razdan is a dentist and the Social Media Director at EDMS Dental. She is a contributing Prep Doctors’ writer focusing on her journey to Canada, the NDEB equivalency process, and a broad scope of Canadian dentistry.

What is the NDEB Equivalency Process?

Posted on Jul 9, 2021Dec 20, 2023 by ankush

For anyone looking to sink their teeth into Canadian dentistry, the National Dental Examining Board of Canada’s (NDEB) equivalency process is the place to start.

In Canada, dentistry is a regulated profession. The NDEB works with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) to grant international dentists the opportunity to become licensed in Canada. With their three-step examination process, the NDEB provides a direct pathway into Canadian dentistry depending on where you obtained your dental education and if you would like to practise as a general dentist, specialist, or both.

What does this NDEB process look like?

To begin, foreign-trained dentists must apply to be accepted into the Canadian dentistry equivalency process through the NDEB.

Apply through the NDEB equivalency portal here. You will need to create an NDEB login and online profile on their website as well.
Pass the AFK exam, the first NDEB exam. (Prep Doctors is now introducing our newest AFK online Crash Course for international dentists who cannot make it to our campuses this cycle.)
Pass the ACJ and NDECC™ exams, the second and third NDEB exams.
Pass the Written Board and OSCE exams, known as the NDEB’s certification process.

Direct Route NDEB Equivalency Process Time: 1.5-2.5 years
NDEB Equivalency Process Fees: $13,050 CAD
Prep Doctors Equivalency Course Fees: Up to $15,000 CAD
Total Equivalency Process Cost: Up to $30,000 CAD**

**This approximation amount is based on a combination of the current NDEB examinations and Prep Doctors Full Course option fees. This amount may increase depending on how many attempts you need to pass.

The NDEB’s direct route may take 1.5 to 2.5 years to complete. The NDEB equivalency process costs approximately $30,000 CAD, including the Prep Doctors courses and NDEB exam fees. This amount may increase depending on how many attempts you need to pass. When navigating the process, you can expect the following breakdown of NDEB equivalency process fees:

Learn more about the NDEB’s exam fees here.

The NDEB also provides foreign-trained dentists with the opportunity to enter the dental profession through a Canadian university.

What does the university process look like?

While providing a quicker pathway to the certification process, bridging programs (more accurately known as accredited qualifying and degree completion programs) follow a similar progression.

Apply through the NDEB equivalency portal here. You will need to create an NDEB login and online profile on their website as well.
Pass the AFK exam with a high score, the first NDEB exam. (For some qualifying and degree completion programs, the AFK must be taken within the last three years of submitting your application. Please reach out to your interested dental school for admission requirements.)
Enroll in and complete a qualifying and degree completion program offered by the Faculties of Dentistry in Canada. You can find a list of programs here.
Pass the Written Board and OSCE exams.

Qualifying and Degree Completion Program Process Time: 2-3 years
Qualifying and Degree Completion Program Process Fees: Up to $90,000 CAD

Qualifying and degree completion programs are unique university programs held over five to six months. After successfully completing these programs, students are admitted into the third year of a Doctor of Dental Surgery Program, leading to a degree (DDS). Overall, a DDS can take two to 2.5 years to complete. The qualifying and degree completion programs process can cost approximately $90,000 CAD.

Regardless of the path you choose to take, each process begins with the AFK exam and ends with the Written Board and OSCE exam.

Despite the challenges and intense regimen each NDEB equivalency process may take, Prep Doctors remains the best place to begin your journey, and we have the course for you. Our team is always available to answer any questions about the NDEB process and dental equivalency. So, please reach out to us through our Facebook page or email us at info@prepdoctors.ca. We are more than happy to help!