Welcome to the new ACFD Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada Program

This program is for graduates of a minimum four-year recognised university dental program who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada on or before the deadline date for application, set to open in early 2026.

Candidates will have successfully completed and passed the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) and Assessment of Clinical Judgment (ACJ) components of the NDEB Equivalency Process within three years, and will have met the minimum proficiency requirements in both written and spoken English or French.

Please note that this program is currently in development and will undergo pilot testing and evaluation for two years. The  two pilot years of the program will be offered in up to three locations: in Alberta at the University of Alberta, in Nova Scotia at Dalhousie University, and in Québec at l’Université Laval. The exact location where successful applicants will undertake training will be determined during the application process. The program is anticipated to be completed within eight months.

For the first pilot year in the 2025–2026 BTDPC program, candidates must successfully pass the NDEB NDECC to obtain licensure in Canada. However, the program has initiated the process of accreditation through the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada for the upcoming 2026–2027 pilot year. The results of this process may change these requirements. Information about accreditation and licensure requirements will be updated on this website before the end of January 2026.