The integration of general dentists trained in non-accredited programs elsewhere in the world into the Canadian health-care system is essential.

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About
Why Study With Us?
Future of the Program
Licensure After Completion
Information Webinar
Program Costs
Admission Requirements

Internationally trained dentists (ITDs) seeking a license to practice in Canada currently have two paths:

1. National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) exams
   OR
2. Obtaining a place in an advanced-standing or similar program in one of Canada’s dental schools

The Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada program (BTDPC) is a new third pathway for ITDs being tested, supported by federal funding.

The goal is to validate your knowledge, skills and abilities and provide training to build your competence in the missing areas of scope and standards for a beginning dentist in Canada. Students in this program have training needs that can be addressed in a few months to prepare them for licensure exams to become a dentist in Canada.

Key facts

• Up to 8 months
• 1 intake of students per year*
• 9 core modules
• 4 individualised modules (will vary)
• Full-time, weekdays**
• In-person
• Up to 10 students per site

Why Study With Us?

Our program is university-backed and offers a strategic pathway towards practising dentistry in Canada. While many internationally trained dentists have yet to pass the NDECC, our eight-month curriculum provides a new licensure pathway for ITD to the virtual OSCE*.

This program is not a test-prep course or a degree-recertifying program; rather, it is an 8-month program that takes your existing expertise and fills in the missing competencies required for Canadian practice. By choosing this pathway, you can reduce the time to licensure compared to a traditional two to three-year degree recertification** program, while still getting your training from the university subject matter experts.

Beyond technical skills, this program prioritises training you on the specific nuances of the Canadian health-care environment by focusing on cultural competency, patient care standards, and the essential human skills required to thrive in a local practice. This contextualising approach makes you a highly employable professional with a distinct competitive advantage when seeking employment.

Future of the Program

The project started in 2024 and will run through January 2028. The first two years will involve developing all elements of the program, and the third and fourth years will involve testing and evaluating the pilot program twice at three pilot site dental schools.

Licensure After Completion

Streamlined Path to Licensure
Trainees who complete the BTDPC program for the 2026–2027 cohort and afterwards will no longer be required to write the NDECC. Instead, trainees will be eligible to move directly to the Virtual OSCE with the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), and then apply for licensure to practice dentistry in Canada.

Information Webinar

Join us for an informational webinar session with the project team:

• January 23, 2026, from 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. MST in English – Register here
• January 27, 2026, from 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. EST in French – Register here

You’ll learn more about the program and have an opportunity to ask questions for the 2026–2027 cohort. A recording will be uploaded to the site.

Program Costs

Fees for the 2026–2027 cohort are as follows.

Application Costs

*Includes post-application language assessment and multiple mini interviews.
**Credited towards tuition.

Program Costs

Notes

• Non-instructional fees are set by the various schools’ Office of the Registrar.
• This program is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program.
• You may need to pay additional fees
• Conducting a criminal record check for the application process
• Fees for and related to travelling to and from the pre-entry assessment
• Housing and living costs for relocating to a program location, should you be selected for the program