Applications for the second cohort closed on Feb. 28, 2026. Join our mailing list to be notified of future application dates.

The application will require demographic information. The first and last name you use must match your NDEB profile and legal name.

You will need to provide consent for the ACFD to request the required documents from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). Shared documents that NDEB will send to ACFD will include:

• Verifying applicant information, including credential verification
• ACJ and AFK score exam results, from all attempts
• NDECC exam results, from all attempts (if applicable)

On the application, you will rank your choice of program location. The choices are:

• University of Alberta (English)
• l’Université Laval (French*)
• Dalhousie University (English)

You only need to submit one application to be considered for all three sites, using a rank-ordered list. We will endeavour to place students according to their preferred choice, but this cannot be guaranteed.

You may only select sites that offer the language(s) you are proficient in.

*Although the course is offered in French, a minimum knowledge of English is required.

You will need to upload a PDF of your curriculum vitae, including a list of verifiers.

You should provide one verifier for each location/experience. We require their name and personal email address. We strongly recommend discussing the information being provided with your verifier and notifying them that they will be contacted.

Verifiers can be:

• Located in any jurisdiction, including outside of Canada
• Be the same individuals as your references
• Used to highlight oral health designations you hold already in Canada (e.g., dental hygienist, dental assistant, etc.)

In a single PDF, upload all your documentation to prove your citizenship or permanent residency in Canada.

In a maximum of 300 words, you will need to describe your academic and training experience related to dental practice and how that contributes to enhancing professional expertise.You may also include information about any forms of oral health care professional training you have beyond your basic dental degree (e.g. as a specialist or a dental hygienist). These may have occurred in Canada or elsewhere in the world.

In a maximum of 300 words, you’ll describe your clinical experience as in any oral health-care designation to date (e.g., dentist, lab tech, etc.).

Specifically, state:

• How many years after graduation have you provided clinical care
• What type of care have you provided; e.g. restorative, prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, etc.
• In what setting(s) have you provided care
• Provide an explanation if you do not have clinical experience; e.g. recent graduate, yet to register in any jurisdiction, etc.

You must provide the contact information for three professional referees who can verify your clinical experience. We require their name, email address, phone number, and their relationship to you.

Referees can be:

• Located in any jurisdiction, including outside of Canada
• Be the same individuals as your verifiers
• Used to highlight oral health designations and experiences you hold already in Canada (e.g., dental hygienist, dental assistant, etc.)
• Past instructors/professors or from post-graduate experiences (residencies, fellowships)

We strongly recommend discussing the information being provided with your referees and notifying them that they will be contacted. Discrepancies in the information provided may affect your application and eligibility for admission to the program. Applicants should ask referees for a regularly monitored personal email. Email domains linked to health services, government services, and the military often have firewalls that block verification emails.

There are two options for providing evidence of language proficiency: proof of previous education or a language exam.

Proof of Previous Education in English/French
If choosing this option, in the application, you will provide final official transcripts that meet the following requirements.

Three or more years of full-time post-secondary education

• in English or French in Canada

OR

• from another country/institution where English/French is recognized as the official/primary language of instruction.

What countries and institutions are recognized?
This ACFD recognizes English as the official language of instruction in the following countries and at the following institutions.

If your institution or country is not listed here, we may accept a medium of instruction letter verifying that your institution or program was fully taught in English. You qualify to provide a letter if:

• Your degree level is bachelor, masters, or PhD
• Your academic study status is awarded or in progress with at least three years completed
• The selected language of instruction for that program is English
• Your institution is not on the List of Recognized English Language Countries and Institutions.

What counts as full-time?
Candidates must complete at least 5 academic, for-credit courses per year in those three years. We only consider courses taken for credit, and we will not include failed courses, English/French as a second language, or English-language learner (ELL) courses in the five-course-per-year calculation. The years do not need to be completed from the same institution.

Language Exam
If choosing this option, in the application, you will provide final official transcripts that meet the following requirements. Test scores must be valid and verifiable. English or French tests must be no older than two years from the application deadline.

English – Exam

• For tests taken before January 21, 2026, a minimum score of 90 with no individual section score less than 21
• For tests taken on or after Jan. 21, 2026, only the 1-6 score scale is considered; overall score of at least 4.5, with no individual band score below 4.5

• Minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components of a single test

All qualified candidates will also be required to complete a professional conversational language assessment (administered by the English Language School and the Faculty of St. Jean, University of Alberta). This assessment will be administered after applying to the BTDPC and will be held online during the assessment period. This interview is online and can be done from any location/country.

Interviews will be administered online through ACFD via the multiple mini interviews (MMI) format. Kira Talent will be the service provider to administer the MMI interviews.

This interview is online and can be done from any location/country. After starting the interview, candidates will receive a series of questions that are 10 minutes each. Two minutes will be spent reviewing the questions, followed by eight minutes to record a response. Each question has only one chance to respond.

NOTE: This assessment is held in-person for six days at a pilot site.

Based on your interview results, you may be invited to the pre-entry assessment. The pre-entry assessment will evaluate your performance of dental procedures on simulators/mannequins, as well as review some of your theoretical knowledge. This will identify your areas of strength and weakness, relative to the following areas:

• Caries management and operative
• Periodontics
• Fixed and removable prosthodontics
• Endodontics
• Pediatric dentistry
• Oral surgery

Based on your results, this will determine your:

• Acceptance to the program
• Non-core modules during the program

During the pre-entry assessment, it may be determined that this program is not a fit for you, and you may be recommended to apply for a three-year advanced placement or qualifying degree program.

Study materials specific to the pre-entry assessment are not available.

Upon notification of acceptance, applicants will be required to confirm their admission and intention to register by submitting a non-refundable tuition deposit within the time specified in the letter of acceptance. The deposit will be credited toward the payment of tuition upon completion of registration.

Complete and fully documented immunization is a program requirement. The vaccination requirements are based on provincial guidelines for healthcare students in a post-secondary institution, and serology/immunisation outside the guidelines is not routinely done or recommended.

All immunization records need to be written and legible. A certified translation must be provided for all non-English documentation. Students without acceptable records will be required to complete their primary immunization series, which can take many months, so early action on this requirement is strongly advised.

A clear police information check, including a vulnerable sector check (PIC), is required under the Protection for Persons in Care Act, also known as a criminal record check, security clearance check, or police clearance. The check must have been completed within six months of the program start date. The clinical practice site will determine the criteria for acceptance/denial of a placement.

*Other conditions for acceptance of admission may apply.

Enrolment is limited. Admission offers are for the term you applied for, and can not be deferred. The admission committee will reserve the right to exercise its discretion in individual cases. Admission decisions are final and can not be appealed.

The admissions timeline for 2026–2027 is as follows (subject to change).

* The pre-entry assessment will be available at the three pilot sites: University of Alberta, l’Université Laval and Dalhousie University.

Applications that are incomplete or lack the required documentation will not be reviewed. Applicants must meet all minimum requirements. Admission decisions are final. There is no formal appeal to any other body or person.