Practicing in Canada
For graduates of NON-ACCREDITED institutions (i.e. not recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada / CDAC).
1. Profile and Paperwork
- Creation of an online profile
- Documentation Submission
- Credential verification
2. AFK
- Administered in two books of 150 multiple-choice questions
- Each book given in a three hour session
- Held in the morning and afternoon of one day
3. ACJ
- A 5 hour assessment with a 30-minute break.
- Consists of 120-150 single and multi-answer multiple choice type questions.
- Each section contains a mix of case-based diagnosis, treatment planning & clinical decision making questions, and radiographic interpretation questions.
- Administered electronically at Prometric test centres. (NDEB’s e-Exam Orientation video is a good resource)
- The ACJ Question and Answer Framework containing examples of questions is available in the Reference Materials & Resources section of the NDEB website and should be visited in preparation for the ACJ.
4. ACS
Two-day assessment of procedures on manikins.
Projects:
- Class II amalgam preparation
- Class III composite resin preparation
- Full metal crown preparation
- Metal-ceramic (porcelain fused to metal) crown preparation
- Endodontic access preparation on a molar tooth
- Direct Class II composite resin restoration on a provided pre-prepared tooth
- Direct Class IV composite resin restoration on a provided pre-prepared tooth
- Class II amalgam restoration on a provided pre-prepared tooth
- Provisional crown restoration for a provided pre-prepared metal-ceramic crown preparation
- Rubber dam application
- Record keeping
- Infection control and material hygiene
5. Certification Process
Written
- Administered in two books of 150 multiple-choice questions
- Each book given in a three hour session
- Held in the morning and afternoon of one day
OSCE
Station type examination held in a morning and afternoon session with five minutes to answer the questions at each station.
There are two types of questions in the OSCE. Most stations have two questions and require the candidate to review the information supplied and answer extended match-type questions which will have up to 15 answer options and one or more correct answers.
Some stations require the candidate to review the information supplied and write an acceptable prescription for a medication commonly prescribed by general dentists in Canada.
THE PRICE OF PRACTICING
Approximate Costs of Equivalency Process
- Since dentistry is perceived as a rewarding career, the stakes and barriers are high.
- Some information disseminated from 'official' sources is not necessarily an accurate reflection of the on-ground realities, which also contribute to confusion and frustration.
- Needless to say, the biggest barrier is cost.
- The ball parked costs involved in the Equivalency Process include but are not limited to the chart below.
- For ease of understanding for planning, the process may be divided into 5 stages as seen in the table.
EQUIVALENCY PROCESS VS ADVANCED PLACEMENT
EQUIVALENCY PROCESS
- Valid for practice in Canada only
- Less Overall Cost ($13K - $50k)
- Some may complete the process in 9-18 months
- A certain percentage may never complete it
- Wider window of opportunity
- Around 300 people every year
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
- Internationally recognized
- High Overall Cost ($200-250k)
- Cannot finish sooner
- Completion of the process is almost guaranteed
- Narrower window of opportunity
- Only 90 people every year
EQUIVALENCY COURSES
UNIVERSITY ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAMS
APPROACHING THE PROJECT
- There are 3 groups of internationally trained dentists approaching Canadian Dental practice.
- Those aiming for Advanced Placement
- Those aiming for Both to see what clicks
- Those aiming for Equivalency Process
- Again, some people fall in one of the first two but most end up in the third.
- Regardless, the AFK needs to be challenged first and may be approached in either of the following ways.
- Needless to say, the profile and paperwork need to be initiated and completed ASAP
- The sooner candidates start preparing for AFK, the better. Whether they're in Canada or still in their current country of residence. They can start as early as one year before the AFK date with an online course after which they can either continue study on their own or join an in-class course.
- Online education refers only to attending the classes relayed from reputable centres. Courses that are delivered "from the comfort of my home to the comfort of yours" may not present the content the required context. Online engagement with a small, closed study group is best. Social media can ruin your preparation in many ways. As with Dr. Google, Professor Facebook should also be approached with caution.
- While studying, develop question solving skill in parallel to subject knowledge.
- Those thinking of self-preparation and / or writing the exams on the fly / as visitors are indeed brave - think again. You're doing yourself no favour by underestimating the project or by not duly contextualizing it. give it the due time, effort and respect. This is not a traditional exam and you will find out how - just try not to discover that the hard way.
- Knowing timelines is crucial to plan
- AFK is held in February & August and ACJ & ACS in June & December.
- Although the timelines for each university varies, applications are generally invited in the first quarter of the year… calls and invitations go out around the second quarter… preparation , interviews and tests take place in the third and candidates come to know the results around the fourth quarter of the year.
- Both AFK & ACS require at least 5 months of full time preparation
- For candidates vying for both, the AFK score is important.
- August AFK: start preparing for skills in January… if you get called by a Canadian University for a bench test (Jun-Aug for most) you will not only be well prepared for the bench test but in case of the misfortune of not being accepted, would also be able to go for the skills in the following December