The NDEB Equivalency Process, from application to certification
The Equivalency Process is three exams run under one set of rules about who may sit them, how often and for how long. This guide sets out those rules, what NDEB's numbers show and what comes after the last exam.
Quick answer
- The Equivalency Process is for graduates of non-accredited dental programs. It has three exams in order: the AFK, the ACJ and the NDECC.
- NDEB fees for passing each exam once add up to $9,750 CAD (application $900, AFK $1,000, ACJ $1,350, NDECC $6,500). The Virtual OSCE adds $1,750 CAD.
- The AFK and the ACJ allow 3 attempts each. The NDECC has no attempt cap, and a 5 year clock runs from the first ACJ pass.
- Passing all three exams makes you eligible for the Certification Process. Its Virtual OSCE leads to NDEB certification, and a provincial license comes after that.
Who becomes an Equivalency Candidate
By-law 2 says a person applies to NDEB to be designated an Equivalency Candidate, and NDEB designates a person in two cases. The first is a graduate of a non-accredited program, meaning an undergraduate dental program at a university that its government authorizes to award the degree but that the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada does not accredit or recognize. The second is a person who has failed the Written Examination, the OSCE or the Virtual OSCE three times.
A graduate of a non-accredited program who applies for the first time gives NDEB evidence of graduation, called a Record of Application. On a second application, that record is accepted as the evidence of graduation. NDEB designates a person as an Equivalency Candidate no more than twice. The AFK, ACJ and NDECC results of a candidate who retakes the process are voided, so a second designation starts from the AFK again.
Citizenship and residency do not decide eligibility. NDEB has no residency requirement for its exams. Candidates who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents can add proof to their NDEBConnect account, and that proof moves them earlier in the queue for NDECC seats, which the section on seats explains. NDEB cannot help with visas or other travel documents, so use the IRCC pages for any immigration question. Nothing on this site is immigration or legal advice.
The pathway guide covers the definition of a non-accredited program and the document rules by country. The country guides for India, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt hold what differs for each country.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB By-law 2, NDEB Equivalency Process.
The three routes side by side
NDEB gives a graduate of a non-accredited program three routes to the Certification Process. They differ in what you do, what you need and what you hold at the end.
| Route | What it is | Who can take it | What you hold at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equivalency Process | Three exams: AFK, ACJ and NDECC, in that order. | Graduates of non-accredited programs, with no residency requirement. | A determination of equivalence. No degree. |
| Qualifying or degree completion program | An accredited program at a Canadian faculty of dentistry that introduces international graduates to practice in Canada. | Graduates of non-accredited programs. NDEB lists the programs and gives each faculty's admissions contact. | A degree from an accredited university. |
| BTDPC | A bridging program, in a pilot of two years, expected to take eight months. | Equivalency Process candidates who have not yet passed the NDECC, and who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. | Eligibility to apply to the Certification Process. |
NDEB lists accredited qualifying and degree completion programs at the University of Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Manitoba, Western University, the University of Toronto, McGill University, Dalhousie University and Laval University. The BTDPC is for graduates of a recognized university dental program of at least four years who are following the Equivalency Process and have not yet passed the NDECC, and who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents by the application deadline. NDEB describes it as a program in development, in a two year pilot at the University of Alberta and Dalhousie University in English and Laval University in French, expected to take eight months. NDEB's pages list no fees, program lengths or intake numbers for the qualifying and degree completion programs, so ask each faculty directly. NDEB's annual report says the gap between the number of internationally trained dentists and the spaces in these programs is significant, and that many people therefore follow the examination route.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, NDEB entry to practice education programs, NDEB FAQ, NDEB annual report 2024-25.
What happens after you apply
The pathway guide lists the documents. This section covers what NDEB does with them. When everything has arrived, credential verification starts. It checks that the documents are authentic, confirms your identity and confirms that you graduated from a recognized dental program. NDEB says the current time is 10 weeks and that submitting a document in the wrong form delays approval.
The annual report shows how often that goes wrong. NDEB reviewed 2,804 Equivalency Process applications in 2024-25. It approved 1,699 and found 1,105 incomplete, meaning they needed more documents. That is about 39% of reviewed applications needing something more, by our arithmetic. An application is approved only when all the required documents are accepted, and at that point you can register for the AFK.
Applicants who cannot get a required document for reasons beyond their control can ask for NDEB's alternative documentation process, by emailing the completed form to verification@ndeb-bned.ca. NDEB says what it asks for depends on which document is missing and why.
Accuracy matters beyond speed. A false or misleading statement, by commission or omission, on an application or during an exam makes the person ineligible and voids any exam the person passed. The Registrar may report the person to the provincial regulators, and the person can appeal to the Appeals Committee within 10 business days. NDEB's FAQ adds that misrepresentation covers incomplete information as well as false statements, whether or not it was intended.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB how to apply, NDEB annual report 2024-25, NDEB By-law 2.
What the 2024-25 numbers show
Each bar is a count of people who sat the exam during the year, repeat takers included. The bars are separate counts and do not follow one group of candidates from stage to stage.
NDEB's annual report gives results by fiscal year and its results page gives them by calendar year, so the two sets differ a little. The figures below are the fiscal year of the annual report. They show where candidates spend their attempts.
| Exam | Candidates | All | First time | Repeat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFK | 1,581 | 42% | 39.89% | 47.16% |
| ACJ | 854 | 61.36% | 60.34% | 63.57% |
| NDECC Clinical Skills component | 1,386 | 41.27% | 42.82% | 39.01% |
| NDECC Situational Judgement component | 1,101 | 62.31% | 62.77% | 60.93% |
Three readings follow from the table, and all three are ours. The AFK has the most candidates, and the NDECC Clinical Skills component has the lowest pass rate. Repeat takers pass the AFK and the ACJ at a higher rate than first-time takers, and they pass both NDECC components at a lower rate. About 40.69% of the people who sat Clinical Skills (564 of 1,386) were repeating it, which fits what NDEB says about repeated NDECC attempts.
NDEB's pages do not explain the movement of these rates from year to year, and they show no split by country of training. NDEB's results page splits candidates into all, first-time and repeat takers. It shows no split by country of training. The AFK pass rate page has the calendar years, and the ACJ and NDECC guides give each exam's own figures.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB annual report 2024-25, NDEB exam results.
Attempts and clocks
The Equivalency Process has two kinds of limit. Some exams have a number of attempts, and the NDECC has a clock. This table puts them next to each other.
| Exam | Limit | If you reach it |
|---|---|---|
| AFK | 3 attempts | You cease to be an Equivalency Candidate and cannot be redesignated. |
| ACJ | 3 attempts | You cease to be an Equivalency Candidate and cannot be redesignated. |
| NDECC | Any number of attempts within 60 months of your first ACJ pass | You cease to be an Equivalency Candidate. By-law 2 section 16.8 still lets you apply to be redesignated once, which voids your AFK and ACJ results. NDEB's news says that from May 2027 a candidate who cannot show minimal competence in five years cannot reapply. The two conflict, the current By-law does not yet contain the May 2027 change, and you should confirm the rule with NDEB. |
A candidate who passes the ACJ after 1 September 2022 can take the NDECC any number of times within 60 months of first passing the ACJ. For a candidate who passed the ACJ before that date, the 60 months run from 1 September 2022. NDEB's pages state no provision that pauses the clock. A candidate with an exceptional medical circumstance, or who could not register for the NDECC at least three times in five years, may request an extension of candidate status. They do not say how long a decision on an extension takes.
A candidate who fails one NDECC component retakes only that component. Failing both means repeating the full NDECC. NDEB lists a $3,250 CAD fee for each component and $6,500 CAD for the whole NDECC, and the pages we read do not say outright what a retake of one component costs. Confirm the amount at registration.
NDEB's news of January 2026 said it had looked at changing application requirements and how long exam results stay valid and had decided to change nothing for now, apart from the By-law 2 change on reapplication. By-law 2 was last approved on 10 July 2026, took effect on 15 July 2026 and can change again, so read NDEB's news before you plan around a deadline.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB By-law 2, NDEB NDECC page, NDEB news, 27 January 2026, NDEB FAQ.
Getting an NDECC seat
NDEB calls the NDECC the bottleneck of the Equivalency Process. NDEB's annual report calls the NDECC a bottleneck and names reduced testing during Covid, Test Centre capacity, higher ACJ success rates and more NDECC attempts as causes. A candidate who passes the ACJ is now offered a seat in the next NDECC series, so the exam can be taken within six months of the ACJ.
The NDECC Test Centre opened in September 2022 with room for 20 candidates in each session, 10 in the clinic and 10 in the situational judgment rooms. A renovation finished in January 2025 added two simulators and raised clinical skills capacity by 20%. NDECC registration opens in stages: first for candidates who passed the most recent ACJ, then for those with approved proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, then for everyone eligible. At registration a candidate picks a preferred date, and NDEB confirms the exact day when registration closes, so plan to be flexible. The NDECC guide has the day-by-day schedule and the windows NDEB has posted.
NDEB's report also says that conversations with internationally trained dentists led it to consider giving exam seats first to candidates already in Canada, and that access to the exams should in no way be limited to people living in Canada. The pages we read describe the early registration for approved proof of citizenship or permanent residency as the change it made.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB annual report 2024-25, NDEB NDECC page, NDEB examination and appeal policies.
When you finish the process
A candidate who passes the AFK, the ACJ and the NDECC is determined to be equivalent to a graduate of an accredited program. The next step is the Certification Process. NDEB's Certification Process how to apply page says a person who has successfully completed the Equivalency Process is not required to create a Certification Process application, and that the existing NDEB account and ID number can be used to register for the Virtual OSCE. NDEB's Certification Process dates page lists application deadlines: for the 1 March 2027 Virtual OSCE, applications open 5 October 2026 and close 5 January 2027; for 20 May 2027, they open 26 January 2027 and close 5 April 2027; for 22 November 2027, they open 6 May 2027 and close 18 August 2027. Documents must arrive by the deadline or the candidate cannot register. The page does not say whether the deadlines apply to graduates of the Equivalency Process, who are not required to create a Certification Process application.
There is a second clock here. A graduate of a non-accredited program who has completed the Equivalency Process can be designated a Certification Candidate if not more than 60 months have passed since completing it. The Virtual OSCE guide covers the exam and its attempts. NDEB's By-law and FAQ state the attempt limit differently, so confirm it with NDEB before you plan.
NDEB certified 456 graduates of international non-accredited programs in 2024-25 and 447 in 2023-24. The 2024-25 figure includes candidates who passed the May 2025 Virtual OSCE and were certified on 3 July 2025. A person who holds an NDEB certificate may not retake an Equivalency Process exam unless a provincial dental regulator asks. NDEB certification does not give a license, and the pathway guide and regulator list explain the next step with the provincial regulator.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB By-law 2, NDEB Certification Process how to apply, NDEB Certification Process dates, NDEB certificate and license, NDEB annual report 2024-25.
What NDEB does not say
NDEB's By-law 2, exam pages and FAQ leave these questions open. We found no answer on the pages we read, so we added none.
- How long a candidate waits for an NDECC seat on average, and whether the 60 month clock pauses during the wait.
- How long NDEB takes to decide a Request to Extend Equivalency Process Candidate Status.
- What NDEB charges when a candidate retakes a single NDECC component.
- Whether the Certification Process application deadlines apply to graduates of the Equivalency Process, and whether the $450 CAD certification application fee applies to them. NDEB does not state the fee outright.
- Fees, lengths and intake of the qualifying and degree completion programs.
- Pass rates by country of training, and a reason for the year-to-year movement of any pass rate.
NDEB's contact details are info@ndeb-bned.ca and 613-236-5912. While you wait for answers, a free mini mock shows where your AFK preparation stands, and the pathway cost calculator adds up fees for the number of attempts you expect. The NDEB fees that come before the Virtual OSCE total $9,750 CAD for one pass of each exam, with exam fees effective 1 July 2025.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB By-law 2, NDEB FAQ, NDEB how to apply, NDEB entry to practice education programs.
Questions candidates ask
Can I take the Equivalency Process more than once?
NDEB designates a person as an Equivalency Candidate no more than twice. A candidate who retakes the Equivalency Process has the earlier AFK, ACJ, Assessment of Clinical Skills and NDECC results voided. A candidate who fails the AFK or the ACJ three times ceases to be an Equivalency Candidate and cannot be redesignated.
How long do I have after I pass the ACJ?
A candidate who passes the ACJ after 1 September 2022 can take the NDECC any number of times within 60 months of first passing the ACJ. For a candidate who passed the ACJ before that date, the 60 months run from 1 September 2022. By-law 2 (effective 15 July 2026), section 16.8, still lets a candidate who does not pass the NDECC within 60 months apply to be redesignated one additional time. NDEB's news of 27 January 2026 says that effective in May 2027 candidates who cannot show minimal competence on both components after five years will cease to be candidates and will not be able to reapply. The current By-law text does not contain the May 2027 change, so the two statements conflict. Confirm the rule that applies to you with NDEB.
What if I cannot get an NDECC seat in time?
A candidate with an exceptional medical circumstance, or who could not register for the NDECC at least three times in five years, may request an extension of candidate status. NDEB reviews its NDECC registration logs to confirm the history. NDEB's annual report calls the NDECC a bottleneck and names reduced testing during Covid, Test Centre capacity, higher ACJ success rates and more NDECC attempts as causes. A candidate who passes the ACJ is now offered a seat in the next NDECC series, so the exam can be taken within six months of the ACJ.
Do I need to be a permanent resident to apply?
No. Applicants do not need to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents to apply to the Equivalency Process or to sit its exams. Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency does give earlier access to NDECC registration. NDEB cannot help with visas, so read the IRCC pages for any immigration question.
Do I apply again for the Certification Process?
NDEB's Certification Process how to apply page says a person who has successfully completed the Equivalency Process is not required to create a Certification Process application, and that the existing NDEB account and ID number can be used to register for the Virtual OSCE. By-law 2 says a graduate who has completed the Equivalency Process can be designated a Certification Candidate while not more than 60 months have passed since completing it.
Can I take the Equivalency Process after failing the Virtual OSCE three times?
Yes. A person who has failed the Written Examination, the OSCE or the Virtual OSCE three times can also be designated an Equivalency Candidate. A person who has failed the Virtual OSCE three times can be redesignated by completing the Equivalency Process, an accredited qualifying or degree completion program, or a dental residency program after the third failure, within 60 months of completing it. NDEB designates a person as a Certification Candidate no more than twice.
Is the Equivalency Process the same as a degree completion program?
They are different routes. A person who completes a degree completion program at a Canadian faculty of dentistry receives a degree from an accredited university and follows the process for graduates of accredited programs. The Equivalency Process is three exams and gives no degree. By-law 2 says a candidate who passes all three exams is determined to be equivalent to a graduate of an accredited program.
Last checked 24 October 2026. Source: NDEB By-law 2, NDEB FAQ, NDEB NDECC page, NDEB entry to practice education programs.
MolarPath is an independent study app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the NDEB. The figures here come from NDEB pages, linked at the end of each section, and NDEB can change them.