AFK, ACJ and NDECC, then the Virtual OSCE

The steps in order

1. Step 1 Apply to the Equivalency Process

   The Equivalency Process is for graduates of non-accredited dental programs. You need an approved application before you can register for the AFK. The application fee is a one time fee.

   Fee

   $900 CAD

2. Step 2 AFK

   A written exam of biomedical and applied clinical science. It must be passed before the other exams.

   Offered

   February and August

   Fee

   $1,000 CAD

3. Step 3 ACJ

   The Assessment of Clinical Judgement covers diagnosis, clinical decisions and radiograph interpretation.

   Offered

   May and November

   Fee

   $1,350 CAD

4. Step 4 NDECC

   Two components over two days, clinical skills and situational judgment, at the NDECC Test Centre in Ottawa.

   Offered

   Throughout the year

   Fee

   $6,500 CAD

5. Step 5 Certification Process: the Virtual OSCE

   The Virtual OSCE is the certification examination, required for licensure in Canada. It has 200 questions: 50 single answer multiple choice and 150 case based, with photos, radiographs and charts.

   Offered

   November, March and May

   Fee

   $1,750 CAD

6. Step 6 NDEB certification and a provincial license

   Passing the Virtual OSCE leads to NDEB certification. A provincial license follows from the provincial dental regulator.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, NDEB AFK page, NDEB Virtual OSCE, NDEB fees, NDEB Certification Process fees.

Who the Equivalency Process is for

NDEB calls a dental program non-accredited when it is an undergraduate dental program at a university that its government authorizes to award dental degrees but that the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) does not accredit. Graduates of those programs have three routes to NDEB certification. The first is the Equivalency Process. The other two are an accredited qualifying or degree completion program at a Canadian faculty, and the BTDPC program for graduates who started the Equivalency Process but have not yet passed the NDECC.

The Equivalency Process is the first route and the one this guide follows. It has three exams, the AFK, the ACJ and the NDECC. NDEB's by-law says a candidate who completes it is determined to be equivalent to a graduate of an accredited program, and then becomes eligible for the Certification Process, whose Virtual OSCE leads to NDEB certification and is required for licensure in Canada.

Citizenship is not a condition. Applicants do not need to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents to apply to the Equivalency Process or to sit its exams. NDEB's FAQ adds that it has no residency requirements for participation in its exams. Candidates who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents can upload proof to their NDEBConnect account, and that proof matters later, because it gives access to an earlier registration stage for the NDECC.

A candidate who already holds an Australian Dental Council result gets no shortcut. There is no reciprocity between the Australian Dental Council and NDEB. The Equivalency Process is required to take part in the Certification Process. Our AFK and ADC comparison sets the two exams side by side.

NDEB lists its document rules by country of education. Country guides cover the largest groups of applicants: India, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt. The pathways page lists them side by side.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, NDEB FAQ.

Applying: documents and credential verification

Applying has three steps: read the required documents and the application guide, create an NDEBConnect account and submit the documents. For the account NDEB lists a current photograph in JPEG or PNG format, a desktop or laptop computer and a valid credit card. NDEB asks for the documents by country of education, so the list depends on where you graduated.

• NDEB issues a unique six-digit NDEB identification number when the candidate creates the NDEBConnect account. It belongs on all correspondence with NDEB. The candidate downloads the Confirmation of Degree Form from NDEBConnect and completes Section 1 only. The Dean, Registrar or Controller of Examinations of the university that issued the degree completes Section 2 in English or French and adds the university stamp or seal, and an official sends the form straight to NDEB in Ottawa. A form with Section 2 completed by the applicant is refused.
• The academic record is a complete record of all courses and grades from every dental school attended, with the dates of attendance. A record issued by an affiliated college is not accepted.
• A notarized photocopy bears the original seal and signature of a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths, who makes the photocopy from the original document. Candidates do not photocopy it themselves.
• A translation must be done by a certified translator, who seals it and secures it to a photocopy of the original. A translation attested by a school official is not accepted.
• A university or regulator that cannot send hard copies may email a scanned, attested copy from an official, traceable email account. Generic addresses such as Gmail are not accepted.
• Documents received from a third party, such as a university or licensing authority, become the property of NDEB and are not returned.
• NDEB lists the documents by country of education. A candidate whose country is not on the list sends NDEB the details of the program and university, and NDEB confirms eligibility within a few weeks.
• A candidate who cannot submit a required document for reasons beyond their control may ask to use the Alternative Document Submission process.
• A statement of good standing is a letter or certificate from every licensing body where the dentist was licensed. It confirms that the dentist is or was entitled to practice there, was never disqualified, suspended or barred, and that the regulator knows of nothing that calls good standing, fitness to practice or good character into question. A statement of good standing or an academic record does not count if the candidate or a relative handled it first, or if their name or signature is on the waybill or envelope.
• A dentist who graduated more than 12 months ago and was never licensed, or who has a gap of 12 months or more in licensing, sends an original sworn affidavit that gives the reason. A notary, lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths signs and seals it, in English or French.
• If the dental program requires an internship or clinical rotation before it awards the degree, NDEB asks for a notarized color photocopy of the front and back of the internship completion certificate, in the original language, with the start and end dates. If clinical work shows on the academic record, no certificate is needed.
• A provisional diploma, a letter of completion or a graduation statement is not accepted as the dental degree.
• If the legal name on the photo ID differs from the name on a document or the profile, NDEB asks for proof: a notarized marriage certificate or legal name change document, or an original sworn affidavit when the cause is a university spelling error or a cultural practice such as an honorific or an abbreviated name. NDEB compares the candidate's signature across all documents with the signature on the photo ID, and a mismatch can leave the application incomplete.
• Documents go to NDEB by mail or courier. They cannot be emailed or uploaded to NDEBConnect. A candidate who cannot find a notary whose seal shows credentials in English or French can ask an officer of a Canadian or New Zealand consulate or embassy to notarize the copy.

After the documents arrive, NDEB screens them for the basic criteria and emails you if something is missing. Then they queue for a comprehensive review in two stages, and after the second review you get an email that says the application is approved or what is still needed. You can watch the status of each document in your NDEBConnect account.

NDEB says submitting a document in the wrong form delays approval. When every required document is accepted, NDEB emails that the application is approved, and the candidate can then register for the AFK. For the weeks before an exam seat opens, start preparing with the format page and a free mini mock.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB how to apply, NDEB required documents, NDEB FAQ.

Each exam in order

The AFK

The AFK tests biomedical science and applied clinical science. The format page covers the blueprint and the exam day, and the scoring page covers the result. Other dental exams, such as the ADC, ORE and INBDE, are on the exams page.

The ACJ

The ACJ is a 5.5 hour exam with one scheduled break and 120 to 150 single-answer and multi-answer multiple-choice questions on case-based diagnosis, treatment planning, clinical decisions and radiograph interpretation. The ACJ is delivered on computers at Prometric and other test centers, including NDEB-hosted sites. NDEB also publishes ACJ sample questions and answers, and says the AFK and ACJ electronic exam orientation should be viewed before the ACJ. Once you pass the AFK you are eligible to register, in the same three steps: register and pay, receive Prometric scheduling instructions after the deadline, then book your seat.

The NDECC

The clinical skills component assesses skills and techniques relevant to current Canadian standards. The Situational Judgement component assesses judgment for solving problems in work-related situations. The NDECC has two components, Clinical Skills and Situational Judgement, taken over two consecutive days or such other format as NDEB sets. NDEB reports a pass or fail for each requirement of each component. The NDECC is held at the NDECC Test Centre in Ottawa. NDEB offers registration for the first attempt to candidates who passed the ACJ. 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. NDEB tells candidates when their work will be evaluated at registration. Four evaluation sessions per year are planned, so the wait for results depends on the schedule.

The Virtual OSCE

The Virtual OSCE has 200 questions: 50 single answer multiple choice and 150 case based, with photos, radiographs and charts. It leads to NDEB certification and is required for licensure in Canada. It can be taken a maximum of 3 times. Locations transfer through NDEBConnect before the registration deadline at no charge.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK page, NDEB ACJ page, NDEB NDECC page, NDEB Virtual OSCE, NDEB Equivalency Process dates and locations.

Sequencing, time limits and attempts

• Order. The exams of the Equivalency Process must be taken in order, beginning with the AFK. A passing grade on the AFK is required before the ACJ, and a pass on the ACJ before the NDECC.
• Attempts. The AFK, the ACJ and the Virtual OSCE can each be taken a maximum of three times. A candidate who fails the AFK three times ceases to be an Equivalency Candidate and cannot be redesignated as one. A candidate who fails the ACJ three times ceases to be an Equivalency Candidate and cannot be redesignated as one.
• NDECC components. A candidate who fails one NDECC component retakes only that component. Failing both means repeating the full NDECC.
• NDECC time limit. A candidate can take the NDECC any number of times within 60 months of first passing the ACJ. For a candidate who passed the ACJ before 1 September 2022, the 60 months count from that date. Until May 2027, By-law 2 says a candidate who fails to pass within that time ceases to be an Equivalency Candidate and may apply to be redesignated one additional time, and on redesignation all earlier ACJ and AFK results are voided.
• From May 2027. From May 2027, a candidate who cannot show minimal competence on both NDECC components within five years ceases to be a candidate and cannot reapply to the Equivalency Process.
• Extensions. 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.
• Inactive accounts. A candidate with no exam activity for 24 months has their NDEBConnect account set to inactive, and can ask to reactivate it for a fee.

NDEB reported in January 2026 that it had considered changes to application requirements and the validity of exam results and decided to make none for now, apart from the by-law change on reapplication above. The by-law text can change again, so read the NDEB news page before you plan around a deadline.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB exam results, NDEB By-law 2, NDEB NDECC page, NDEB news, 27 January 2026, NDEB examination and appeal policies.

Fees along the way

Passing every exam on the first try costs at least $900 + $1,000 + $1,350 + $6,500 + $1,750 = $11,500 CAD in NDEB fees. That is the application fee, the AFK, the ACJ, the NDECC and the Virtual OSCE. A retake means paying that exam fee again, and travel and test center costs come on top. The fees page shows five budget paths, with an estimate in your currency, and the pathway cost calculator adds up the fees for the number of tries you expect.

NDEB's Certification Process fees page also lists a $450 CAD application fee. NDEB's pages do not say whether someone who completed the Equivalency Process pays it, so it is not in the total above. Ask NDEB before you plan your budget.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB fees, NDEB Certification Process fees.

Upcoming ACJ and Virtual OSCE sittings

ACJ

• Tuesday 4 May 2027 (United States and Canada). Registration closes 5 April 2027, 21:00 ET.
• Tuesday 2 November 2027 (Canada). Registration closes 4 October 2027, 21:00 ET.

Virtual OSCE

• Monday 23 November 2026 (United States, Canada and Australia). Registration closes 26 October 2026, 21:00 ET.
• Monday 1 March 2027 (United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland). Registration closes 18 January 2027, 21:00 ET.
• Thursday 20 May 2027 (United States and Canada). Registration closes 19 April 2027, 21:00 ET.
• Monday 22 November 2027 (Canada). Registration closes 25 October 2027, 21:00 ET.

The NDECC has no single exam date. NDEB posts windows of several weeks and confirms your exact day when registration closes. The exam dates page lists the AFK sittings.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB exam dates and locations, NDEB Certification Process dates.

Certification and provincial licensing

NDEB issues a certificate after the Virtual OSCE is passed. A graduate of a non-accredited program who completed the Equivalency Process does not have to send proof of graduation. After certification the name goes on the National Register, and provincial regulators can get the certification information from it.

NDEB certification does not give a license. A candidate applies to the dental regulatory authority of the province, which may ask for more documents, jurisprudence tests and proof of language proficiency. About 50% of the candidates certified each year received their general dentistry education outside Canada.

Licensing is a separate process with its own fees, forms and timelines, run by each regulator. Check the regulator of the province where you want to practice early, since its requirements can include documents that take time to gather.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB certificate and license, NDEB registering for the Virtual OSCE, NDEB FAQ, NDEB certification numbers.

Provincial dental regulators

NDEB lists these regulators on its contacts page. Each issues licenses in its province, and its own site has the current application steps.

NDEB's contacts page lists the licensing offices for the Northwest Territories and the Yukon as government departments, and has no entry for Nunavut. Contact the territorial licensing office for its process.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB contacts and organizations.

How long the pathway takes

NDEB gives no fixed length for the Equivalency Process. Credential verification takes about 10 weeks when everything is correct, and the rest depends on when seats are available and how many attempts each exam takes. AFK results usually arrive within 8 weeks of the exam and Virtual OSCE results within 8 weeks. NDEB says certification takes 6 to 18 months from the time a candidate can take the certification exams, depending on how many attempts are needed.

The calendar sets the pace. The exams table above shows when each exam runs, and seats can fill before a deadline, so registration day matters as much as exam day. A candidate who passes every exam at the first sitting still waits for credential verification, for each results release and for the next sitting of the following exam. Each failed attempt adds the wait for that exam's next sitting. That is our reading of NDEB's calendar and no NDEB estimate, so plan from NDEB's dates page.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB FAQ, NDEB Equivalency Process dates and locations, NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB registering for the Virtual OSCE, NDEB news, 27 January 2026.

Language

NDEB's application pages set no language test score. Its language rules cover documents and exam day. Notary and translator seals must show credentials in English or French, and a translated seal is refused. Your photo ID for the exam must be in English or French. A request to change the language of an exam goes by email to NDEB before the exam. If the change cannot be made, the candidate may withdraw at no charge or take the exam in the original language.

A province may ask for proof of language proficiency when you apply for a license, and its regulator publishes the test and the score. The licensing section above has the regulator list.

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB required documents, NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB examination and appeal policies.

Practicing for the exams

MolarPath is an independent study app. It is not NDEB, and nothing here guarantees a pass. The free mini mock and placement check take a few minutes and show which of the nine blueprint areas to start with. Free mini mocks are unlimited, and full mocks and part mocks are Pro features. Our questions are written for the published blueprint, and we never use NDEB released questions.

Work out your timing with the study planner and read how AFK scoring works before your first mock. To weigh Canada against other routes, see AFK against the ADC, AFK against the INBDE and AFK against the ORE.

Questions candidates ask

Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, NDEB By-law 2, NDEB FAQ.