AFK or ADC: the Canadian and Australian written exams
Both exams are the knowledge test that an internationally trained dentist takes before a practical exam. They test different things in different formats and cost different amounts. Every figure below comes from the regulator that sets the exam, with the date we read it.
Quick answer
- The AFK has 200 single answer questions in two 2-hour parts. The ADC written exam has 280 questions in four sections of 2 hours, over two days.
- The AFK is scored as pass or fail on an equated score of 75. The ADC grades four clusters A to D and a candidate must pass all four.
- The AFK allows 3 attempts. The ADC handbook states no limit.
- The AFK costs $1,000 CAD. The ADC written exam costs AUD 2,122 (about $2,090 CAD).
The two exams side by side
| Topic | AFK (Canada) | ADC written examination |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) | Australian Dental Council (ADC) |
| Place in the route | First exam of the Equivalency Process | Second stage, after the initial assessment |
| Questions | 200 single answer multiple choice questions | 280 questions, 240 scored, 40 unscored |
| Length and layout | two 2-hour parts, 4 hours in all, one break | Four 2-hour sections of 70 questions over two days |
| Delivery | Prometric computer centers, or paper at select sites | Pearson VUE test centers worldwide, same venue both days |
| Sittings | February and August | Twice a year, usually March and September |
| Scoring | Pass or fail, equated score of 75 to pass | Grades A to D in four clusters; A or B needed in all four |
| Pass standard | A panel sets it, rescaled so that 75 passes | No set pass mark; cluster standards are not published |
| Attempts | 3 attempts | No limit stated; no credit for earlier attempts |
| Results | Normally within eight weeks | Usually within six weeks |
| Exam fee | $1,000 CAD, effective 1 July 2025 | AUD 2,122 (about $2,090 CAD). A pass is valid for five years |
| What follows | ACJ, then NDECC, then the Virtual OSCE | The practical exam: a technical skills day and a clinical skills day |
Estimates in CAD use fixed rates from the European Central Bank reference rates, read on 22 October 2026. They are not live rates.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB fees, ADC written examination, ADC written examination handbook, ADC dentist assessment overview, European Central Bank reference rates.
Which to pick
Pick the AFK if
- You want to practice in Canada. The AFK is the first exam of the NDEB Equivalency Process.
- You prefer one sitting of 4 hours to eight hours over two days.
- You want to sit close to home in Australia or New Zealand. NDEB lists both as an AFK region.
Pick the ADC written examination if
- You want to practice in Australia. The written exam is the second stage of the ADC assessment, after the initial assessment.
- You want an exam with no stated attempt limit. The handbook lets you apply to sit again when you meet the eligibility criteria.
- You want questions built on clinical scenarios, 280 of them.
- You want a pass that stays valid for five years.
A pass at one exam does not count toward the other, so a candidate who wants both routes has to finish both. The study planner turns the AFK date you pick into a weekly plan, and the free mini mock and placement check show where to start.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB fees, ADC written examination, ADC written examination handbook, ADC dentist assessment overview.
Who each exam is for
The AFK is for graduates of non-accredited dental programs who enter the NDEB Equivalency Process. The Equivalency Process ends with eligibility for the Certification Process, whose Virtual OSCE leads to NDEB certification and is required for licensure in Canada. Applicants need no Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, and NDEB gives no visa help.
The ADC written examination is for internationally qualified dentists. It is the second stage of the ADC assessment: a candidate needs a successful initial assessment that is still valid on the exam date, and the practical examination follows.
The two exams serve two countries, so the choice is where you want to practice. NDEB states that it has no reciprocity with the Australian Dental Council, and that the Equivalency Process is required to take part in the Certification Process.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, ADC written examination.
Format and length
The AFK has 200 single answer multiple choice questions in 2 parts of 2 hours with one scheduled break, so a candidate spends 4 hours at the exam. Every question stands alone. Our AFK format page lists the nine blueprint areas and their weights.
The ADC written examination is longer. The written examination has four sections of 70 questions, two hours for each section, with two sections on each of two consecutive days. Questions are single best answer multiple choice, grouped in 56 clinical scenarios with five questions each. 240 of the 280 questions are scored. The other 40 are unscored calibration questions, spread equally over the four sections, and candidates are not told which they are. Eight hours of testing is twice the AFK's four.
Our view: sustained reading of case scenarios on two days in a row asks for a different pace than 200 stand-alone questions in one sitting, so a candidate who prepares for one should try the other style before booking.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, ADC written examination handbook.
Delivery and sittings
NDEB offers the AFK twice a year, in February and August, and its dates page lists Australia and New Zealand as a region next to Canada. A candidate in Australia can sit the AFK there. The AFK exam dates page lists every sitting and registration deadline.
The written examination is computer delivered with Pearson VUE at test centers around the world. A candidate may need to travel outside the home country and must use the same venue on both days. The sittings ahead on the ADC page are 17 and 18 March 2027, then 8 and 9 September 2027.
Each regulator has its own deadlines. The ADC ties a sitting to an initial assessment deadline and an application period weeks before the exam. NDEB closes AFK registration weeks before a sitting and says exams can fill first.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB exam dates and locations, NDEB Equivalency Process dates and locations, ADC written examination.
How each exam is scored
The AFK gives one result. A panel of dentists from across Canada sets the score a minimally competent dentist would earn, and NDEB rescales it to 75. A rescaled 75 is not 75 percent correct. A candidate below 75 also receives the rescaled score. The AFK scoring page explains the method.
The ADC gives four. Results are graded A to D in four clusters: Professionalism and Health promotion, Clinical information gathering, Diagnosis and management planning, and Clinical treatment and evaluation. A candidate passes only by earning grade A or B in all four clusters. The grade bands describe how far a score sits above or below the passing score, within or beyond 10%. There is no set pass mark. The ADC sets each cluster standard with a modified Angoff method and Rasch modelling, and does not publish cluster passing scores.
So a candidate who is strong in three ADC clusters and below standard in the fourth does not pass. NDEB reports one result for the whole AFK, and its protocol states no pass requirement for single areas. The AFK pass rate page shows the yearly rates NDEB publishes. The ADC pages give none.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB scoring and equating, NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, ADC written examination handbook.
Attempts, results and validity
NDEB allows 3 attempts at the AFK. A candidate who fails the third time ceases to be an Equivalency Candidate and cannot be redesignated. Results arrive within 8 weeks, and a failed candidate has 30 days to request a verification of the score.
The handbook states no limit on attempts. A candidate who does not pass may apply to sit another written examination if the eligibility criteria are met, and no credit or exemption is given for earlier attempts. Written examination results are usually available within six weeks of the examination, but they may take longer. A written examination pass is valid for five years.
With three attempts, a candidate who has used two is one result from the end of the Equivalency Process.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB examination and appeal policies, ADC written examination, ADC written examination handbook.
Fees in each currency
The AFK costs $1,000 CAD, and NDEB's application fee of $900 CAD is paid once. The ADC written examination costs AUD 2,122 (about $2,090 CAD).
One exam fee is a poor measure, because the routes have different numbers of steps. The ADC page lists three fees: AUD 647 for the initial assessment, AUD 2,122 for the written exam and AUD 4,775 for the practical exam. They add up to AUD 7,544, about $7,420 CAD. NDEB's application, AFK, ACJ and NDECC add up to $9,750 CAD, and the Virtual OSCE of the Certification Process costs $1,750 CAD more. Both totals leave out travel and preparation.
NDEB reviews its fees every year, and the ADC page gives no effective date for its own. The AFK fees page and the pathway cost calculator keep the NDEB figures current.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB fees, NDEB Certification Process fees, ADC dentist assessment overview.
What follows each exam
After the AFK come the ACJ, a computer exam on case-based diagnosis and clinical decisions, and the NDECC, a two-day exam in Ottawa. Passing the Equivalency Process makes a candidate eligible for the Certification Process, whose Virtual OSCE leads to NDEB certification. 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.
The practical examination is the third stage. It has a technical skills day and a clinical skills day. Registration in Australia after the practical exam is outside this page, and the ADC site covers it.
NDEB has an agreement with the Dental Council of New Zealand. A candidate who completes the Equivalency Process can apply for dentist registration there. The Dental Council of New Zealand sets its own conditions, so ask it for the current ones.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, NDEB Certification Process, ADC written examination.
Questions candidates ask
Is the AFK harder than the ADC written exam?
Neither regulator publishes anything that settles it. The AFK is one four-hour sitting of 200 questions, and the ADC exam is eight hours of scenario based questions with four clusters to pass. NDEB publishes AFK pass rates by year. The ADC pages give none.
Can I use an ADC pass in Canada?
No. NDEB says there is no reciprocity between the two regulators, so the route in Canada starts with the AFK.
Can I sit the AFK in Australia?
Yes, in the Australia and New Zealand region NDEB lists. Registration for North American locations opens a week before Australia and New Zealand, and a candidate registered in one region cannot move to the other.
How many times can I sit each exam?
Three times at the AFK. The ADC handbook sets no limit and gives no credit for earlier attempts.
Which costs more?
Per exam the AFK costs $1,000 CAD against AUD 2,122 (about $2,090 CAD) for the ADC written exam. Over a whole route, the three ADC fees come to about $7,420 CAD and the NDEB route to $11,500 CAD with the Virtual OSCE. Rates are dated estimates.
Does MolarPath have ADC practice?
Not yet. MolarPath covers the AFK today and has a waitlist for the ADC. We never use NDEB released questions.
Where does this information come from?
From the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (ndeb-bned.ca) and the Australian Dental Council (adc.org.au), read on the date shown under each section. A regulator can change a fee or a format at any time, so check its page before you register.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB fees, ADC written examination, ADC written examination handbook, ADC dentist assessment overview.
MolarPath is an independent study app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any exam regulator named here.