AFK or ORE: the Canadian and British written exams
The AFK and ORE Part 1 both open the route for dentists whose qualifications a regulator does not recognize. They differ in length, in how they are marked, in where they are held and in what they cost. The figures come from NDEB and the General Dental Council.
Quick answer
- The AFK has 200 single answer questions in two 2-hour parts. ORE Part 1 has two papers of three hours, and the GDC does not state the number of questions.
- The AFK passes at an equated score of 75. ORE Part 1 gives a percentage mark for each paper and an overall pass or fail, with the pass mark undisclosed in advance.
- The AFK allows 3 attempts. ORE Part 1 allows four.
- The AFK costs $1,000 CAD. ORE Part 1 costs GBP 485 (about $910 CAD).
The two exams side by side
| Topic | AFK (Canada) | ORE Part 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) | General Dental Council (GDC) |
| Place in the route | First exam of the Equivalency Process | First of two parts |
| Questions | 200 single answer multiple choice questions | Not stated by the GDC |
| Length and layout | two 2-hour parts, 4 hours in all, one break | Two 3-hour computer papers, A and B |
| Delivery | Prometric computer centers, or paper at select sites | In person at three London venues |
| Sittings | February and August | Several times a year, 600 places each |
| Scoring | Pass or fail, equated score of 75 to pass | Percentage mark per paper, overall pass or fail |
| Pass rate | Published by year, with first-time and repeat takers | 73% in April 2025, 75% in August 2025 |
| Attempts | 3 attempts | Four attempts |
| Results | Normally within eight weeks | Within 30 working days |
| Exam fee | $1,000 CAD, effective 1 July 2025 | GBP 485 (about $910 CAD) |
| What follows | ACJ, then NDECC, then the Virtual OSCE | Part 2, then an application for UK registration |
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, GDC ORE Part 1, GDC ORE Part 2, GDC Overseas Registration Exam, GDC ORE results, 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 4 hours at one sitting to 6 hours over two papers.
- You want to sit in Canada, Australia or New Zealand. NDEB lists all three. ORE Part 1 is held at London venues only.
Pick the ORE Part 1 if
- You want to practice in the United Kingdom. A candidate can apply for UK registration once the ORE is passed.
- You want four attempts at the written part, against three at the AFK.
- You want extended matching questions and papers that include law and ethics and health and safety.
- You want sittings several times a year, with 600 places at each.
The exams do not substitute for each other. For the United Kingdom, the GDC's ORE pages list the booking and refund rules. The free mini mock and placement check start AFK practice, and the AFK pass rate page shows what NDEB publishes.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB fees, GDC ORE Part 1, GDC ORE Part 2, GDC Overseas Registration Exam, GDC ORE results.
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.
Dentists whose qualifications are not recognized for the purposes of UK registration can apply to sit the ORE. The GDC says overseas-qualified applicants must show the English knowledge needed for registration, either through evidence in the assessment of their qualifications or through a test such as IELTS. The minimum scores are in the GDC guidance.
The two regulators run separate routes to separate registers. A pass at one does not carry to the other, so the choice is where you want to practice.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, GDC how to apply for the ORE, GDC English language requirements.
Format and length
The AFK has 200 single answer multiple choice questions in 2 parts of 2 hours with one scheduled break, which is 4 hours of testing. Our AFK format page lists the nine blueprint areas.
Two computer-based papers sat in person. Paper A covers dental science and human disease. Paper B covers clinical dentistry, including law and ethics and health and safety. Each paper lasts three hours and uses extended matching and single best answer questions. That is 6 hours of testing. The GDC does not state the number of questions in each paper. The GDC lists Part 1 topics that include anatomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, dental anatomy and embryology, dental materials, immunology, pathology and human disease, pharmacology, physiology and statistics.
The ORE uses extended matching questions, where one list of options serves several questions. The AFK has none. Paper B also carries law and ethics and health and safety content.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, GDC ORE Part 1.
Delivery and sittings
NDEB offers the AFK in Canada, and in Australia and New Zealand. The AFK exam dates page lists every sitting, region and registration deadline.
Part 1 is held in person at three London venues assigned by the exam provider. Part 1 is held several times a year, with 600 places at each sitting. The sittings ahead on the GDC page are 2 and 3 February 2027, then 6 and 7 April 2027.
A candidate from outside the United Kingdom travels to London for each Part 1 attempt, because the GDC lists only London venues. The GDC says it endeavors to release results within 30 working days, ahead of Part 2.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB exam dates and locations, NDEB Equivalency Process dates and locations, GDC ORE Part 1.
How each exam is scored
The AFK gives one pass or fail 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. Our AFK scoring page has the detail.
Part 1 gives a percentage mark out of 100 for each paper and an overall pass or fail. From August 2026 each paper uses standard setting, so the pass mark can vary by paper and sitting. The numerical pass mark is not disclosed in advance. A candidate must pass both papers to reach Part 2.
The GDC reports average Part 1 pass rates of 73% in April 2025 and 75% in August 2025, and publishes the result distribution of each sitting. NDEB publishes AFK pass rates by calendar year, with first-time and repeat takers, on our AFK pass rate page. The two figures describe different exams and different candidates, so they do not rank the exams.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB scoring and equating, NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, GDC ORE Part 1, GDC ORE results.
Attempts and results
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 of the exam, and NDEB emails when they are in the online profile.
The GDC allows four attempts at Part 1 and four at Part 2. The GDC endeavors to release results within 30 working days of the exam. The GDC page states no time limit between Part 1 and Part 2.
For the ORE an attempt costs money and a trip to London. For the AFK it costs the exam fee.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB AFK Protocol 2026, NDEB examination and appeal policies, GDC ORE Part 1, GDC ORE Part 2.
Fees in each currency
The AFK costs $1,000 CAD and NDEB's application fee is $900 CAD, paid once. ORE Part 1 costs GBP 485 (about $910 CAD). The GDC says fees are not normally refundable and points to its refund policy.
ORE Part 2 costs GBP 6,967 (about $13,080 CAD). A candidate who fails only the medical emergencies component can retake it alone for GBP 686. The two parts come to GBP 7,452, about $13,990 CAD. The NDEB application, AFK, ACJ and NDECC come to $9,750 CAD, and the Virtual OSCE of the Certification Process costs $1,750 CAD more.
Both totals add the fees each regulator lists and leave out travel, accommodation and preparation. NDEB reviews its fees every year. See our AFK fees page and the pathway cost calculator for the NDEB side.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB fees, NDEB Certification Process fees, GDC ORE Part 1, GDC ORE Part 2.
What follows each exam
After the AFK come the ACJ, the NDECC and the Virtual OSCE. 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.
After ORE Part 1 comes Part 2. Part 2 is practical, and each sitting spans four days: an operative test on a dental manikin, an objective structured clinical examination, a diagnostic and treatment planning exercise and a practical medical emergencies exam. Four attempts are allowed. A candidate can apply for UK registration once the ORE is passed.
The two routes end in different places. The NDEB route ends with a certification exam and a provincial license, and the GDC route ends with an application for registration.
Last checked 23 October 2026. Source: NDEB Equivalency Process, NDEB Certification Process, GDC ORE Part 2, GDC Overseas Registration Exam.
Questions candidates ask
Is the AFK harder than ORE Part 1?
Neither regulator publishes anything that settles it. The AFK is 200 questions in four hours, and ORE Part 1 is two three-hour papers with no stated question count. Both regulators publish pass rates, for different candidates.
Does an ORE pass count in Canada?
NDEB lists no such rule. The route NDEB sets for graduates of non-accredited programs starts with the AFK, so ask NDEB before you rely on another exam.
How many times can I sit each exam?
Three times at the AFK. Four times at ORE Part 1, and four at Part 2.
Where can I sit each exam?
The AFK in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. ORE Part 1 in person at one of three London venues, assigned by the exam provider.
How much does each exam cost?
$1,000 CAD for the AFK, and GBP 485 (about $910 CAD) for ORE Part 1, then GBP 6,967 (about $13,080 CAD) for Part 2. Fees can change.
Does MolarPath have ORE practice?
Not yet. MolarPath covers the AFK today and has a waitlist for the ORE. 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 General Dental Council (gdc-uk.org), 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, GDC ORE Part 1, GDC ORE Part 2, GDC Overseas Registration Exam, GDC ORE results.
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