Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada program
A new pilot program to enable internationally trained dentists to practise in Canada.
The Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD) has partnered with the Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry to offer the Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada (BTDPC) program, which is a new pathway by which internationally trained dentists can work toward obtaining a dental licence in Canada.
Admission process
Ready to discover more? Check that you meet the admission requirements and apply using the ACFD website.
About the program
This program is for internationally trained dentists who have successfully completed the NDEB AFK and ACJ exams. The program offers a rich, compressed, comprehensive didactic, pre-clinical, and clinical program.
This new program is at three locations:
- University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, in English
- Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in English
- l’Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, in French *
Key facts
- Up to 8 months
- 1 intake of students per year**
- 9 core modules
- 4 individualized modules (will vary)
- Full-time, weekdays***
- In-person
- Up to 10 students per site
* Although the course is offered in French, a minimum knowledge of English is required.
** Seats are awarded competitively, not in the order received.
*** Class schedules may vary each week.
Find out more about the program
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- Be a graduate of a recognized, four-year (minimum), university dental program
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada on or before the application deadline
- Have passed, within three years of the application deadline, these NDEB exams:
Next intake information
Applications for the next intake will open in early 2026, with an anticipated program start date in late summer/early autumn 2026. Join our email list to be notified when these dates are announced.
Why study with us?
This program is for internationally trained dentists following the equivalency process to be eligible to obtain licensure as a general dentist in Canada and have yet to pass the National Dental Examination of Clinical Competence (NDECC).
We will customize your schedule to address specific knowledge gaps, giving you confidence when you move towards licensure and professional practice. Our modules are designed with internationally trained dentists in mind and are not simply a mirror of an undergraduate doctor of dental surgery program or doctor of dental medicine program.
Admission process
Ready to discover more? Ensure that you meet the admission requirements.
The BTDPC program is made possible through a $8.2 million Government of Canada support fund.
