Last updated: December 2019
Regulated profession:
- Dentist
| NOC 2016¹ | Occupation |
| 3113 | Dentist |
Regulator:
Regulated titles:
- Dentist
- Licentiate of Dental Medicine
National body:
- National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
- Conducts the equivalency and credential verification process (see Graduates of Non-Accredited Dental Programs at NDEB)
- Administers the series of formal assessments of knowledge and skills and the written and clinical examinations leading to NDEB certification
- NDEB is not a regulatory body.
Other organizations:
- Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) is the national body (recognized by MDA) responsible for accrediting dental training programs in Canada. CDAC is not a regulatory body.
Application Process: (for professional registration)
Credential verification:
- Conducted by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
- For graduates of Non-accredited dental programs: See information at How to Apply – Application to NDEB Equivalency Process
- For graduates of Accredited dental programs: See information at Pathway to certification
Language proficiency:
- See MDA Language Proficiency Policies
- Individuals applying to a qualifying / degree completion program (see below) must meet the language proficiency requirements of the academic institution.
Qualifying/degree completion programs:
- There are eight Qualifying or Degree Completion Programs offered in Canada, including the University of Manitoba’s International Dentist Degree Program (IDDP), and others in the USA that meet MDA criteria for registration and licensure.
Professional competency profiles:
- National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) Competencies for a Beginning Dental Practitioner in Canada
Tools/resources:
- FAQs at MDA
- Informational Guide to Registration Pathways, Policy and Process for Dentists at MDA (<1MB PDF)
- Online Self-Assessment at NDEB How to Apply
- Open link at MDA and click on Pathway Summary
- Open link at MDA, click on Dentist Resource Guide, and open Profession Specific Resource Guide
Membership associations:
Employment outlook:
- Open Explore careers by outlook
- Enter occupation name or NOC code in window; click “Search”
- Scroll down to view employment outlook by provinces and regions across Canada.
Job search tools:
- See MDA information on job opportunities and dental practices available to purchase in Manitoba.
- To search job postings in any occupation visit:
- Government of Canada – Job Bank – Job Search
- Government of Canada – Job Bank – Job Match
Related occupations / Alternate careers:
There are many reasons an internationally-educated dentist may be interested in working in a related occupation. Related occupations provide an individual with the opportunity to:
- apply his/her skills and experience in a different (but related) occupation;
- gain meaningful, interim employment while pursuing professional certification;
- gain meaningful, alternative employment (as a stepping stone or career goal) if he/she chooses not to pursue professional certification or if he/she is not eligible to pursue professional certification.
Listed below are examples of occupations in the broader field of oral health including research, sales, and education. While each occupation will have its own set of employment requirements, none are regulated occupations in Manitoba and therefore do not have certification / registration requirements with a professional regulatory body. Employers often, however, require applicants to have job-specific experience, training, and/or certification. Always check the hiring criteria carefully. Hiring criteria is set by the employer and will vary from employer to employer.
| NOC 2016¹ | Occupation |
| 3223 | Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants |
| 3411 | Dental assistants |
| 4165 | Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers – dental health consultant |
| 6221 | Technical sales specialists – dental equipment and supplies |
| 0311 | Managers in health care |
| 4021 | College and other vocational instructors |
| 4012 | Post-secondary teaching and research assistants |
Note: This Fact Sheet was developed by Manitoba Education and Training, Immigration and Economic Opportunities Division. It serves as a guide and will be updated periodically. When researching information on professional registration policies and procedures, always refer to the regulator to ensure accurate, up-to-date information.
1 The Government of Canada updates the National Occupational Classification (NOC) every five years. At present, users can access three versions of NOC (2016, 2011, and 2006) on the NOC website. With each update, some NOC codes will change but the majority will stay the same. When searching an occupation on the NOC website always use the most recent version (NOC 2016). The Government of Canada also operates Job Bank using NOC codes. Job Bank, however, currently operates on NOC 2011. When navigating on Job Bank, always use 2011 NOC codes.