Do you have on-the-job experience in dental technology and want to take the next step toward becoming a licensed professional?
Consider participating in the pilot of our new Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) pathway.
This PLAR pathway is an opportunity to have your skills, knowledge, and competencies, gained through on-the-job experience and informal learning, recognized as steps toward professional registration. It can also help identify any additional training you may need to advance your career in dental technology.
The PLAR pathway acknowledges what you already know and do, helping you:
- Move toward becoming a licensed professional
- Gain formal recognition for your experience
- Explore new opportunities for career advancement
We’re seeking interested, eligible individuals to participate in a PLAR pilot to help us test and improve the pathway before it’s formally integrated into the registration system. Your insights and feedback will play a key role in shaping and strengthening the final version.
What you’ll gain by participating
By participating in the PLAR pathway pilot, you’ll:
- Have your application and credential fees waived (for one PLAR attempt).
- Receive formal recognition of your existing knowledge and experience.
- Get a personalized outcome report outlining your strengths, areas for improvement, and next steps.
- Receive a letter or certificate confirming your participation and hours completed.
- Be notified if you’re eligible to apply for the Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment (DTETPA).
Please note: Participating in the pilot may lead you to eligibility for the Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment (DTETPA) or help you identify what additional steps are required. However, participation alone doesn’t guarantee certification or professional registration.
Who can apply: Pilot eligibility criteria
You’re eligible to apply for the PLAR pilot if you meet all the following criteria:
Language, residency and identification
- You’re fluent in English or French (no evidence required).
- You reside in Canada or meet the eligibility criteria for immigration.
- You have valid photo identification. Please review what’s accepted as valid identification (under Appendix A).
Education and experience
- You have at least a high school/secondary education or post-secondary education in a program not related to dental health that meets Canadian standards, and you’re willing to provide evidence as part of the pilot application. Please review the evidence that will be required (under Appendix A).
- You have at least five (5) years—or a minimum of 6,500 hours—of verifiable work experience in dental technology, of which one (1) year or 1,300 hours was completed within the past 36 months, and you’re willing to provide evidence as part of the pilot application. Please review the evidence that will be required (under Appendix A).
Assessment and commitments
- You provide satisfactory documentation based on the eligibility criteria checklist.
- You complete and submit the PLAR competency-based self-assessment tool and results for review and approval. Note: an online version of this tool will be available April 17th.
- If selected, you’re committed to completing a portfolio process as part of the PLAR competency-based assessment.
- If selected, you’re committed to the other eligibility requirements, which include the Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment (Knowledge-Based and Performance-Based assessments) if you’re successful in the PLAR process.
Examples of potential applicants
- Individuals in Canada who have completed CADTR’s Profession Specific Credential Evaluation assessment and received a status of Non-Equivalent – Major Gaps.
- Dental lab associates or assistants in Canada who have met the eligibility requirement for immigration who have relevant dental technology experience (including experience gained abroad).
- Individuals in Canada working in dental technology-related roles who meet the eligibility criteria.
- Other non-dental health professionals already in Canada or have met the eligibility requirement for immigration working in dental technology-related roles who meet the above criteria.
Interested? Submit your expression of interest
Follow these steps and submit your expression of interest to participate in CADTR’s PLAR pathway pilot by 11:59 PM EDT May 31, 2025.
- Review the eligibility criteria and make sure you’re eligible to participate.
- Review the step-by-step PLAR pilot process.
- Download and complete this eligibility criteria checklist based on relevant documents you plan to submit. The checklist includes Appendix A outlining what will be required through the pilot as eligibility evidence.
- Download and complete this self-assessment tool. Note: an online version of this tool will be available April 17th.
- Send an email with the eligibility checklist and self-assessment document attached to t.eftekari@constructmeasures.ca.
- Include “CADTR – PLAR – PILOT PARTICIPANT” in the subject line of your email.
- You’ll receive an email from t.eftekari@constructmeasures.ca confirming that your expression of interest was received.
This pilot is part of CADTR’s Access to Dental Technology Project funded by the Government of Canada through the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP).
Step-by-step pilot process
Step 1: Ensure eligibility and express interest
- Review the eligibility criteria and complete the checklist to confirm you’re eligible to apply for the PLAR pilot.
- Complete the self-assessment tool.
- Submit your expression of interest, including the completed eligibility criteria checklist and self-assessment document, by emailing t.eftekari@constructmeasures.ca.
- Please include “CADTR – PLAR – PILOT PARTICIPANT” in the subject line of your email.
- You’ll receive an email confirming that your expression of interest was received.
Step 2: Accept invitation to apply and submit eligibility documents (if invited to apply)
If you’re invited to apply, you’ll be contacted between late June and mid-August 2025. After accepting the invitation:
- Collect and submit your eligibility documents, based on the submitted checklist for review. This may include:
- Official certificates or credential evaluation reports for education obtained outside Canada
- Employer-issued documentation confirming your work experience
Please note: The CADTR application fee is waived for pilot participants, but you’re responsible for any costs related to obtaining, verifying, or translating your documents.
Step 3: Complete portfolio tool and gather evidence (if accepted)
If you’re accepted as a PLAR pilot participant, you’ll be notified by the end of August 2025.
After that you’ll:
- Learn what’s required for the portfolio and how to gather supporting evidence.
- About the portfolio: You’ll be required to complete the PLAR “Portfolio Tool” which is a comprehensive collection of work samples, project documentation, reflective narratives, and other professional evidence that demonstrates your knowledge, skills, accomplishments, and experience.
- Collect your evidence.
- Complete the detailed portfolio.
- Submit your completed portfolio and supporting evidence.
Step 4: Portfolio evaluation and provide feedback
- Your portfolio will be evaluated by trained assessors between February and June 2026. All evaluations will be completed by June 2026.
- In early July 2026, you’ll be asked to provide feedback on your experience (through surveys or interviews).
- Feedback will be reviewed and analyzed by the end of September 2026 to help refine the PLAR pathway.
Step 5: Receive PLAR results
- You’ll receive an outcome report outlining your strengths and areas for improvement, along with next steps in the registration pathway.
- You’ll also receive:
- A letter from CADTR confirming your participation and hours, which may be used where applicable.
- A certificate confirming the activities you completed during the PLAR pathway pilot.
Step 6: Use results to take necessary next steps toward registration
- Use your outcome report to determine your next steps in the registration process
- If eligible, you can challenge the Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment (DTETPA).
- If gaps are identified, you may need to complete additional training or experience.
Please note: Any future steps outside the pilot, including challenging the exam or completing further training, may involve additional costs.
Pilot milestones and deadlines
The pilot process will run over approximately 16 to 18 months. These key dates and deadlines will help you plan your participation:
- April 30, 2025: Pilot opens for individuals to submit an expression of interest
- May 31, 2025: Final deadline to submit an expression of interest
- June 30 – August 15, 2025: Selected participants are invited to submit eligibility documents
- August 31, 2025: Participants are notified of acceptance into the pilot
- September 30, 2025: Portfolio orientation begins; participants start collecting and organizing evidence
- November 30, 2025: First checkpoint to confirm participants are on track
- January 31 – March 15, 2026: Portfolio submission window; final deadline to submit is March 15, 2026
- February – June 2026: Trained assessors evaluate submitted portfolios; all evaluations completed by June 30, 2026
- July 1 – September 30, 2026: Participant feedback is gathered and analyzed to support further refinement of the PLAR pathway
Your commitment as a pilot participant
Participating in the pilot requires time, effort, and active engagement. Here’s what to expect, what you’ll need and what you’re agreeing to as a participant.
What to expect from the process
By participating, you should expect to spend time:
- Gathering and organizing documentation and evidence.
- Completing the Portfolio Tool.
- Participating in follow-up interviews or surveys.
- Responding to evaluator feedback.
What you’re agreeing to
As a participant, you’re expected to uphold the integrity of the pilot, and you’ll agree to:
- Provide honest and timely feedback about your experience.
- Submit accurate and authentic documentation.
- Follow all guidelines and meet deadlines communicated by the project team.
- Sign and adhere to a confidentiality and fiduciary agreement, which prohibits discussing or sharing any information obtained through your participation in the pilot.
The tools and technology you’ll need
To successfully complete the pilot, you’ll need:
- A reliable internet connection to attend online orientation workshops.
- A computer capable of accessing and completing the online portfolio tool.
- The ability to upload supporting documents, such as PDFs, scanned images, or video files.
- Familiarity with email communication and basic file management.
Your information is confidential
Your personal information and documents submitted for this pilot will be kept confidential and stored securely in compliance with CADTR’s Data Privacy Policy. Only authorized members of the CADTR PLAR pathway pilot will have access to your materials. Your individual portfolio results will remain private and will not be shared, as protected under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.