Before you Begin
Check with the dental technology regulator in the province where you want to practice for guidance on their specific requirements.
Step One: Credential Processing
Credentialing is a process of evaluating the qualifications and practical experience of an applicant. It has two requirements: credential verification and comparing your credentials to the minimum dental technology education standard in Canada, which includes experiential hours.
There are currently four routes of entry to become registered with a dental technology regulator (DTR) and licensed to practice dental technology in Canada.
#1 Approved Program Route
This route of entry is available for applicants who are nearing completion or have successfully completed a dental technology program approved by CADTR; George Brown College, Vancouver Community College, CDI College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Technical Vocational High school and Cégep Édouard-Montpetit.
To get started you will need:
- A college diploma in a dental technology program.
- A graduate of the Technical Vocational High School. Winnipeg will need to provide evidence of 600 experiential hours of post-graduation dental technology practice in any country.
If you do not meet these requirements when you apply and pay your non-refundable application fee, you will have 12 months from the date of application to fulfill them.
#2 Dental Technology Education Equivalence (DTEE) Route
You have graduated from a dental technology program not listed in Route #1, or another dental health program in Canada or outside of Canada.
To get started you will need:
- An official transcript for the degree, diploma, or certificate.
- A report from an organization designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that authenticates your credentials.
- A description of all relevant courses taken (course outlines or syllabi) from the educational institution or, in extenuating circumstances, alternative documents approved by CADTR, and evidence of having completed 1300 experiential hours.
- If you graduated more than 24 months prior to the date of your application, you need to provide evidence of 1300 experiential hours in dental technology practice gained three years before the date of application. It can be a combination of experiential hours gained in continuing education programs or work experience acquired in any country.
All documents submitted to CADTR must be in English or French. If the original exists in a language other than English or French, the applicant is responsible for having those documents translated by a certified translator.
#3 Referral Route
This credentialing route is available for applicants who were previously registered as a Registered Dental Technologist/Technician (RDT), Dental Technologist/Technician (DT) or Technologue en Prothèses et Appareils Dentaires (TPAD) with a Canadian dental technology regulator (DTR) and has a Letter of Referral from the DTR.
The educational and experiential hour entry-to-practice requirements are:
- A Letter of Referral from the DTR in the province that you were registered.
- Evidence of having completed 1300 hours in dental technology practice in the 3 years prior to the date of application as a component of an education program and /or a combination of post-graduation dental technology practice in any country.
If you are interested in being licensed to practice dental technology but do not qualify under the Approved Program, DTEE, or Referral Route, please contact the dental technology regulator in the province you wish to practice for more information.
#4 Letter of Credential and Assessment Standing (L-Cas) Route
This route is available for applicants who have completed the credentialing process with a Canadian Dental Technology Regulator. The applicant must have a Letter of Credential and Assessment Standing from the Regulator that is received by CADTR no more than six months from date of issue.
Step Two: Competency Assessment
The Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment (DTETPA) measures the Canadian competencies required for entry-to-practice.
Dental Technology Entry-to-Practice Assessment
Knowledge-Based Assessment (KBA):
The KBA is a virtually proctored computer-based assessment comprised of 150-200 multiple choice and/or multiple select questions, taking no more than four (4) hours to complete.
Upcoming Exams:
2024Knowledge-Based Assessment
• Friday, November 29, 2024 (Registration is now open! Deadline to apply is November 19th)
Note: KBA Date is subject to change.
Performance-Based Assessment (PBA):
The PBA consists of 7-12 stations to assess technical and non-technical skills, taking no more than four (4) hours to complete.
Upcoming Exams:
OCT
2025Performance- Based Assessment
• October
Step Three: Register with a Province
Apply to the dental technology regulator (DTR) of the province in which you want to practice.
Note that not all provinces and territories regulate the practice of dental technology. Once you have successfully completed credentialing and the competency assessment, CADTR will notify the regulator in your province of choice.
Alberta College of Dental Technologists of Alberta
cdta.ca
#304 – 13220 St. Albert Trail
Edmonton, Alberta T5L 4W1
Tel: (780) 469-0615
Email: [email protected]
British Columbia BC College of Oral Health Professionals
www.oralhealthbc.ca
110 – 1765 8th Ave W
Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 5C6
Tel: 672-202-0448
Toll free within Canada: 1-888-202-0448
New Brunswick New Brunswick Dental Technicians Association
www.newbrunswickdentaltechsassoc.ca
1725 Lincoln Road
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 8P4
Tel: (506)451-9199
Email: [email protected]
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Dental Technicians Association
www.nsdta.ca
26 Keating Dr.
West Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia B0J 1N0
Tel: (902) 440-7131
Email: [email protected]
Ontario College of Dental Technologists of Ontario
cdto.ca
Tel: (416) 438-5003
Email: [email protected]
Québec Ordre des technologues en prothèses et appareils dentaires du Québec
www.otpadq.com
1200, McGill College, Suite 1500
Montréal, Québec H3B 4G7
Tel: (514) 447-7593
Email: [email protected]
We’re building tools to help applicants on their journey to becoming licensed Canadian Dental Technology Professionals.
Credentials
Self-Evaluation Tool
Before submitting your credentials to CADTR, use our Profession Specific Credential Evaluation Tool to self-evaluate your transcript, course syllabi and practice experience against the minimum entry level requirements.
Knowledge-Based Assessment (KBA) Practice Tool
Use this tool to prepare for the KBA with practice questions that mimic the content and structure of the actual assessment questions, with study resources to help you along the way.
Cost
Estimator
This interactive calculator helps you determine the costs incurred in becoming a Canadian registered dental technologist/technician. All costs are estimated in Canadian dollars.
Coming to
Canada
We’ll guide you in pre-arrival planning, choosing where to live and practice, and navigating your new work environment.