What is the Canadian Dental Technology
Profession Credential Evaluation (DTPCE)?
What is the Canadian Dental Technology Profession Credential Evaluation (DTPCE)?
It’s a consistent and fair process that helps us determine if your education is substantially equivalent to the entry-level education and practical experience required of a graduate from a CADTR approved Canadian dental technology education program.
How does it work?
You supply us with your experiential hours and existing documentation, such as transcripts, course outlines/syllabi and supplemental documentation. Then our trained credential evaluator compares them to the required entry-level dental technology education standard in Canada.
What does it cover?
Five main program areas:
- Foundational Knowledge and Sciences
- Design and Fabrication
- Dental Materials and Laboratory Equipment
- Professionalism
- Health and Safety
Within each program area, you will find specific course content areas. Course content areas:
- Are taught in one or more pre-requisite, theory and/or laboratory courses that are taken within a formal dental technology, dental health, or general science program.
- Must be covered, at minimum, at an entry-to-practice level for the dental technology profession.
For each course content area there are course content descriptors:
These are key words, phrases, and concepts that help the credential evaluator determine how closely your education program’s course content area matches the entry-level dental technology education standard in Canada.
How are my credentials scored?
For each required course content area, the credential evaluator will score the evidence provided in your documentation using a three-point standardized scale:
- Sufficient evidence
- Some, but insufficient evidence
- No evidence
Your credential evaluation outcome is based on a combination of your course content area score and experiential hours. Regardless of your course content area score, you will need 1300 experiential hours for your credential technical report to be substantially equivalent.
There are three possible scoring outcomes:
- Substantially Equivalent
You meet the training, experience and entry-level dental technology education standard in Canada,
Next step: You’re ready to take the knowledge and performance-based assessment (DTETPA). - Not Equivalent with Minor Gaps
We’ve identified some minor gaps in your education, training, or experience.
Next steps: You can correct these gaps with additional courses and training (e.g., continuing education), additional practice hours or both. You’ll have an opportunity to fill these gaps within two years. When you have completed the necessary requirements, you’ll be ready to take the DTETPA. - Not Equivalent with Major Gaps
We have identified that your qualifications and/or training are significantly different from the entry-level dental technology education standard in Canada. At this point, you’re not eligible to write the DTETPA or continue with the registration/licensure process.
Next steps: You can upgrade your education at an approved dental technology program in Canada, have your experience and education evaluated through an alternate program (e.g., a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) in British Columbia, a Practicum Student Program (PSP) in Alberta), or consider an alternative career.
How do Experiential Hours affect my Credential Evaluation?
CADTR Approved Dental Technology programs include a minimum of 1300 experiential hours obtained through one or more methods:
- Simulation (i.e., project work and/or school lab work)
- External laboratory experience
- Patient care hours (chair side)
Experiential hours may be attained in school, dental technology employment or a combination of both. Dental technology experiential hours can be attained in Canada or another country.
Our credential evaluator adds all your hours of simulated experience, external laboratory experience, and patient-care hours cited in your documentation to determine if you have acquired 1300 practical experience hours during your educational program.
You will be required to demonstrate experiential hours within the 36 months of your application to CADTR. Experiential hours can be gained within or outside of your education program. Complete and submit the Experiential Hours form.