Study abroad·Canada· 9 min read

Study Dentistry in Canada: The DDS/DMD Pathway for International Students

How the DDS/DMD dental pathway works in Canada for international students — the Canadian DAT entrance test, why international seats are extremely limited, and how licensing through the NDEB differs from studying.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) — the same entry-level dental degree, named differently by school
Dental schools: There are roughly 10 dental schools in Canada; programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
Entrance test: Most schools require the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), run by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA)
International seats: Very limited and highly competitive — many schools prioritise domestic/provincial applicants; some admit few or no international students
To practise: Licensing is separate from the degree — you must pass the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) exams and register with a provincial regulator
Tuition & prerequisites: Tuition, prerequisite courses and deadlines vary by school and change — confirm on each faculty's official site

What you study — the DDS/DMD degree

To become a dentist in Canada you complete an entry-level dental degree — a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Despite the two names, these are equivalent qualifications; the school chooses which title to use. Programs are typically four years and combine biomedical science, pre-clinical training, and supervised clinical practice treating patients.

Canadian dental programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). Accreditation is what assures a consistent national standard and is the foundation for the licensing steps that come later. When you research schools, confirm each program's accreditation status and structure on its official faculty of dentistry website.

DDS and DMD are equivalent entry-level dental degrees
Typically four years: science, pre-clinical, and clinical training
Programs are accredited by the CDAC

The Canadian DAT and getting in

Most Canadian dental schools require the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), administered by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). The Canadian DAT includes a Survey of the Natural Sciences (biology and general chemistry), a Perceptual Ability Test, and Reading Comprehension. A Manual Dexterity Test (a soap-carving exercise) has historically been part of the Canadian DAT, but its availability has changed over time and it has been suspended — check the CDA's current DAT information for whether it is offered and which schools require it. Schools also set their own rules about which sitting they accept and how recent your score must be, so check each school's deadlines carefully.

Beyond the DAT, admission usually expects a strong academic record, specific prerequisite university courses (often in the sciences), and completion of at least a couple of years of university study before you apply. Some schools also use interviews or additional assessments. Because prerequisites and score expectations differ by school and change over time, verify them on each faculty's official admissions page rather than relying on a general summary.

Most schools require the Canadian DAT (run by the CDA)
Active sections include natural sciences, perceptual ability, and reading comprehension
The Manual Dexterity (soap-carving) test has been suspended — confirm its current status on the CDA site
Expect prerequisite science courses, prior university study, and possibly interviews

Why international seats are so limited

This is the single most important thing for an international applicant to understand: places for international students in Canadian dental programs are extremely limited and highly competitive. Dental education is expensive to deliver and class sizes are small, so most schools prioritise applicants who are citizens or permanent residents, and several give preference to residents of their own province. Some schools admit very few international students, and some admit none in a given cycle.

That does not make it impossible, but it means you should research, school by school, whether international applicants are even eligible for the entry-level DDS/DMD, and how many seats (if any) are open. Read each faculty's official international-admissions information and confirm current-cycle policy before you invest in prerequisites and the DAT. No school can guarantee admission, and you should be wary of any claim that promises a seat.

International DDS/DMD seats are very limited and highly competitive
Many schools prioritise citizens, permanent residents, or in-province applicants
Check each faculty's current international-admissions policy — some admit few or none

Studying is not the same as being licensed to practise

Earning a DDS or DMD is a prerequisite to practising, but it is not the licence itself. To practise dentistry in Canada, graduates of accredited programs must pass the examinations of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). Passing the NDEB process leads to the national credential that provincial and territorial regulators require.

After the NDEB process, you register with the dental regulator in the province or territory where you want to work — each has its own registration requirements. In short: the university educates you, the NDEB assesses national competence, and the provincial regulator licenses you to practise. Keep these three roles distinct as you plan.

The DDS/DMD is required to practise, but is not itself the licence
Graduates of accredited programs take the NDEB examinations
Final licensing is through the provincial/territorial dental regulator

A note on internationally trained dentists

If you already hold a dental degree from outside Canada, your route is different from the one described here. Internationally trained dentists generally either complete the NDEB Equivalency Process or enter a qualifying/degree-completion program at a Canadian dental school (for example, an advanced-standing placement), before proceeding to licensing. Those routes have their own tests and requirements and are worth researching separately.

This guide focuses on international students who want to study the entry-level DDS/DMD in Canada from the start. If you are already qualified abroad, consult the NDEB and individual faculties for the equivalency and advanced-standing options that apply to you.

Already qualified abroad? Your path is equivalency or a degree-completion program, not the standard entry route
These routes have their own NDEB steps and school requirements
Research the NDEB Equivalency Process and each faculty's advanced-standing program

Plan realistically — costs, alternatives and next steps

Dentistry is one of the most expensive and competitive programs to enter as an international student, and the limited-seat reality means you should plan with backups. Confirm tuition ranges and prerequisites directly with each faculty; costs are significant and change yearly. It is wise to build a shortlist of schools whose international policy actually admits students like you, and to prepare early for the DAT and prerequisite courses.

Because studying and licensing are separate, factor the NDEB and provincial registration into your longer-term plan from the outset. And if the entry-level DDS/DMD proves closed to international applicants at your target schools, related health-science pathways in Canada may be worth exploring. This is educational guidance, not clinical or career advice — verify every requirement with official sources.

Confirm tuition and prerequisites with each faculty — costs are high and change yearly
Shortlist schools that genuinely admit international students, and prepare early for the DAT
Plan the NDEB and provincial licensing steps into your longer-term timeline

Frequently asked questions

What degree do I need to become a dentist in Canada?

An entry-level Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). The two titles are equivalent — schools simply choose one.

Which entrance test do Canadian dental schools use?

Most require the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), administered by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). It currently includes a Survey of the Natural Sciences, a Perceptual Ability Test and Reading Comprehension; the Manual Dexterity (soap-carving) test has been suspended, so confirm the current section list and each school's requirements on the CDA site.

Can international students get into Canadian dental schools?

It is possible but very limited and highly competitive. Many schools prioritise citizens, permanent residents, or in-province applicants, and some admit few or no international students in a given cycle. Check each faculty's current international-admissions policy — no school can guarantee a seat.

Is finishing the DDS/DMD enough to practise?

No. The degree is required, but to practise you must also pass the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) examinations and then register with the dental regulator in your province or territory. Studying and licensing are separate steps.

I already have a dental degree from abroad — is this my route?

No. Internationally trained dentists generally use the NDEB Equivalency Process or a qualifying/degree-completion (advanced-standing) program at a Canadian school. Those are different from the entry-level route described here — research them via the NDEB and individual faculties.

How much does dental school cost for international students?

Tuition is high and varies by school and year, so we do not quote a figure here — confirm current international tuition and fees directly on each faculty of dentistry's official website before applying.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) — How to become a dentist in Canada; Canadian Dental Association (CDA) — Dental Aptitude Test (DAT); University of Toronto — Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS); UBC Faculty of Dentistry — DMD Admissions Procedures.

Last verified: 3 July 2026.