DDS Advanced Placement

Students applying to the program need to be aware that they will be expected to meet the Technical Standards Policy.

Successful applicants will be integrated into the second year of the regular DDS undergraduate program. The DDS program is comprised of lectures, laboratories, seminars and clinical practice. Topics include:

• Dental Implants
• Diagnostics
• Endodontics
• Ethics in Dentistry
• Fixed Prosthodontics
• Hospital Dentistry
• Operative
• Oral Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Radiology
• Removable Prosthodontics
• Geriatrics
• Oral Biology
• Practice Management
• Sedation and Pain Control

In addition to clinical practice at the University of Alberta Dental Clinic, students participate in clinics at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, the University of Alberta Hospital, and in a satellite dental clinic rotation in Northern Alberta.

Application opens: July 1

Application deadline: November 1 (9:59 PM MST)

Applications are accepted from July 1 to November 1 in the year preceding admissions being sought. Late applications will not be accepted.

We do not accept transfer students from other DDS Advanced Placement/Qualifying programs.

Steps for Applying

1. Complete the online application and pay $125 to submit the application.
2. Pay the application processing fee of $175 to the School of Dentistry online.
3. Upload all required documents to your online application by November 1.

Upload the following Required Documents:

Applications will only be processed once all required documents and application fees have been received.

Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation.

1. Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status (copy).
2. Copies of transcripts of all post-secondary academic work, including dental school marks.
3. Copy of your dental school degree/diploma.
4. Copy of your rotating/compulsory internship or equivalent experience treating patients, if applicable.
5. Copy of licensure to practice dentistry from all previous and current licensing bodies.
6. Copy of certificate of good standing from all previous and current licensing bodies.
7. Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge Examination results for each exam taken.
8. Proof of English Language Proficiency.
9. Proof of Spoken English Proficiency.
10. Proof of name change, if applicable.

Please Note

• Do not include resumes, CVs, essays, certificates, or reference letters with your application. They will not be considered by the admissions committee.
• The discovery that any information or documentation uploaded in support of an application is false or misleading, or that any material information has been concealed or withheld, will invalidate the application and will result in its immediate rejection, or in the immediate revocation and cancellation of admission and/or registration, if the applicant has been admitted. Please review the University's Code of Applicant Behaviour for more information on this policy.
• Applicants who have been required to withdraw by a dental school for academic or other reasons will be ineligible for admission to the DDS Advanced Placement Program.

Graduates of non-accredited dental programs are required to follow an equivalency process to obtain certification as a general dentist in Canada. Please review the The National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) of Canada website for information regarding the NDEB Equivalency Process.

In order to be eligible to apply to the DDS Advanced Placement Program, applicants must be graduates of a minimum four-year university dental program, not recognized by the CDAC.

Documents received after November 1 will not be considered for admission.

Dental Diploma

A copy of your dental school degree/diploma must be uploaded with your application. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation.

Transcripts

Transcripts of all academic work completed at all post-secondary institution(s) attended and a copy of your dental school marks must be uploaded with your application. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation.

Proof of Rotating/Compulsory Internship

For applicants who have completed a rotating/compulsory internship, a copy of your rotating internship certificate or equivalent experience treating patients. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation.

 Prior to the application deadline (November 1), applicants must have successfully completed the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) Examination, sponsored by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), prior to the application deadline.

Applicants should complete the AFK no later than August 15 to ensure that results are received by November 1.

A copy of your AFK results must be uploaded with your application.

For information concerning the NDEB equivalency process and registration procedures, please visit The National Dental Examining Board of Canada website.

Note: Applicants are not required to take the Dental Aptitude test administered by the Canadian Dental Association.

All documents can be uploaded to your UAlberta Launchpad. Transcripts and documents can also be sent to:

Office of the Registrar and Student Awards
University of Alberta
11487 89 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M7

Via email: transcripts@ualberta.ca

Documents received after November 1 will not be considered for admission.

Citizenship and Residence

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada on or before November 1. Proof of valid Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status must be uploaded with your application.

The following are acceptable forms of proof:

• Canadian Passport
• Permanent Resident card

License(s) to Practice Dentistry

Applicants who are, or have been, licensed to practice dentistry in any jurisdiction, must upload proof licensure from current and previous licensing bodies. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation.

Letter(s) from Licensing Bodies

Applicants who are, or have been, licensed to practice dentistry in any jurisdiction, must upload letters of good standing (in English) from current and previous licensing bodies.

Name Change

Applicants who are uploading documents in a name other than that shown on the application must upload proof of name change with the application.

A copy of one of the following is acceptable:

• Marriage certificate
• Change of Name Order issued by an Alberta Court Judge, or by another court of competent jurisdiction.
• Affidavit Regarding a Name Change

English is the primary language of instruction in the DDS Advanced Placement Program. All applicants must be proficient in both written and spoken English. The University of Alberta reserves the right to use discretion in determining adequate levels of language proficiency to ensure success in academic programs. More information about English Language Proficiency Requirements can be found in the University Calendar.

Acceptable proof of English Language Proficiency and Spoken English Proficiency must be received by the November 1.

English Tests must be no older than 2 years on November 1 in the year of the application is submitted.

Spoken English Requirement

All applicants to the DDS Advanced Placement Program need to have spoken English proficiency, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin. The University of Alberta reserves the right to use discretion in determining adequate levels of spoken English language proficiency.

Spoken English proficiency may be shown in any of the following ways:

1. Six full years of education in English in Canada or the equivalent in another country where English is the principal language. Such education must include the Alberta Grade 12, or equivalent level, and can be in a combination of secondary and post-secondary training (See notes 1, 2, 3, and 5).
2. Successful completion of the equivalent of six years of full-time instruction in a school/institution in Canada in which the major language is other than English, but where the level of English proficiency required for graduation is equivalent to that in English language schools/institutions in Canada (See notes 1, 2, 3, and 5).
3. A speaking score of at least 26 points on the TOEFL iBT is required (See note 4).
4. A minimum speaking score of 7.5 on the IELTS test (see note 4).

Notes:

1. Enrolment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses or programs will not be included in the calculation of 6 years of full-time study. Enrolment must be in a regular high school or postsecondary for-credit program. Where students are registered in both ESL and regular programs, the ESL hours will be deducted from the total educational hours.
2. Proof of 6 years of education must be uploaded in the form of transcripts (including details on course enrolment and hours of instruction).
3. Failing grades/courses will not be counted when calculating full-time attendance. Only courses with passing grades will be considered.
4. Test scores must be valid and verifiable.
5. For a list of countries and institutions that are recognized as having met University of Alberta’s English language proficiency requirement, visit our ELP Exemption on our Undergraduate Admissions & Programs website.

English Language Proficiency

In addition to the spoken English requirement, DDS Advanced Placement applicants must have written English Language Proficiency.

English Language Proficiency may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

1. Successful completion of three years of full-time education in English
   • In Canada (See notes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6).
   • In another country where English is recognized as an official language of instruction (See notes 1, 2, 3, and 5).
   • At a recognized secondary school or postsecondary institution which uses English as the primary language of instruction (See notes 1, 2, 3, and 5).
2. Successful completion of the equivalent of three years of full-time instruction in a school/institution in Canada in which the major language of instruction is other than English, but where the level of English proficiency required for graduation is equivalent to that in English language schools/institutions in Canada.
3. Completion of one of the following:
   • A final blended grade of 75% or better in English Language Arts 30-1 course (Alberta High School).
   • A final or predicted grade of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate English A1, A2, or a grade of 6 or better on English B.
   • A grade of 4 or better on the Advanced Placement English College Board examination.
   • A grade of B or better in an GCE Advanced level (A-level) or Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-level), GCSE, IGCSE, or O-level English Language or Literature course.
   • A grade of B+ or better (University of Alberta grading scale) in 6 units of course weight of university-level English studies completed at a recognized English language institution which must be transferable as 6 units of course weight of English at the University of Alberta.
4. Graduation from a recognized degree program offered by an accredited university at which English is the primary language of instruction and in a country where English is the primary language (See note 5).
5. A score of at least 90 points on the TOEFL iBT(Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet-based) with no less than 21 on each band (See note 4).
6. A score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) with no band less than 6.0 (See note 4).
7. A score of at least 70 on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment Examination: CAEL (paper) or CAEL CE (computer) with no band less than 60 (See note 4).
8. A score of at least 61 on the PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) with no less than 60 in each communicative skill (See note 4).
9. A total score of at least 4.5 on all four sections (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) on the CanTEST (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees) with no part lower than 4 (See note 4).
10. An overall Cambridge English scale score of at least 180 on the C1 Advanced (formerly known as Certificate in Advanced English) with no less than 170 in each skill (See note 4).
11. An overall Cambridge English scale score of at least 180 on the C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Certificate of Proficiency in English) with no less than 170 in each skill (See note 4).
12. Successful completion of the University of Alberta’s EAP 140/145.

Notes:

1. Enrolment in English as a second language courses or programs will not be included in the calculation of three years of full time study. Enrolment must be in a regular high school or postsecondary for-credit program. Where students are registered in both EAP and regular programs, the EAP hours will be deducted from the total educational hours.
2. Proof of three years of education must be submitted in the form of official transcripts (including details on course enrolment and hours of instruction).
3. Failing grades/courses will not be counted when calculating full time attendance. Only courses with passing grades will be considered.
4. Standardized test results must be issued directly from the testing office. Photocopies will not be accepted. Test scores must be valid and verifiable.
5. For a list of countries and institutions that are recognized as having met the University of Alberta’s English language proficiency requirement, visit ELP Exemption on our Undergraduate Admissions & Programs website.
6. The three years of full-time education in English must include Alberta grade 12 year (or equivalent) if secondary education is the highest level completed or if combination of secondary and postsecondary education is used.

Applicants who are considered to have potential based on their application documents may be selected for the pre-entry examination.

Prior to the examination, a $2000 (CDN) non-refundable pre-entry examination fee is required from each applicant.

Enrolment is limited.

See recent Admission Statistics for number of applicants and competitive averages.

Applicant Profile

Selection factors will include, but are not limited to:

• Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) Examination
• Dental School marks
• Completion of English Language Proficiency
• Completion of Spoken English Proficiency
• Completion of Pre-Entry Examination

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to use its judgment with respect to individual cases. The decision concerning admission is final. No appeal mechanism exists.

An admission decision is valid only for the Fall/Winter Term for which the applicant applied.

Deposit: Upon notice of acceptance, applicants will be required to confirm their admission and intention to register by submitting a nonrefundable tuition deposit of $1000 within the time specified in the letter of acceptance. This deposit will be credited toward payment of tuition upon completion of registration.

Complete and fully documented immunization is a program requirement. The Faculty Immunization Clearance Form must be filled out exactly as detailed on the form by an appropriate health care provider with a minimum month and year of all vaccine injections and supporting serology or letters where indicated. It is strongly recommended, where possible, to utilize the University Health Center for your immunization clearance. Appointments can be booked online or by calling 780-492-2612. The vaccination requirements are based on the Alberta Provincial guidelines for HealthCare Students in a Post-Secondary Institution and serology/immunization outside the guidelines is not routinely done or recommended. All immunization records need to be written and legible. Certified translation must be provided for all non-English documentation. Students without acceptable records will be required to complete their primary immunization series which can take many months so early action on this requirement is strongly advised.

A clear Police Information Check (PIC) is required under the Protection for Persons in Care Act. All students going to any clinical placement or rotation in Alberta are required to complete a PIC (also known as a Criminal Record Check, Security Clearance Check, or Police Clearance), which must include a Vulnerable Sector check. The PIC must have been completed within 6 months of the program start date. The clinical practice site will determine the criteria for acceptance/denial of a placement.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR) is required for all students registered in the program. The School will only accept Canadian Heart and Stroke or American Heart Association: Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers. No other courses will be accepted to meet the CPR requirement. Students must provide evidence of valid CPR certification at the beginning of each fall term throughout the course of their program. A CPR BLS Provider certificate is valid for one year from the completion date of the course.

The estimated costs for students in the DDS Advanced Placement Program are as follows:

NOTE: All costs noted above are estimates only and are subject to change. Students pay the fees in effect at the time of registration. Loupes, textbooks and software are separate from the above fees. Students are responsible for any costs associated with these requirements.

Fall 2022 fees may increase by 16%.

Learn more about Scholarships and Awards.

Review the list of Dentistry Awards and Scholarships.

In accordance with the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) regulations, students enrolled in advanced placement programs are eligible to take the NDEB exams within three months of their expected date of graduation. For further information, refer to the NDEB by-laws governing examinations and certification eligibility.

Professional Association

The possession of a dental degree does not automatically confer the right to practice dentistry in any province of Canada. Each province has a licensing authority. A dentist desiring to practice dentistry in Canada should contact the appropriate provincial licensing body.

The Registrar of a Provincial licensing body may refuse to issue a registration certificate to practice dentistry to any applicant possessing a criminal record. If you have concerns in this area, please contact the appropriate licensing authority.