NDEB Equivalency Process for Indian Dentists (2026): AFK, ACJ, NDECC, Bridge Training and the Virtual OSCE
The equivalency process is how most Indian dentists reach a Canadian licence without a second dental degree. You prove your BDS is equivalent through three assessments, then sit the same certification exam as Canadian graduates. Here is every step, with the real fees and the new 2026 bridge training option.
The equivalency process in 5 steps
Each step must be passed before the next. No Canadian citizenship or permanent residency is needed for the NDEB exams.
Our full AFK preparation plan
The AFK is the first exam of the process and the one that decides how quickly everything else moves. The Study Boards runs a complete AFK program.
AFK Premium Boards12 sequenced sections that take you from basics to full exam simulation:
- 20,000+ high-yield, exam-relevant points in organised master files
- The AFK released question bank
- Subject-wise and full-length mock tests against 350+ peers
- Daily tasks with mentor coordination, so you never wonder what to study next
Choose your timelinePlans run 3, 6 or 12 months, so you can match your preparation to your exam date and your working hours. Not sure which length fits you? Message the Admin Team and we will help you decide.Ask Which Plan Fits You
The AFK: what it tests and how it is scored
The AFK checks the biomedical and dental science knowledge a Canadian graduate is expected to have. It is delivered electronically at Prometric test centres, with a booklet format at select sites. You can take it a maximum of three times, so it pays to prepare once and properly.
The ACJ: clinical judgement on paper
One long sittingA 5.5 hour exam with one scheduled 30 minute break, at Prometric test centres.
Single and multi-answer questionsBetween 120 and 150 multiple-choice questions, some with more than one correct answer.
Diagnosis and radiographsCase histories, dental charts, radiographs and photographs, plus dedicated radiographic interpretation questions.
The ACJ rewards clinical reasoning: reading a case, forming a diagnosis and choosing a plan. Strong AFK preparation in pathology, radiology and pharmacology carries straight into it.
The NDECC, or the new bridge training program
National Dental Examination of Clinical CompetenceTwo components: clinical skills, which tests hands-on technique to Canadian standards, and situational judgement, which tests how you handle real problems in a dental office. CA$6,500 for both, or CA$3,250 per component. It must be passed within 5 years, a rule the NDEB will enforce from May 2027.
Bridge Training to Dental Practice in CanadaFrom 1 July 2026, graduates of a CDAC-accredited bridge training program go to certification without the NDECC. The program runs up to 8 months at the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University and Université Laval (in French), with up to 10 trainees per site. It requires the AFK and ACJ passed, and Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. 2026-27 fees: CA$500 application, CA$1,000 pre-entry assessment and CA$30,000 tuition.
Certification and the Virtual OSCE
Every route to a Canadian licence ends here, including Canadian and US graduates. The Virtual OSCE has 200 questions: 50 standard single-answer multiple-choice questions and 150 case-based questions that use photographs, radiographs and charts. You have a maximum of three attempts. Once you hold the NDEB certificate, you apply to the dental regulator of the province where you want to practise, which may add its own jurisprudence and ethics requirements.
NDEB fees for the equivalency route
Fees are the NDEB schedule effective 1 July 2025. Re-applying costs CA$400 and a score verification CA$200. Add travel, clinical practice materials and provincial licence fees. Passing first time is the single biggest saving, which is why the AFK deserves a proper plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permanent residency to start?
Is the ACS still required?
How many times can I take the AFK?
Should I choose the NDECC or the bridge program?
Who prepares students for the ACJ and NDECC?
Read the other guides
AFK Premium Boards by The Study Boards
12 sections, 20,000+ high-yield points, the AFK released question bank, mock tests against 350+ peers and daily mentor coordination. Trusted by 15,000+ dentists.
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Current as of 5 October 2026. Sources: NDEB fee schedule effective 1 July 2025, 2026 AFK and ACJ protocols, NDEB Virtual OSCE information, NDEB announcement of 25 June 2026 on the new entry-to-practice pathway, and the ACFD Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada program. Rules and fees change; confirm with the NDEB and your provincial regulator before you apply. Educational content, not legal advice.