Mutual Recognition
The Reciprocity Agreement between the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and the Dental Council of Ireland was signed on 5 December 2012. Under this the CDAC and the Dental Council agree that each party recognizes the accreditation standards and policies of the other party as being substantially equivalent to its own. There are twelve dental programs covered under this agreement, ten in Canada and two in Ireland (Trinity College Dublin – Dublin Dental University Hospital and University College Cork – Cork University Dental School and Hospital) and students who graduate from these programs after 5 December 2012 can benefit from its provisions. The agreement is for an initial period of five years and is subject to ongoing review over this period.
Under the agreement the CDAC agrees to encourage the Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation (CDRAF) to accept graduates of the two Irish dental programs as graduates of an accredited educational program without the need to meet other educational requirements for licensure and registration. To practice in Canada dentists have to pass the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) examinations. In Canada the registration process can vary from Province to Province and graduates who wish to avail of this agreement should carefully investigate the requirements of the regulatory/licensing jurisdiction, including the requirements of the NDEB, where they wish to practice before making any firm plans to travel.
Graduates from an accredited Canadian programs should apply to the Dental Council for registration. The Dental Council has recognized the ten programs accredited by the CDAC under the provisions of Section 27(2)(d) of the Dentists Act, 1985. The registration process is relatively straight forward and applicants will be asked to complete and application form, provide a certified copy of their qualification (and certified translation if the qualification is not already in English), a certified copy of their passport and pay the appropriate fee. If are already registered, applicants will be obliged to provide a Letter of Good Standing from the Registration Board where they last practiced. New graduates who have not registered with a Registration Board will be obliged to have the Dean of their program sign the Character Reference on the application form.
Useful contact information:
Dental Council of Ireland
National Dental Examination Board
Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation
Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
