National Dental Assisting Examining Board
Bureau national d'examen d'assistance dentaire

Domain Description

The Domain Description for Dental Assisting is the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours the dental assistant should possess upon entry/re-entry into practice and is utilized for:

  • Preparation of examination candidates
  • Dental assisting education
  • Examination development and review

When preparing for the NDAEB exam, candidates are advised to refer often to the Domain Description for Dental Assisting which is found in the Candidate Handbook. The Domain Description is reviewed periodically to ensure its content reflects current entry level practice for dental assisting in Canada.

The National Dental Assisting Examining Board conducted a thorough review of the Domain Description in 2019-2020. The revised Domain Description will became effective on January 1, 2023 and will be implemented for the March 2023 sitting. The next review of the Domain Description will be conducted in 2024.

View the 2023 Domain Description

NDAEB Examination Sites

  • The NDAEB Examination is not available outside of Canada.
  • Your first choice selection for an examination site is not guaranteed. 
  • For details on special sittings, please see the Candidate Handbook.
Province
City
British Columbia
Abbotsford, Burnaby, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria
Alberta
Bonnyville, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grand Prairie, Lethbridge, Llyodminster, Red Deer, Slave Lake
Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatoon
Manitoba
Brandon, Winnipeg
Ontario
Barrie, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Markham, Mississauga, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Windsor
Quebec
Montreal
New Brunswick
Campbellton, Fredericton, Moncton
Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown
Nova Scotia
Halifax, Stellarton, Sydney
Newfoundland and Labrador
Corner Brook, St. John's
Yukon
Whitehorse

Graduates of a Non-Registered Program

Documents required for a credential assessment must be received by the NDAEB office at least TWO (2) weeks prior to an exam application deadline. Documents received after this deadline will not be guaranteed assessment for exam eligibility for the applied sitting.

NDAEB Policy Changes Beginning in January 1, 2026

Effective January 1, 2026, all candidates who have not graduated from a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) are considered non-registered program graduates and will be required to successfully complete the Clinical Practice Evaluation (CPE) (Part I) BEFORE being granted eligibility for the Theoretical Examination (Part II). Upon successful completion of both the CPE and Exam, the NDAEB Certificate will then be issued.

  1. Candidates of existing registered non-accredited dental assisting programs will be bridged and exempted from this policy change until December 31, 2030, as such the CPE requirement will not apply with the NDAEB for issuance of the NDAEB Certificate. The CPE requirement may still apply however if required by a CDARA for provincial licensure/registration. (See the Education section for more details).
  2. Candidates who had their credentials assessed by December 31, 2025 and have completed or attempted an initial attempt on the Theoretical Examination but have not yet been awarded the NDAEB Certificate, will continue to follow the former process of completing the Examination first, followed by the CPE in order to be issued the Certificate.
  3. Candidates who had their credentials assessed by December 31, 2025, or who were in the process of having their credentials assessed by that date and have not completed an initial attempt on the Theoretical Examination, will follow the new Certificate process and will be required to successfully complete the CPE BEFORE being eligible to take the Theoretical Examination.

*Effective January 1, 2031, dental assisting programs must receive accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) to maintain NDAEB registered dental assisting program status and eligibility to participate in the NDAEB Examination. Previously registered non-accredited dental assisting programs that have not become CDAC accredited by this date, will no longer be considered registered and graduates will no longer be granted automatic eligibility and will be considered graduates of a non-registered program (individual credential assessment processes will apply).

** Effective January 1, 2031, any applicant that is not a graduate of a CDAC accredited dental assisting program, will be considered a non-registered program applicant and must follow the individual credential assessment process in order to determine eligibility.

Disclosure Of Information To Third Parties

For reasons of public protection, the NDAEB will release all written exam, including pass or fail results, to the CDARA in the province in which the exam was written. All Clinical Practice Evaluation, including pass or fail results, will be released to the CDARA in the province in which the candidate resides. Results will also be released to any other CDARA requesting the information or to any CDARA the NDAEB believes should receive the information.

Applicants must sign the agreement contained on the written exam or CPE application form, acknowledging the release of exam and or CPE results before being registered with the NDAEB. For details, please refer to the NDAEB Privacy Policy.

Exam Site Availability

As a result of the limited availability and scheduling purposes, your 1st choice selection for an examination site is not guaranteed. Exam locations are subject to change without notice. In the event your preferred location is no longer available, you may be required to schedule your exam offsite by online remote proctoring.

Candidate Handbook

When applying to write the NDAEB exam, please read the information on the exam application and in the Candidate Handbook carefully. Details regarding all aspects of exam administration, including application processing, exam preparation and post exam administrative details are available in the Candidate Handbook.

Privacy Policy

The National Dental Assisting Examining Board complies with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Please be sure to read the Privacy Policy.