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 Theory 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.