Nearly eight months ago, the NDEB released considerable changes to the Canadian equivalency process for international dentists. Most notably, the ACS examination received the most significant modifications to its existing structure, content, and overall format.
Under the “Develop” component of their multiple-step strategy called Vision 2022: The Future of the Equivalency Process, the ACS examination was set to receive a new blueprint, skills requirements, and a facility to be constructed and opened for operation in 2022. However, on October 29, the NDEB announced that the current format of the ACS examination would be replaced by a modified skills examination known as the National Dental Examination of Clinical Competence™ or NDECC™, for short.
In their official release, the NDEB stated the ACS exam in its current format will be administered for the final time in December 2021, while the NDECC™ will become the third examination of the equivalency process in 2022 following the AFK and ACJ.
The NDECC™ will continue to evaluate an examinee’s clinical abilities much as the ACS did. This exam will consist of two components requiring dentists to perform seven clinical requirements on simulated manikin-patients in a clinical setting in the first component and ten situational judgment requirements in the second. A basic outline for the NDECC™ is now available on the NDEB website.
Based on the announcements so far, here is our breakdown of the two components:
The first NDECC™ exam will be held in June 2022 at the NDEB’s new testing facility in Ottawa, Ontario, and will be given multiple times a week throughout the year.
The NDECC™ Test Centre is located at 340 Albert St. 12th Floor Ottawa, ON. The facility includes many other operational rooms, including separate situational judgement rooms and the simulation clinic.
The NDECC™ exam will take place over two days, with clinical skills on the first day and situational judgment on the second day.
A complete list of equipment, materials, and supplies provided by the NDEB will be released in a practical guide soon. You can bring your own protective eyewear and dental loupes. A disposable gown will also be provided.
There have been notable changes to the typodonts, teeth, and handpieces (Kavo) used during this exam. Therefore, pay close attention to the lists provided by the NDEB.
Please note, the preliminary lists do not include equipment and dental supplies needed during training.
The NDECC™ can be taken an unlimited amount of times in a five-year period (60 months).
While it may seem like the equivalency process is unpredictable at times, the NDECC™ is a positive change towards the future of equivalency in Canada. In fact, the pandemic has shone a light on the significant hurdles the ACS faced and needed to be addressed.
“The main positive point I see from this announcement is the unlimited attempts. Back in the older system, it used to be three attempts for clinical skills,” said Prep Doctors co-founder Dr, Marwan Al Rayes during our live webinar. “The environment is also going to be standardized, and now it is going to be the same environment in which the exam is going to be conducted; the flexibility of time [too] are the main advantages.”
Dr. Al Rayes also spoke to the necessity of dentists enhancing their time management and organization skills in preparing for the two exam components. Listen below to hear more of his thoughts:
For more information and to read the NDECC™ outline, click here. To learn more about the NDECC™ materials list, click here. To purchase dental materials, please visit Knurling Dental here.
For more details, please direct specific questions about Vision 2022 directly to the NDEB. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our dental equivalency newsletter for our future breakdowns of equivalency-related announcements and Prep Doctors’ course updates.
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