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Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry


ITD - Internationally Trained Dentists Program 


Program Description
Admission Requirements
Fees & Deadlines
Admission Process
Application Form

FAQ's
Links - UWO & Other
Contact Inquiries




PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 


Held over two academic years beginning in June, the program leads to a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS).  Upon successful completion of the ITD Program and the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) examinations, candidates will be eligible for licensure/registration as a dentist in all Canadian provinces (a French proficiency exam is required for licensure in Quebec). 

Students in the ITD Program must attend all lectures and seminars for courses in: pharmacology, general medicine, oral pathology, prosthodontics, operative dentistry, diagnosis & treatment planning, integrated restorative, patient assessment, patient management, dento-facial trauma, introduction to clinics, clinical practice, oral medicine, oral surgery, oral radiology, periodontics, practice administration, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, geriatric dentistry and endodontics. Clinical experience is patient-centered and students manage their patients following a comprehensive patient-care model.  

  • The Internationally Trained Dentists (ITD) Program is suitable for foreign-trained dentists who wish to practice dentistry in Canada.
  • This program is for graduates of non-accredited programs, i.e. programs not recognized by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA).
  • The ITD Program prepares students to write the NDEB Written Examination and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to obtain certification as a general dentist in Canada.
  • The NDEB examinations must be completed during the second year of the ITD Program.  The NDEB will not accept previous exam scores or previously paid registration fees.
  • Assistance will be given with NDEB registration for ITD students.
  • The first year begins in June as a Summer Session until August.  The regular academic year begins in September and continues through to the end of the following June.

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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 


In order to be eligible for admission to the ITD Program, applicants must include all the following supporting documents with the Application Form.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

                                           


For a printable check list... CLICK HERE

 1. ADMINISTRATIVE FEE   
A non-refundable administrative fee of $250.00 CAD paid by certified cheque or money order, made payable to The University of Western Ontario.

 2.  DENTAL DEGREE/DIPLOMA
A notarized photocopy of your degree/diploma from a minimum four-year university dental program bearing an original seal and signature.  Degrees or diplomas that are not in English must be submitted with an original certified translation bearing an original seal and signature of the translator.

 3.  CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
Proof of Permanent Resident Status or Canadian Citizenship is required.  Provide a photocopy of your valid permanent resident card, Canadian passport or Record of Landing that verifies your status.

 4.  ASSESSMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE
Copy of Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) examination results, offered by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB).  AFK results from previous years can be submitted in any year that an application to the UWO ITD Program is made. For registration, please see the NDEB website at www.ndeb.ca.

 5. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
A score report from a TOEFL or an IELTS English language test.* Test results are valid for 2 years from the date of the exam.  All applicants must complete an English language test. 

a) TOEFL(iBT):  A minimum total score of 88 is required.  Competitive applicants have generally had a minimum of 22 in each of the following sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
OR
b) IELTS:  A minimum Overall Band Score of 6.5 is required.  Competitive applicants have generally had a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four sections, with not less than 6.0 in any one section.

* Original score reports should be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to our ITD Program office.  The TOEFL DI code for Schulich Dentistry is 8956.

 6.  PROOF OF NAME CHANGE (if applicable)
If documents are submitted with a name other than that shown on the Application Form, proof of name change must be included in the form of a notarized copy, i.e. marriage certificate or Change-of-Name Order issued by an Ontario Court Judge or by another court of competent jurisdiction.

 7.  RESUME
A one-page biography or short resume about your relevant dental experience, any courses completed, or other information that would be of interest to the ITD Selection Committee.

 8.  PHOTO
A passport-size photo attached to your resume/biography.   

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FEES & DEADLINES


Registration for ITD Program beginning June 2013
   
** NOW CLOSED **

For ITD Program beginning June 2014 
   Registration will begin February 1, 2013


Application Fee:
A non-refundable administrative fee of $250.00 CAD is due with the application, paid by certified cheque or money order, made payable to The University of Western Ontario.


PLA
Registration Fee:
If selected for the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), a fee of $1500.00 (CAD) is payable to The University of Western OntarioVisa, MasterCard, certified cheque or money order is accepted.

PLA Refunds:
PLA refunds of $750.00 will be given only if a cancellation is made more than two weeks before the PLA session.  For cancellations made within two weeks or less of your PLA date, no refund will be given.


Tuition:
Upon acceptance to the program, a $5,000.00 CAD non-refundable tuition deposit is required.


Tuition Fees:

                                                              Current and Historic Fees Schedules can be found on the Registrar's site... CLICK HERE

*Select Undergraduate Canadian Full Time (pdf)
  see page 2

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ADMISSION PROCESS:


1) Application:

The application process begins with the completion of the Application Form
   Registration for ITD Program beginning June 2013 is now closed.
   Registration for ITD Program beginning June 2014 will begin February 1, 2013.

The Application Form, fee and ALL supporting documents must be submitted on or before the application deadline date.  Applications received with incomplete or invalid documentation cannot be processed.  A confirmation of receipt is sent to each applicant within 7 to 10 days.


2) Prior Learning Assessment (PLA):

The second part of the admission process involves the completion of a five-day Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) held in August.

The top 100 applicants, as selected by the ITD Selection Committee, are invited to attend the PLA.  Selection of candidates is based on a combination of the English language test scores, and the NDEB Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) exam results.  Completion of the PLA does not guarantee admission to the ITD Program.  Invitations to the Prior Learning Assessment are sent in mid-May. 

The purpose of the PLA is to ensure that applicants are at the same knowledge level and skill as the DDS students entering their third year of the DDS program.  The Assessment consists of an evaluation of the applicant’s psychomotor performance and knowledge in dental subjects at a pre-clinical level.  All of the psychomotor skill testing is done on mannequins in our Simulation Clinic.  Based on the PLA results, the top 40 candidates will attend a personal interview. Click HERE for more information about the PLA.

Results of the PLA are not released.

The decision of the ITD Selection Committee is final and no appeal process is available.


3) Selection for ITD Program:

The final step of the admission process involves the selection of 20 candidates for the ITD Program.  

The ITD Selection Committee bases the final selection of candidates mainly on a combination of Prior Learning Assessment, the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge exam results, and English language ability as determined by the interview.  Offers of admission are sent in early October for the program that will begin the following year in June.

Upon acceptance to the Schulich Dentistry Internationally Trained Dentists (ITD) Program, a credential evaluation of your degree/diploma (Document-by-Document Basic report) must be obtained through World Education Services (WES).

The WES evaluation must be completed prior to the start of the program.  Please begin this process as soon as possible to avoid any delays.  See: www.wes.org/ca or call toll free:
1-866-343-0700 for application procedures.  If candidates are unable to have credentials validated to the satisfaction of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, the offer of admission will be withdrawn.

The decision of the Internationally Trained Dentists Selection Committee at Schulich Dentistry concerning admission to the Internationally Trained Dentists Program is final.  No appeal process is available.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Will I be able to afford the tuition?

Is there any type of financial aid available?

Are there any scholarships/grants available?

Will I be able to manage a job and studies at the same time?

Do I have to be in London during the whole week for the Prior Learning Assessment?

If I decline an offer of admission to the PLA/ITD Program, can I be guaranteed a spot in the future?

Will I get a refund if I withdraw from the PLA?

How many positions are available in the UWO ITD program?

Do I need to become a Landed Immigrant/Canadian citizen to apply?

What if I don’t have all the required documents?

Do I have to pass the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge in order to apply?

Can I submit AFK test results from previous years?

Do I need to write an English test?

Can I have my documents evaluated by ECE or another organization other than World Education Services (WES)?

Is the $5,000.00 tuition deposit refundable?

Can I appeal if I am not selected?

How many times can I re-apply to the program?

Will I be able to afford the tuition?
Once you are enrolled in the program we provide a Letter of Enrollment for you to use to obtain a professional student loan.

Is there any type of financial aid available?
You can apply for OSAP if you are eligible.  Many of our students receive financial aid based on their financial needs.

Are there any scholarships/grants available?
There are no scholarships or grants at the current time.

Will I be able to manage a job and studies at the same time?
Due to the intensity of the program, it is not feasible to manage a job.

Do I have to be in London during the whole week for the Prior Learning Assessment?
Yes, you will be required to attend a 3-5 day session which is part of the admission process.

If I decline an offer of admission to the PLA/ITD Program, can I be guaranteed a spot in the future?
No.  Due to the high volume of applications received each year, we are not able to hold your spot for the future.  You must re-submit a new application and fee, complete with all supporting documentation, and go through the entire application process again, if you are re-considering the program.

Will I get a refund if I withdraw from the PLA?
Refunds of $750.00 will be given only if you cancel more than two weeks before your PLA session.  If you cancel within two weeks or less of your PLA date, no refund will be given.

How many positions are available in the UWO ITD program?
Twenty positions are available.

Do I need to become a Landed Immigrant/Canadian citizen to apply?
Yes, you must have permanent resident status or Canadian Citizenship at the time of applying to the program.

What if I don’t have all the required documents?
We cannot process your application if any of the documents are missing or out of date.  We must have all supporting documentation by the application deadline date or your application will be disqualified.

Do I have to pass the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge in order to apply?
It is not necessary to achieve a test-equated score of 75 or higher on the AFK to apply.  However, due to the large number of applications received, successful applicants in the past have generally had scores in the high 70s to 80s and have met the minimum English language requirements.

Can I submit AFK test results from previous years?
Yes, AFK test results from previous years can be submitted in any year that an application to the UWO ITD Program is made.  Results do not become invalid.

Do I need to write an English test?
All applicants to the ITD Program must submit the results of an English proficiency test, such as a TOEFL or IELTS test.  Results are valid for 2 years.

Can I have my documents evaluated by ECE or another organization other than World Education Services (WES)?
No.  You must have your degree/diploma evaluated by WES (Document-by-Document Report), prior to the start of the Program.

Is the $5,000.00 tuition deposit refundable?
No, the deposit is non-refundable.

Can I appeal if I am not selected?
No, the decision of the ITD Selection Committee is final and there is no appeal process.  No feedback can be given.

How many times can I re-apply to the program?
You may apply to the ITD program as often as you wish, however a new application, $250.00 application fee, and all up-to-date supporting documentation must be re-submitted each year.  Previously submitted applications, including documents, are archived and destroyed.

  

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LINKS
 

UWO LINKS


CURRICULUM & COURSE LISTING
Students in the ITD program join the students in the 3rd and 4th years of the DDS program.  The curriculum for this program is currently undergoing a renewal. 
Curriculum Renewal
Course Listing

SCHULICH DENTISTRY CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION (CDE)
Schulich Dentistry Continuing Dental Education (CDE) offers a 9-day program designed to assist foreign-trained dentists review and upgrade their clinical understanding and skills.  See www.schulich.uwo.ca/dentistry/CDE/index.php for Clinical Skills Review or contact
1-888-281-1428 or email cde@schulich.uwo.ca for more information.  This is not a required course.

HOUSING
www.has.uwo.ca/housing/
http://offcampus.uwo.ca/index.htm

LIFE IN LONDON
www.welcome.uwo.ca/preview/admissions/london.html


OTHER LINKS 
 

ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN FACULTIES OF DENTISTRY (ACFD)
Telephone:613-237-6505
Email:  director@acfd.ca
Website:  www.acfd.ca 

CANADIAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION (CDA)
Website:  http://www.cda-adc.ca/

CANADIAN DENTAL REGULATORY AUTHORITIES FEDERATION (CDRAF)
Website:  www.cdraf.org/

INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM (IELTS)
Website:  www.ielts.org/

ONTARIO DENTAL ASSOCIATION (ODA)
Website:  www.oda.on.ca

ROYAL COLLEGE OF DENTAL SURGEONS OF ONTARIO (RCDSO)
The RCDSO is the governing body for dentists in Ontario.
Website:  www.rcdso.org/

TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL)
Website:  www.ets.org/toefl   

THE CITY OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA
Website:  www.london.ca 

THE NATIONAL DENTAL EXAMINING BOARD OF CANADA (NDEB)
Telephone:  613-236-5912
Email:  director@ndeb.ca
Website:  www.ndeb.ca 

WORKING IN CANADA
Government of Canada website providing labour market information, such as wages and outlooks.
Website:  www.workingincanada.gc.ca/ 

WORLD EDUCATION SERVICES (WES):  Credential Evaluation
Upon acceptance to the ITD Program, a Document-by-Document (Basic) Report of your degree/diploma is required.
Website:   www.wes.org/ca

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CONTACT INQUIRIES

Please mail your completed and signed application form, $250.00 application fee, and all documentation to:

Internationally Trained Dentists Program
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Dental Sciences Building, Room 1003
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario N6A 5C1
Canada

Inquiries can be directed to:
ITD.Program@schulich.uwo.ca
Tel:  (519) 661-3330
Fax:  (519) 661-3875

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