(Updated November 2018)
Hello Dental Star!
Are you thinking about taking the NDAEB dental assisting exam but you are not sure what you need to do to register and pass? If your answer is yes, then you are in the right place.
In this article, we have outlined all the information you need to know about the NDAEB exam, how much it costs, how to register, what the exam will include, and how you can prepare to PASS the exam.
Who Can Apply For The NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam?
To be able to apply for the examination, you first need to complete a theoretical and clinical education in all National Core Skills from a program recognized by the NDAEB. Also, the NDAEB requires that students complete their in-office practicum before taking the exam. The experience you would have gained during your in-office placements may be helpful for you to prepare for the exam.
Eligibility:
- If you have successfully completed one of the Canadian dental assisting education programs which are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), you can apply for the exam straight away.
- However, if you have completed a dental assisting education program which is NOT accredited by the CDAC, then the Candidate Eligibility Assessment Committee (CEAC) must first review your credentials before you can apply for the examination.
- If you have been educated outside Canada, you can still apply for the exam as long as you have completed an intra-oral dental assisting program or equivalent (i.e.: dentistry of dental hygiene) that meets the education requirements in the National Core Skills.
How To Register For The NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam?
The NDAEB begins accepting exam applications six weeks before the exam date. You can find the NDAEB exam application form in the NDAEB’s website under the ‘Written Exam’ section.
Click here to be redirected to the NDAEB website
Approximately 2- 3 weeks before the exam date, you will receive an email. This will provide you with the information you need to use the candidate portal and the admission letter. In this letter, you will find out the time, date and location of your exam.
Click here to be redirected to the Candidate’s Portal
Did you know that SmarterDA has a FREE trial for the NDAEB exam?
The entire chapter of Patient Education and Homecare, as well as the first 3 lessons of Charting, Basics Of Dental Assisting, are FREE. It doesn’t cost you anything, we don’t even ask for a credit card. You take control of your success!
How much is the NDAEB Dental Assisting exam?
There are three types of fees:
-
- First-time applicant: CAD 525 (CAD 425 exam fee + CAD 100 non-refundable application fee)
- Rewrite exam: CAD 450 (CAD 425 exam fee + CAD 25 non-refundable application fee)
- International applicant (received dental assisting education outside Canada): regular exam fee + CAD 150 NDAEB credential assessment fee
Fee(s) charged by qualification agencies (for international applicants) and licensing fees charged by regulatory bodies or membership associations are separate from NDAEB exam fees.
When and where can I take the NDAEB Dental Assisting exam? ?
The NDAEB Examinations are scheduled 4 times per year on the last Saturday of March, June, September, and the second Saturday in December. Testing centers are located in cities where recognized dental assisting programs are operating. Please refer to the NDAEB Exam Schedule to see the updated schedule.
The NDAEB exam is conducted in cities where recognized dental assisting programs are operating (no exam sites outside Canada). The full list of exam sites are listed in the NDAEB website.
What If I Need To Withdraw From The NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam?
You may withdraw from the exam by sending a written request to the Board. Depending on your circumstances, the withdrawal fees may be waived, for example in the case of illness or emergency.
Withdrawal fees go from CAD 50 to CAD 275 depending on when you do it. The CAD 50 application fee is non-refundable and applies to all withdrawals regardless of the circumstances. That means that a withdrawal will cost you minimum CAD 50.
None of your fees will be refunded if you do not appear at your assigned examination. In this case, you must reapply for a later exam and pay the required exam fee(s).
How To Pass the NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam?
NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam Content ?
You have a maximum of 4 hours to complete the examination (unless extra time has been granted to you by the NDAEB to accommodate a special request).
The exam is composed of 200 multiple choice items, and it is available in English and French.
The content includes:
- Conduct Appropriate to a Professional Setting 5 - 10%
- Dental Sciences 7 – 12%
- Clinical Support Procedures 5 – 10%
- Patient Records 5 – 10%
- Patient Care Procedures 40 – 50%
- Practice Management Procedures 5 – 10%
- Laboratory Procedures 5 – 10%
- Preventive Procedures 15 – 20%
The day of the exam, you will get an examination booklet with all the questions and an answer sheet to record your answers.
Don’t forget to bring your:
- Admission Letter to the exam together with your government-issued photo identification
- Pencil and eraser as they won’t provide them
SmarterDA helps you prepare for the Canada NDAEB Board Exam.
It is the ONLY online exam prep that you can use with your PHONE and COMPUTER.
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NDAEB Dental Assisting Passing Score!
On average, the passing score will vary between the low and mid-60s% range, depending on the questions appearing on each test paper.
Less difficult forms of the exam tend to have higher passing scores than more difficult exams.
NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam results
You will receive your NDAEB exam results within 6 weeks of the exam date, and you will have to log in to your candidate portal to view them. That means that you will not receive any paper copies by post or email.
Before the NDAEB can send you the Certificate, you need to send them your diploma or final transcript of your dental assisting education program.
The NDAEB will automatically release the exam results to the Canadian Dental Assisting Regulatory Authority (CDARA) in the province in which the candidates wrote the exam.
If you fail, you can rewrite the exam up to 3 times. If you fail after 3 attempts, then you will need to retake your entire dental assisting education.
How Can I Study For The NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam?
Your school may have helped you prepare for the dental assisting examinations. But it is always a good idea to find more resources, to make sure that you PASS the NDAEB Dental Assisting Exam. Here is a list of some extra materials that you may use:
- Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, (12th Edition) Esther M. Wilkins, $100+
- Dental Assisting, A Comprehensive Approach, (4th Edition) Delmar, $35+
- Modern Dental Assisting, (11th Edition), Torres and Ehrlich, $30+
- SmarterDA Canada NDAEB Board Exam Prep (ONLINE), SmarterDA.com, $87
SmarterDA has a payment plan; you pay 3 x $29. This may help with your finances. It is also the ONLY online exam prep that you can use with your PHONE and COMPUTER.
Did you know that SmarterDA has a FREE trial for the NDAEB exam?
The entire chapter of Patient Education and Homecare, as well as the first 3 lessons of Charting, Basics Of Dental Assisting, are FREE. It doesn’t cost you anything, we don’t even ask for a credit card. You take control of your success!
I wish you the best in everything you do! Dental assistants are crucial members of the dental office. So let your skills shine!
Related article: 3 Test Taking Tips for the dental assisting exams.
Author: Claire, RDH, MS
Claire is the founder of StudentRDH and SmarterDA – exams prep solutions for the dental hygiene and dental assisting students. The online solutions deliver content of the highest quality through the latest e-learning technology. According to some students, studying is now “addictive!” Prior to her career in the dental field, Claire Jeong was an education specialist at Boston Children’s Museum. Claire is licensed to practice in the United States as well as Canada. She provides personalized mentorship and can be reached at ClaireJ@SmarterDA.com and support@SmarterDA.com.