Orthodontics Dental Specialty Assessment and Training Program (DSATP)

Applications open: September 5

Application Deadline: October 31, 2024

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documents are received by the application deadline noted above or the application will not be considered for admission.

Please complete the following application form and submit to pgde@ualberta.ca along with all required application documents. All applications should be sent as a single PDF file. 

Meet the eligibility requirements established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies,
Graduate Orthodontic Program Admission Subcommittee, and the Medical Sciences Graduate Program Committee.

An academic record that satisfies the basic entrance requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission. Enrollment in this graduate program is limited (up to one spot per year), and the number of qualified applicants greatly exceeds the number of yearly positions available. Admission will be based on demonstrated clinical excellence, community involvement, the quality of letters of recommendation, and interview performance.

Citizenship

Being a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Permanent Resident (by the application deadline).

Completion of a DDS Degree and Minimum GPA

The School of Dentistry requires the completion of a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or equivalent degree is required, with a minimum admission GPA of 3.4 on a 4-point scale or equivalent. Admission GPA will be calculated using the last *60 of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.

Dental Specialty Training in Orthodontics

Have at least 24 months or more of full-time dental specialty training (2500+ hours) in a university-based graduate program not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) or the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CoDA) in the United States.

Dental Experience and Licensure

The School of Dentistry requires the completion of at least one year of clinical experience as a licensed dentist or in a clinical graduate/postgraduate program within 12 months of the program start date.

Although a current Albertan dental license is not a requirement to apply, preference may be given to candidates who have successfuly completed the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's (NDEB) Certification Process.

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

English is the primary language of instruction and communication at the University of Alberta. All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission either by:

• Possession of an undergraduate degree or its academic equivalent from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta, in which the language of instruction is English, or;

• A satisfactory score on an approved English language examination as described below.

  • TOEFL internet-based minimum score of 95 and the following minimum score on each of the individual skill areas:

    • Listening - 22

    • Reading - 22

    • Speaking - 26

    • Writing - 24

  • IELTS (Academic) minimum score of 7.5 with at least 7 on each band

  • CAEL minimum score of 70 with at least 70 on each subtest

Test scores must be valid and verifiable. Test scores cannot be more than two years old.

For application purposes, unofficial test results may be submitted. If admitted to the program, official standardized test results must be issued directly from the testing office.

All required documents must be received by the application deadline.

Applicants must complete the following application form and pay a $250 CAD application fee (non-refundable). 

Applicants are also required to submit the following:

• Unofficial transcripts of all academic work in progress or completed at all post-secondary institutions attended.

• Degree Certificates must accompany transcripts that do not clearly indicate that a degree has been conferred/awarded/granted; and the date on which the degree was conferred. Degree certificates must include the date of conferral, the registrar's signature, and a post-secondary institution stamp or seal. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized English translation.

• A letter from your Dental School noting your graduation ranking (it should includee the number of students in your graduating class and your ranking within the class) is expected if available. Stronger consideration may be given to those that provide such ranking. The letter can be either uploaded directly to your online application as a single pdf document or the Dental School can send the letter directly to pgde@ualberta.ca.

• Letter(s) of good standing from current and all previous licensing bodies. For candidates not licensed yet but in a GPR program, a letter from the Program Director stating they are in good standing with no professional conduct issues is required. Letter(s) can be either uploaded directly to your online application as a single pdf document or the licensing bodies can send the letter(s) directly to pgde@ualberta.ca.

• Proof of English Language Proficiency.

• The names and contact information of three professional referees who need to provide their recommendation letter before the application deadline. Reception of
  those letters implies that the UofA orthodontics DSATP may contact those
  referees directly to clarify any points based on the recommendation letter. All reference letters must be signed and submitted to pgde@ualberta.ca. 

• Curriculum vitae (resume) which includes education, qualifications, publications, community involvement, and previous professional and research experience

Official documents (transcripts, degree certificates, etc.) will be required upon receiving the conditional offer of admission letter. The documents must be sent directly from the post-secondary institution to the Postgraduate Dental Office (PGDE) at the School of Dentistry. Please confirm that your documents meet the Application Requirements for Academic Documents. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

All full-time Graduate Orthodontics Program faculty members will review applications for the DSATP (Orthodontics). A previously defined number of applicants will be granted interviews. Applicants who will be interviewed will be advised of the arranged interview time by e-mail.

The interview committee may include full-time Orthodontic Academic staff, an Orthodontic Graduate student, Affiliate Academic staff, and a representative from the Orthodontic Alumni/Mentorship Association. Interviewed candidates will be ranked, and offers of admission will be made based on the number of available spots. It is possible that no admission offer will be granted.

The interview process includes a written orthodontic exam about orthodontic-related
topics and a 60-90 min group interview that may consider hypothetical and real
orthodontic cases. Questions about patient management will also be considered. Conversational English skills will be further assessed during the day. 

Preference may be given to candidates who have successfully completed the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's (NDEB) Certification Process.

Interviews will be held in-person at the University of Alberta on December 16, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to interview. We are unable to arrange online accomodations. 

Fees for the entire year of the 2024-2025 session are approximately $95,000 CAD. 

Payment Schedule:

1. A non refundable A $5,000 deposit is required to accept the offer of admission. This deposit will be applied to the assessment phase fees.
2. Non-refundable assessment phase fees (first three months): $30,000 CAD. Payment due at the start of the assessment program.
3. Non-refundable training phase fees (for 9 months): $65,000 CAD. Payment will be due at the start of the training program.