Q&A: General Dentistry Gap Assessment and Gap Training Program

By Rachel Boutet

The Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry has received $8,306,400 for the development of a GAP Assessment and Training Program for Internationally Trained Dentists from Employment and Social Development Canada. We spoke to the Faculty’s vice-dean education and professor, teaching steam, Jim Yuan Lai, who is also the president of the Association, to find out more about what this program means for international dentists coming to Canada.

What is the General Dentistry Gap Assessment and Gap Training Program?
The project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate a new pathway leading to certification for Internationally Trained Dentists (ITDs) whose knowledge, skills and abilities are comparable to graduates of accredited dental programs to reduce barriers of Foreign Credential Recognition processes and reduce time for ITDs to enter labour market. The project will be piloted in three Canadian provinces, the project will pilot in three provinces, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

What is the current process for internationally trained dentists entering the Canadian labour market? 
Currently, there are two pathways for ITDs to enter the Canadian labour market. Option one is the NDEB equivalency process which consists of three assessments: Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge, Assessment of Clinical Judgement and NDECC. Successful completion of these assessment allows individuals to move on to the NDEB certification process. Option two is completion of an accredited qualifying or degree completion program that are offered by various Faculties of Dentistry in Canada.

What’s the timeline for this project?
The steps for the next 18 months are:
i) Identify the eligibility criteria for ITDs to be admitted to Gap Assessment at Canadian Faculties of Dentistry;
ii) Develop a Gap Assessment to identify the participants’ competency gaps in specific clinical areas to be enrolled in the new pathway or refer to an existing accreditation pathway; and
iii) Develop Gap Training Modules to address competency gaps in identifies clinical areas.

Following this, University of Alberta, Dalhousie University and Laval University will run a pilot study for the next two years. Throughout this process, the performance and effectiveness of the new pathways, especially its two main components (Gap Assessment and Gap Training) will be evaluated and validated.  Assuming things go well, the plan will then be rolled out nationally. The goal is by the fourth year, the research group will have compiled/analyzed the data and to produce a key finding and evaluation report.

Are there any current changes to the Faculty’s IDAPP?
There is no change to IDAPP at the Faculty of Dentistry.