Application Process

To practise dentistry in Ontario, you must apply for a certificate of registration (licence), pay the required fees, have your application approved, then be issued a certificate of registration by the RCDSO. 

How do I apply?

Use our online applicant portal to fill out your application, upload documents, pay the required fees and submit it to the College. 

First review the information on our website to understand the application process, our requirements and your responsibilities as an applicant. Once you complete the application, a document checklist will be generated, specific to you. 

Important: Some documents expire after 90 days. You should not submit your application more than three months ahead of when you hope to be registered. 

Have you practiced or been licensed to practice dentistry in another jurisdiction?

If you are currently practising or have been licensed to practise dentistry outside of Ontario, you must request a completed certificate of standing from that jurisdiction.  The completed certificate of standing form must be sent to the College directly from the regulatory authority by e-mail to registration@rcdso.org 

Important: Certificates/letters of standing are only valid for three months after being signed and issued. 

As we are working remotely at this time, we ask that certificates of standing be sent by email to registration@rcdso.org. Any documents sent only by regular mail may result in delays to the processing of your application. 

Have you been licensed to practise any other profession?

If you are currently practising or have been licensed to practise any other regulated profession inside or outside of Ontario, we require a certificate of standing. The certificate of standing must be forwarded to the College directly from the regulatory authority by way of e-mail to registration@rcdso.org 

Wait time for initial application review

We work remotely and any documents or cheques sent by mail may result in a delay to the processing of your application.
 
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Once an applicant submits all documents and payment for the application fee, their application is submitted to staff. Staff will reach out to the applicant within two weeks to provide an update on what requirements, if any, are outstanding.
 
May to June, August to September, and November to January are peak times of year for the College’s registration department. 
 
Completion of the registration process, including obtaining and verifying documentation, typically takes anywhere from 2-8 weeks, but this is a guideline only. Applications that are missing documents or requirements, have current or past professional, health or judicial history, or that have been referred to the Registration Committee may be delayed even further. 
 
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the timely delivery of all documentation and other information requested by the College. If necessary, applicants should follow up with other organizations on the status of documents requested to be sent to the College. 
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Potential application outcomes

1. You meet all the requirements:

   When your application is approved, you will be registered with the College and receive your licence to practise dentistry in Ontario.

2. The Registrar refers your application to be reviewed by the College’s Registration Committee.

   The Registrar  may refer the application to the Registration Committee if the Registrar: 

   • has doubts on reasonable grounds about whether an applicant fulfills the registration requirements;
   • is of the opinion that terms, conditions or limitations should be imposed on the certificate and the applicant does not consent to the imposition;
   • proposes to refuse the application.

When an application is reviewed by the Registration Committee, you will be notified and given the opportunity to provide written submissions to the Committee. Referral to the Committee will result in an additional delay to your application processing time, as the Committee typically meets every 8-10 weeks.  

What decisions can the Committee come to after reviewing my application?

After reviewing the application and related documentation, the Registration Committee may direct the Registrar to:

• issue a certificate of registration (licence to practise); 
• issue a licence to practise, but with specific terms, conditions and/or limitations; 
• issue a licence to practise after you have completed some additional requirements, such as educational upgrading, exam completion
• refuse to issue a licence to practise.

The Committee’s decision is provided to the applicant in writing. If appropriate, information about how to appeal to the government-appointed Health Professions Appeal and Review Board is also provided. 

More details on applicant requirements

Ontario Applicants 
Out-of-Province Applicants 
International Applicants 

Relevant legislation: Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, Schedule 2 (15)