Licensing guide · Quebec

How to Become a Dentist in Quebec

Last checked 2 sources checkedNOC 31110

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with Ordre des dentistes du Québec to work as a dentist in Quebec or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
dentiste, certificat de spécialiste
Show the source
“Au Québec, seul un dentiste titulaire d’un certificat de spécialiste peut se présenter comme tel.”

From odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. Pass the national dental specialties examination of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

    Source
    “Réussir l’examen national de spécialités dentaires du Collège royal des chirurgiens du Canada (CRCDC).”
    odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee

  1. Be admitted to and complete an evaluation and training program in dental specialty at a Canadian university.

    Source
    “Être admis et suivre un programme d’évaluation et d’entraînement en spécialité dentaire dans une université canadienne.”
    odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste

  2. Pass the national dental specialties examination of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

    Source
    “Réussir l’examen national de spécialités dentaires du CRCDC.”
    odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste

  3. Submit the completed diploma or training equivalence request form with the required supporting documents to the Order's dental examinations and equivalences committee.

    Source
    “Les diplômes obtenus à l’extérieur du Québec doivent de plus faire l’objet d’une reconnaissance d’équivalence par le comité d’examens et d’agréments dentaires de l’Ordre. Pour ce faire, vous devez remettre le formulaire Demande d’équivalence de diplôme ou de formation de la médecine dentaire dûment rempli et accompagné des documents requis au soutien de sa demande.”
    odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste

  4. Submit the completed application form with the required supporting documents to the admission committee at least 15 working days before its meeting.

    Source
    “Vous devez remettre le formulaire Demande d’obtention d’un permis d’exercice, d’un certificat de spécialiste ou de réinscription dûment rempli et accompagné des documents requis au soutien de votre demande, et ce, au moins 15 jours ouvrables avant la tenue de la réunion du comité d’admission.”
    odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Requirements

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The pages do not state how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory can register in Quebec.

Source
“Règlement sur les conditions et modalités de délivrance des permis de l’Ordre des dentistes du Québec”
odq.qc.ca/dentiste/pratique-professionnelle/lois-et-reglements

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ordre des dentistes du Québec

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 31110, Dentists. Wages for 2021 in Canadian dollars a year; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Quebec and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Quebec $33,109 $106,000 $228,000 Very good (5 of 5)
Canada $32,867 $110,000 $228,000 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Quebec

Wages in every province and territory

Dentists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 8 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare dentist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Certificat de spécialiste - Ordre des dentistes du Québec odq.qc.ca/dentiste/gestion-de-ma-pratique/certificat-de-specialiste · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Lois et règlements - Ordre des dentistes du Québec odq.qc.ca/dentiste/pratique-professionnelle/lois-et-reglements · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a dentist in Quebec?

Yes. Registration with Ordre des dentistes du Québec is required to practise in Quebec, and to use the title dentiste or certificat de spécialiste.

Which exams are required?

Examen national de spécialités dentaires du Collège royal des chirurgiens du Canada (CRCDC).

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