FAQs

What does the OSCE look like?

There are two types of OSCE stations: interactive and quiet stations.

The interactive stations will each have a scenario that denturists encounter in daily practice.  In each room, an assessor and a patient will be present. The candidate will be required to discover and describe the best possible outcome through treatments or procedure(s) presented by the scenario and the patient. You will not be required to be physically invasive with the patient, but models and tools may be present in the scenario to help you find a solution to the situation.  In interactive stations, the assessor will have two standardized rating forms in front of them. One form will be a checklist of items that a candidate (or an entry-level practitioner) would be expected to say or do in response to the scenario provided. The second form is a Global Rating Scale which assesses the candidate’s professional conduct and communication skills.

The second type of OSCE station is referred to as a quiet or non-interactive station.  In these stations, there is a task (or tasks) to complete but there will be no patient or assessor in the room. Instead you will be working with materials provided to you. You will address questions related to the materials and provide responses on the forms found in the room. Your responses will be subsequently scored using a pre-determined scoring guide.

How do I prepare for the OSCE?

The OSCE process reflects what happens in everyday practice and patient interaction. Candidates for the examination are encouraged to review and strictly adhere to proven and recognized protocols for denture fabrication. The curriculum and techniques taught at accredited institutions are based on best practice, defensible, credible research and theory. Candidate assessment in all OSCE stations will be based on best practice procedures. A specific and/or focused preparation for the OSCE is difficult because the nature of OSCEs is to assess the culmination of knowledge and skill that has been developed over years of their entire education. In short, OSCEs respect a candidate’s education and evaluates their ability to express their professional judgment.  Candidates are encouraged to consult the national competency profile and exam blueprint for specific direction in exam preparation.

When will the exam results be available?

There are number of analytic processes involved between a candidate sitting the exam and the release of the results. The typical time frame for release of the results is 6-8 weeks after the administration of the examinations.

What happens if I pass the MCQ and not the OSCE or vice versa?

The registration examination in Alberta has two components: the multiple choice question (MCQ) and the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).  If a candidate is not successful on a component, they are not required to retake the component(s) on which they were successful. A candidate may attempt each component a maximum of three times.

If the candidate has a provisional practice permit, they must remain on the permit until they successfully pass both components or for one year (whichever comes first).  For further details and clarification, please contact the College.

When can I register for the exam?

The registration information will be available on this website as soon as it becomes available. The exact dates differ for each exam year to year. This information is available on the Exam Information tab of this website.

I’m from another province. Can I register to take the Alberta exam?

If you have graduated from a denturism program approved by the College, you can directly register for the examination. If the program that you graduated from is currently not approved by the College, you would be required to apply for a substantial equivalence assessment.

I completed my education outside of Canada, can I challenge the Alberta exam?

As the program that you completed is not approved by the College, you would have to undergo a substantial equivalence assessment. Part of the assessment decision is if you are eligible to sit the examination.

What is substantial equivalence?

An individual who did not graduate from a program approved by the College can apply to have their education and experience assessed to see if it is substantially equivalent to that expected for Alberta denturists. This applies if you graduated from a program outside of Canada or from an unapproved school within Canada. A program is approved if it has current accreditation with the EQual program of Accreditation Canada. Please note that program registration with EQual is not equivalent to program accreditation.

How many attempts do I have to pass the exam?

The College’s registration examination is composed of a multiple-choice exam and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). A candidate is allowed three attempts per component.

How many times per year is the exam offered?

The MCQ is offered twice per year, typically in February and June. The OSCE is offered once per year in June.

I had exam accommodation given to me when I was in school. Can I apply for accommodation for this exam?

Yes. Please contact the College for further details on this process.