NDECC Practice Test

The National Dental Examination of Clinical Competence is taken by candidates who have passed the Assessment of Clinical Judgement and been offered registration by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada. This page gives you free practice sets on clinical skills, ethics, infection control and communication, plus the verified format, fee, retake and timing facts. Start the practice test whenever you are ready.

NDECC Exam at a Glance

What changed for NDECC in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Other (update 2026-06-15) changed to The 2026 NDECC Protocol took effect on June 15, 2026, establishing updated examination format, blueprint, and grading criteria. (previously The 2026 NDECC Protocol, which governs the examination format, blueprint, and grading criteria, took effect on June 15, 2026.).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Delivery changed to In person at the NDEB Office in Ottawa (previously In person at the NDEB Office, Ottawa, throughout the year).^[4]
• Oct 28, 2026: Eligibility changed to Pass the Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ) (previously Pass the ACJ first).^[3]
• Oct 28, 2026: Exam fee changed to CA$6,500 total (previously CA$6,500 (CA$3,250 per component)).^[2]
• Oct 28, 2026: Time limit changed to Two days (full day for Clinical Skills, half day for Situational Judgement) (previously Two days (Clinical Skills full day + Situational Judgement half day)).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Score release changed to Normally within eight weeks of the evaluation session (previously Within about 8 weeks of the evaluation session).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Retake policy changed to Unlimited attempts within 60 months of passing ACJ; retake only failed component (previously Unlimited attempts within 60 months of passing the ACJ; retake only the failed component).^[1]
• Jun 15, 2026: The 2026 NDECC Protocol took effect on June 15, 2026, establishing updated examination format, blueprint, and grading criteria.^[1]

What the NDECC is and how it works

According to The National Dental Examining Board of Canada, “During the Clinical Skills component, you will perform seven clinical requirements plus infection control and safety procedures on a simulated patient (manikin) in a clinical setting. The Clinical Skills component is a full day.”^[1]

The NDECC is the clinical examination run by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). You are offered registration for your first attempt once you pass the Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ).

It is delivered in person at the NDEB Office in Ottawa throughout the year, and it runs over two days. The Clinical Skills component takes a full day: you perform 7 clinical requirements plus infection control and safety procedures on a simulated patient (manikin). The Situational Judgement component takes a half day: you complete 10 stations, 5 written answer stations and 5 conversation stations with an actor.

The total fee is CA$6,500. If you need to retake, you retake only the component you did not pass, at CA$3,250 per component. The NDECC may be taken any number of times within 60 months of passing the ACJ, and candidates have five years to pass both components.

Results are normally released after the evaluation session, with an email notice when they appear in your online profile.

The current session runs from 28 September to 26 November 2026, and the next runs from 4 January to 11 March 2027. The official dates page showed registration as closed for both when we checked. Fees, dates and protocol details can change, so confirm everything on the NDEB website.

Worked examples: how to reason through NDECC questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which ethical principle is most directly applicable to medical ethics and law?

1. Maximize facility revenue
2. Beneficence — acting in the patient's best interest
3. Follow the most convenient protocol
4. Prioritize speed over thoroughness

Answer: B. Beneficence — acting in the patient's best interest

Explanation:

The correct answer is beneficence, acting in the patient's best interest. It is a core ethical principle because every clinical decision should start from what benefits the patient.

Maximizing facility revenue is wrong because financial gain is not an ethical principle and can conflict with patient welfare. Following the most convenient protocol is wrong because convenience for staff does not justify a choice that may not suit the patient. Prioritizing speed over thoroughness is wrong because rushing risks missed findings and avoidable harm.

The rule to remember: when a question asks which principle applies, choose the option centred on the patient's welfare, not on cost, convenience or speed. Situational Judgement stations reward the same habit, so ask yourself whose interest each possible action serves.

Example 2

Question: What is the minimum educational requirement for the National Dental Examination of Clinical Competence (NDECC)?

1. High school diploma
2. A dental degree from an accredited institution
3. A degree in any health-related field
4. Certificate in dental assistance

Answer: B. A dental degree from an accredited institution

Explanation:

In our question, the correct answer is a dental degree from an accredited institution. The NDECC assesses clinical competence at a dentist's level, so the educational foundation has to be a dental degree.

A high school diploma is wrong because it comes nowhere near the training needed. A degree in any health-related field is wrong because a general health degree does not provide dental clinical training. A certificate in dental assistance is wrong because it prepares someone to support dentists, not to practise as one.

The rule to remember: eligibility questions test the stated prerequisite, not a loosely related qualification. For the official route, note that the NDEB offers NDECC registration after you pass the Assessment of Clinical Judgement, so read its current eligibility page before you rely on any practice question.

Example 3

Question: What tools are commonly used during the clinical skill assessment?

1. Advanced robotics
2. Dental instruments and mannequins
3. Virtual reality setups
4. Only written templates

Answer: B. Dental instruments and mannequins

Explanation:

The correct answer is dental instruments and mannequins. The Clinical Skills component is performed on a simulated patient (manikin), so hands-on work with real dental instruments is what you should expect.

Advanced robotics is wrong because nothing in the exam description suggests robots carry out the assessment. Virtual reality setups is wrong for the same reason: the work is done on a physical manikin in a clinical setting. Only written templates is wrong because it ignores the practical side; written work belongs to the Situational Judgement component, not to the manikin work.

The rule to remember: match the tool to the component. Hands-on skills use instruments and a manikin, while judgement is tested through written and conversation stations.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official NDEB material. Read the current NDECC protocol and the fees and dates pages so you know what each component asks of you. Write down anything that is unclear and check it with the NDEB directly.

Next, take the Examination Format and Eligibility Criteria sets to confirm you understand how the process works. Then work through the clinical side: Clinical Skill Assessment, Diagnostic Procedures, Treatment Planning and Infection Control and Sterilization. After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed and write the general rule in your own words.

For the Situational Judgement component, use Medical Ethics and Law, Patient Communication and Patient Safety Protocols. Practise explaining your reasoning aloud, since half the stations are conversations with an actor.

Finally, repeat the sets you found hardest, then finish with the full practice test. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to find weak spots, not to predict your result.

Sources & last verified

1. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada — number of questions, time limit, retake policy, other (official source). “During the Clinical Skills component, you will perform seven clinical requirements plus infection control and safety procedures on a simulated patient (manikin) in a clinical…” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada — exam fee, retake fee (official source). “All fees are in Canadian currency. Examination Fees: Effective July 1, 2025 Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK) $1000 Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ) $1350 NDECC…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.
3. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada — validity, eligibility (official source). “Candidates have five years to successfully pass both components of the NDECC. Effective in May 2027, candidates who cannot demonstrate minimal competence on both components…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.
4. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada — delivery, testing window (official source). “The NDECC is administered at the NDEB Office in Ottawa throughout the year.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.