Peter Trainor - ISQua

ISQua’s 30th International Conference Edinburgh International Conference Centre Level 3 – Pentland Room Edinburgh, Scotland October 14, 2013 Dr. Peter Trainor President, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario

Dr. Peter Trainor President, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario

Who are we? • Regulatory body for all dentists in Ontario, almost 9000 members • Everyone who practices in Ontario must be licensed by the College

ISQua’s 30th International Conference

• • • • •

Regulated Health Professions Act Dentistry Act Personal Health Information Protection Act Regulations By-Laws


Guiding Legislation • Pinnacles of Responsibility: 1. Registration 2. Professional Conduct 3. Continuing Education and Quality Assurance


Guiding Legislation

Ontario Self-Regulation Model • Elected members of Council • Appointed members of Council • University Appointees • Public Appointees


1

Who are we? • Objectives: “In carrying out its objectives the College has a duty to serve and protect the public interest.”


Canadian Framework • 10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada • Each province and territory has its own legislation • Not all provincial legislations are the same • All have features of self-regulation • We will concentrate on Ontario


Registration “The College has a duty to provide registration practices that are transparent, objective, impartial and fair.”

Domestically Trained Program • • • •

Undergraduate degree Admission to dental school Four year program for general dentists Three additional years for specialty

• Domestically Trained Program • Internationally Trained Program



Internationally Trained Program

New and Additional Processes for Internationally Trained

• History of addressing internationally trained, for those who qualify - a reduced program of two years was developed about 12 years ago • Advanced Standing Program or Qualifying Program

Driving Forces: • Recognition that not every candidate needs a two year program • Recognition of differences globally in dental education • Influence of the Office of the Fairness Commissioner • Canadian labour mobility legislation - AIT



2

Institutional Recognition of Qualifications • Recognizes systems of accreditation • Reciprocal agreements • Role of Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada • National Dental Examining Board of Canada – Created by an Act of Parliament – Establishes conditions for “a national standard of dental competence for general practitioners and to provide an examination to test that the standards have been met.” ISQua’s 30th International Conference

Development of Equivalency Process 2009 Dentistry Summit • Attended by all dental regulators in Canada, • Commission on Dental Accreditation, • The Royal College of Dentists of Canada, • The National Dental Examining Board, • The Canadian Dental Association, • The Association of the Canadian Faculties of Dentistry and • Government representation ISQua’s 30th International Conference

Outcome Principles Agreed Upon: • Regulatory Bodies protect the public interest and must regulate dentistry by registering only competent and qualified individuals • A transparent, impartial, objective and fair assessment of an applicant’s competencies and qualifications need to be developed regardless of applicant’s origin


Goals • Establish a process based on nationally agreed upon standards, allowing for portability across the country, and equal to domestically trained dentists • No patient should be subject to a two tier quality of dental care


Goals Cont’d • Candidates are required to establish the following: 1.Knowledge 2.Skills 3.Competencies required of a general dentist


Goals Cont’d • Must successfully complete a NDEB exam which every candidate either domestically or foreign trained must pass • Any new pathway would work side by side with existing programs


3

Challenges

Solutions

What do we do with international graduates coming from non-accredited programs or from non-reciprocal agreement countries?

1. One entry point administered by the NDEB • It creates assessments, psychometrically which are valid, fair, transparent, objective and impartial

2. Results determine pathway



Equivalency Process • Since credential evaluations may not benefit the applicant and may be prejudicial they are not used to determine eligibility • All applicants are eligible to participate in the equivalency program provided: • A candidates documents are not fraudulent • The graduating institution is recognized by the government of origin


Highlights of Equivalency Process Access from anywhere around the world Totally voluntary web-based self-assessment tool Credential verification to eliminate fraud Assessment of fundamental knowledge Assessment of Clinical Skills Assessment of Clinical Judgement Takes less time and is less expensive than the two year program • Candidates who are unsuccessful are still eligible to apply to the advanced standing program • • • • • • •


What if an applicant to the equivalency program is unsuccessful? Applicant’s options: • Attend bridging programs available to prepare to upgrade skills • Apply to the faculties for the two year Advanced Standing (Qualifying Program) • 70 dental faculties throughout Canada and the United States where these programs are available • Wherever there is reciprocity the programs in these schools would be available ISQua’s 30th International Conference

Role of the Fairness Commissioner Oversight Review Advice Enforcement of fairness, objectivity, transparency and impartiality • Report to Minister • • • •


4

Questions?

Dr. Peter Trainor President, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario [email protected] ISQua’s 30th International Conference

5