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DAT Registration
Testing Dates and Registration Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to write the DAT well in advance of applying to dental school (e.g. no later than the November test session of the year preceding application to dental school[s]).
DAT online registrations must be submitted on or before the corresponding deadline dates of September 15 (23:59:59 EST) for the November DAT and January 15 (23:59:59 EST) for the February DAT.
Registration fees can be found here.
Results from the DAT will be available 6 to 8 weeks following the date of the exam, which could compromise admission to dental school within the same year of writing the exam.
DAT online registrations must be completed in full and submitted electronically to the DAT Office on or before the registration deadline for the corresponding test date. Please ensure you accurately complete all portions of the application.
During registration, indicate all of the dental schools you would like to have your DAT scores sent to. Up to 5 official transcripts of your DAT scores are included in the DAT registration fee (and one personal copy); however, they are only included if they are selected at the time of registration. You can select more than 5 schools to receive your transcripts; however, there is a transcript fee for each additional school (6th and following, including any additional personal copies). See the DAT Fees section for more information.
Applicants may have DAT transcripts sent to additional schools at another date; however, an administration fee is charged for transcript requests submitted after registration.
Because dental schools only accept the official transcripts sent directly from the DAT Office, and because an administration fee is charged for transcript requests submitted after registration, you are advised to carefully select all of the dental schools that are to receive your transcript whether you have completed an admissions application to those schools or not.
Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended that applicants order DAT preparation materials. You may order preparation materials during the registration process or at any time throughout the year using the online order process. Separate orders and administrative requests can be submitted to the DAT Office online only. For additional information on how to order, please see the DAT Preparation Materials section.
Once your registration has been processed, the DAT Office will send you a DAT Confirmation Letter and receipt indicating that you have been officially registered for the DAT. The letter confirms the location, time and date of the exam. DAT materials ordered at the time of registration are sent separately and will be shipped as soon as your order is processed.
On the day of the exam, you must present the original copy of the DAT Confirmation Letter and receipt to the DAT Administrator, along with 2 pieces of government-issued identification (see the Test Centre Regulations section for more information).
Following the exam, all completed score sheets and carvings from across Canada are forwarded to the DAT Office for scoring. Once scored, the DAT Office sends you a copy of your test results (the student transcript), and also sends your DAT transcripts to each of the dental school(s) indicated on your registration form or requested thereafter.
Regulations and Procedures for DAT Registration
1. Applications are accepted online only. Applicants should consider the Confirmation of DAT Registration page as verification that the DAT office has received their registration.
2. Registration fees must be paid at time of registration. Payment must be by VISA or MasterCard.
Fees are not refundable or transferable. Applicants are required to submit a new application and fee for each exam. Applicants who do not appear for a scheduled exam will not be refunded their testing fee nor will they be assigned to an alternate testing session.
3. There is no limit on the number of times you can write the DAT. However, only the results of the most recent DAT written, along with the total number of times written, will be reported on the official DAT transcript. Applicants who want the results of a previous DAT sent to one or more faculties of dentistry must make such a request online.
4. It is the responsibility of the applicant to clearly and accurately complete all portions of the online application. Applicants are urged to verify all personal information entered, and to carefully indicate the desired testing period, testing centre and language preference for writing the DAT exam. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
5. Applicants should ensure they accurately input their name and address on the application as well as in any correspondence sent to the DAT Office.
Once an application is received and formally processed by the DAT Office, a DAT Confirmation Letter and receipt is sent to the applicant by regular mail. This letter includes:
To be admitted into the DAT test centre on the day of the exam, the applicant will be required to present the original of this DAT Confirmation and receipt to the DAT Administrator.
Notify the DAT Office in writing (email, fax or regular mail) of any change of name or address. Once assigned a DAT ID number, applicants must include this number in all correspondence sent to the DAT Office.
Applicants are advised to keep a copy of their DAT Confirmation Letter and any other correspondence they may have with the DAT Office and the admission offices of the dental schools to which they have applied.
6. The University of Montreal and Laval University are French-language test centres, while the Universities of Moncton and Ottawa, and Laurentian University, are bilingual test centres. McGill University offers English-language testing only.
Applicants should note that the English-language exam contains a Reading Comprehension Test, while the French-language DAT does not. Applicants should ensure that this variation in the examination is acceptable to their selected faculties of dentistry.
7. Requests for changes in test centre assignment will not be accepted after the registration deadline. When you register you reserve a seat at one test centre. If you register for a second test centre you will be charged a second registration fee.
8. During registration, indicate all of the dental schools you would like to have your DAT scores sent to. Up to 5 official transcripts of your DAT scores are included in the DAT registration fee (and one personal copy). You can select additional schools to receive your transcripts, however, there is a transcript fee for each additional school. See the DAT Fees section for more information.
9. Requests to delete any dental schools selected on the application must be submitted in writing to the DAT Office via fax, or regular mail. Schools can be removed from the applicant's list before transcripts are mailed to dental schools; however, there is no refund for the deleted school(s).
10. Applicants are advised to read the Rules and Notice Form of the Dental Aptitude Test. At the time of testing, applicants will be required to sign an acknowledgement that they have read and understand the Rules and Notice and agree to abide by them.
1. Candidates are responsible for being present at the test centre at the time indicated on the DAT Confirmation Letter and receipt. Candidates arriving after the reporting time will not be allowed to participate in the examination and will have to re-register for the next scheduled DAT. DAT fees are not refundable or transferable.
2. To be admitted into the DAT test centre on the day of the exam, all applicants are required to bring 2 pieces of government-issued identification bearing their signature. One piece of identification must include a photo of the applicant. The applicant will also be required to present the original of this DAT Confirmation and receipt to the DAT Administrator.
3. All test material will be provided for you. No books, slide rulers, paper, calculating devices, rulers or other measuring devices, or miscellaneous materials will be permitted in the examination room.
4. To ensure candidates complete the exam within the allotted amount of time, all answers must be recorded on the answer sheet to be graded and not in the test booklet.
5. During the manual dexterity component of the DAT, students are permitted to use medical examination or surgical gloves if they wish. Students must supply their own gloves.
6. Applicants are required to take the complete examination. A score of zero will be reported for a submitted blank answer sheet. Applicants unable to complete the full exam are required to submit a new registration form and fee to participate in any subsequent testing period.
7. No test material or miscellaneous notes are to be taken from the examination room. Candidates are not permitted to tear pages out of the test booklets for any reason.
8. The test booklet is the property of CDA and must be returned. The booklet is numbered for security purposes. If a test booklet is missing, the scores of the candidate assigned the missing numbered booklet will be voided.
Note: Candidates are responsible for protecting the integrity of their answers. If cheating is detected during the examination, those involved, whether they are the copiers or those copied from, will have their test scores voided. Under these circumstances candidates have the option to be retested at the next scheduled DAT examination. To be retested, candidates are required to submit a new registration form and fee.
Click here for all information in regards to test result verification.