Diploma Courses in Orthodontics

University of British Columbia

• The University of British Columbia in Canada offers a diploma in orthodontics as well as a Ph.D. in craniofacial science. Both of these qualifications must be completed for the student to graduate, and he will receive his awards at the same time. Graduates of this diploma will become eligible to take the examinations for specialty certification in orthodontics by either the Royal College of Dentists in Canada or the American Board of Orthodontics. To apply, students are required to possess a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine. Clinical, research or teaching experience is also a bonus. This course will take around six years to complete.

University of British Columbia: MSc and Diploma in Orthodontics

• This course from the University of British Columbia replaces the Ph.D. qualification in craniofacial science with a master's level qualification. This course takes three years to complete and requires students to submit their thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The qualifications are studied for and awarded jointly. After completion, students are eligible to take the exams offered by the College of Dentists or the American Board of Orthodontics. Students require a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine qualification to take this course.

Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics

• Primarily based out of London, England, this diploma qualification has been developed by the British Orthodontic Society and the Faculty of General Dental Practice. The course lasts for three years and consists of several contact learning sessions, weekly workplace-based training and electronic distance learning tasks. After the three years of study, students receive a recognized diploma qualification, sufficient to help practitioners progress to specialization in orthodontics.

American Board of Orthodontics Written and Clinical Examinations

• The written and clinical examinations offered by the American Board of Orthodontics are not diploma courses, but are recognized qualifications in the field of orthodontics. The written exam can be taken by anybody who has completed 18 months of a recognized orthodontics qualification, but can only be taken until 24 months after graduation. After passing the written exam, the student can take the clinical examination, which requires him to present several case reports, and to suggest treatments based on case records from the American Board of Orthodontics' website.