A happy medical workforce means better health for us all.

GDC Registration

Registration with GDC is based on certain criteria. If you are included in one of the following applicant types, you can apply to join the register online.

  • A UK qualified DCP or Dentist
  • An EU, EEA, or Swiss qualified dentist [ Might change after Dec 2020]
  • An Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) applicant
  • Through License in Dental surgery Exams
  • A first-time temporary registrant applicant

Eligibility can be accessed through eGDC

Application type

If you are unclear on which registration type to apply for, you can try the route to registration questionnaire, which will direct you to the correct application process.

If your application type is not available eligible for the online process you will be redirected to the appropriate GDC webpage for further information which may include a printable application form.

Application process

After you complete the online application process you will be issued with a personalised application form to submit along with your supporting documents.

Eligibility for registration

Only the following people are eligible to avail for full registration without the assessment of qualifications.

  • Those with a recognised UK dental qualification.
  • Those who have successfully cleared the ORE or LDS.
  • Those with a recognised overseas qualification which has been achieved before 01/01/2001 from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia with the exception of BChD MEDUNSA, BDS awarded between 01/01/97 to 31/12/2000 and BChD Western Cape awarded before 31/12/97.
  • Exempt persons with a scheduled dental qualification from the EEA.
Dentist who do not meet the criteria for full registration

If you do not meet the criteria above for full registration then you may be eligible for an individual assessment for testing your knowledge, skill and dental training.

  • Overseas Registration Exam (ORE):- The overseas registration exam (ORE) is a two-part exam which tests the clinical skills and knowledge of dentists who are not eligible for full registration or assessment. After passing the ORE, you can apply for full registration.
  • Licence in dental surgery exam:- As compared to ORE, LDS is a much better way to do register with GDC, Simply for the fact that you earn an additional degree.
  • Temporary Registration:- If the applicants are not eligible for full registration and have had the offer of a supervised post for training, teaching or research purposes, for a limited time, they can practise dentistry via Temporary Registration.

ORE

Overseas qualified dentists have to pass the ORE exam to register with the GDC. ORE tests the clinical skills and knowledge of dentists from outside the European Economic Area whose qualifications are not eligible for full registration with the GDC in the UK.

The exam is based on ‘Preparing for Practice’ (PfP) and consists of two parts

  • Part 1- Written Exam
  • Part 2- Clinical Exam

Part 1:

The ORE part 1 exam consists of two computer-based exam papers.

  • Paper A covers clinically applied dental science and human disease.
  • Paper B covers aspects of clinical dentistry. It includes law, ethics, health and safety.

Both the papers consist of MCQs and the duration of each is three hours. The Part 1 exam is held at King's College London and the examination fee is £806. The exam fee is normally non-refundable. Within approx. 20 days of the examination your result will be sent to you via email.

Part 2:

Part 2 of the ORE exam will require you to demonstrate practical clinical skills.

The ORE Part 2 further consists of four components.

  • An operative test on a dental manikin (DM):- This primarily involves the preparation and restoration of teeth, but may also include other procedures that will assess your operative skills. Candidates are asked to perform three procedures over three hours.
  • An objective structured clinical examination (OSCE):- This is where candidates visit a series of stations which test their clinical skills. The series of stations may cover aspects of the following: paediatric dentistry, clinical dentistry, restorative dentistry, orthodontics, comprehensive oral care, preventive dentistry, dental public health, oral pathology and oral microbiology, oral surgery, oral medicine, dental radiology and imaging.
  • A diagnostic and treatment planning exercise (DTP):- This involves an actor who will provide an appropriate history with relevant additional information such as photographs, radiographs, study models or results of other special tests.
  • A practical examination in medical emergencies (ME):- This assessment consists of two parts:
    • A scenario-based oral exam
    • Demonstration of single-handed basic life support. This will include cardiopulmonary resuscitation using a resuscitation manikin.

You will be able to appear for ORE Part 2 four times. The result will be sent to you via Email within Approx. 20 days from the date of the exam. After passing Part 2 you will be eligible to apply for registration with GDC.

For further details click the link below
https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/overseas-registration-exam/applying-for-ore/

LDS

Part 1:

Part 1 of the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) is comprised of two papers: single best answer (SBA) questions and extended matching (EMQ) questions.

Both Part 1 papers must be passed at one sitting for candidates to progress to Part 2.

The Part 1 LDS exam is normally held at least once per year in the UK.

Part 2:

The Part 2 exam of the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) is held over a minimum of three days and consists of three sections:

  • objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) of two hours duration
  • an operative test on a dental manikin of up to three hours duration
  • the ‘unseen case’ exam - (based on an objective structured long examination – OSLE model) which is designed to test candidates’ diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical reasoning. Four cases (approximately 32 minutes each case)
  • For further details click the link below
    https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/education-and-exams/exams/search/license-in-dental-surgery-part-1/
English Language Proficiency

Dentists will also need to exhibit the necessary knowledge of English language to be able to treat the patients in the UK. The process varies according to the circumstances. If GDC is satisfied with the applicant's knowledge reflected from the initial application, further evidence may not be required. If the evidence doesn’t meet the requirements then the applicant will be required to take an English language proficiency test.

Types of evidence

Examples of the types of evidence GDC will accept are:

  • A recent primary dental qualification that has been taught and examined entirely in English.
  • A recent pass in a language test for registration with a regulatory authority in a country where the first language is English.
  • Recent and continuous experience of practising in a country where the first language is English.
  • A pass (level 7) in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam that meets the requirements set out in the GDC’s guidance.
Dental Therapist registration

You can also register with GDC as and dental therapist without ORE/LDS exams.

For further details click the link below
https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/join-the-register/route-to-registration/registration-for-dcps-qualified-overseas

Dental Post Graduate courses

You can also choose for a variety of Post Graduate Dental degrees and courses which can last anywhere from 1 to 2 years and can work in the UK for 2 years post qualification on a post-study work visa.

What salary can I expect?

As a newly qualified dentist, if you want to work in the NHS you will have to complete one year of foundation training. You will earn a salary of £31,355 during this period. Most dentists combine NHS with private work. This way, you can earn £50,000 to £110,000. Wholly private dentists can earn £140,000+. If you work as a dentist employed by the NHS, mainly in community dental services, you will earn a salary of £38,861 to £83,118. In NHS trust hospitals, you can earn £76,761 to £103,490 depending on the number of years of experience.

Career Prospects

After the completion of your Foundation training, you can progress to the role of associate Dentist.

The four main specialisms in the hospital dental service are: oral and maxillofacial surgery

  • orthodontics
  • paediatric dentistry
  • restorative dentistry

The hospital dentistry will demand you to obtain postgraduate qualifications in order to progress to senior posts. You could progress to a senior dental officer role. With relevant postgraduate qualifications, you can also progress to the post of a senior lecturer or professor.

Jobs and Vacancies

As a dentist, you can be employed in several ways.

  • In a dental practice
  • In an NHS hospital trust
  • In a community dental service
  • In the armed forces

How can Britasiadoctors help you?

“The process of getting a doctors job in the UK is a bit complicated and the very first step that you should take to ensure that the process is hassle-free is choosing a partner that can guide you through each step. The team of BritAsiadoctors is beside you from the point you decide to work as a doctor in the UK till you achieve your dream. With our experience and prowess, we will make all the stages including the registration process, exam and interview preparation, visa application and your arrival in the country as easy and as best we can. Our robust support team will guide you through all the steps so that you can complete the process smoothly. Having gone through the process ourselves, we can give you personalised advice and ways to make life easy for you. Our major role will be to organise interviews, connect you with the right employer, help you through the visa process and anything we can do on your way to success. For more information, please visit our service section.