The GDC registration for dentists process has various stages which need to be considered when preparing an application for registration. Firstly, there are a series of initial questions that a dentist will need to work their way through in order to establish which avenue of the registration process fits their circumstances.

Some dentists may be able to apply for full registration without the need for an assessment of their qualifications. This avenue usually applies to individuals who:

  • Have a recognised UK dental qualification
  • Have successfully passed the ORE or LDS
  • Have a recognised overseas qualification (see GDC website for further guidance)
  • Are an exempt person with a dental qualification from the EEA

If a dentist does not fall in to any of those categories then there may be alternative routes for them to follow. The alternative routes are likely to include an assessment of an individual and their qualifications.

For dentists who do not fulfil the above criteria because they have either obtained qualifications from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or they are overseas nationals from outside the EEA then the GDC may consider whether they qualify as an exempt person within the Dentists Act 1984.

To qualify as an exempt person under the Dentists Act 1984 a dentist must be either:

  • A national of an EEA State (other than the United Kingdom) or Switzerland;
  • A national of the United Kingdom with an enforceable EU right;
  • A person who is not a national of an EEA European State or Switzerland but who has an enforceable EU right which entitles them to be treated, for the purposes of access to and pursuit of the profession, no less favourably than a national of an EES State or Switzerland.

The GDC will also assess a dentist’s qualification and will review where it was obtained, their qualification and whether it is recognised by an EEA state. It is likely that the GDC will ask for evidence of a recognised qualification. The GDC may also request to see evidence that a dentist has been working within an EEA state for the past 3 years. The GDC usually ask these questions in order to assign you to the appropriate registration route.

There is also the possibility that the GDC will require a dentist to undertake the Overseas Registration Exam and in those circumstances they may be offered temporary registration.

The registration process can be even more challenging for those individuals who are an exempt person and do not have a qualification from a recognised university.