To work in dentistry, dentists and Dental Care Practitioners (DCPs) must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), the profession’s regulatory body.
Registration depends upon certain criteria and the General Dental Council website explains how to apply for registration, if your qualifications may need to be individually assessed, or if you will need to pass the overseas registration exam before you can register.
It is possible to apply to join the register online. Currently, this is available for the following applicant types:
- a UK qualified DCP or Dentist
- an EU, EEA, or Swiss qualified dentist
- an Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) applicant
- a first time temporary registrant applicant
- a dental care professional or dentist wanting to restore registration
If you are applying under one of the above applicant types you can access the online application process via eGDC and selecting ‘Apply to register’. Online applications are not currently available for DCPs adding an additional title.
Following completion of the online application process you will be issued with a personalised application form to download, print, sign and submit along with your supporting documents.
Dentists
Full registration without assessment of qualifications is available to the following people:
- Those with a recognised UK dental qualification.
- Those who have successfully passed the ORE or LDS.
- Those with a recognised overseas qualification gained before 01/01/01 from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia with the exception of BChD MEDUNSA, BDS awarded between 01/01/97 to 31/12/00 and BChD Western Cape awarded before 31/12/97.
- Exempt persons with a scheduled dental qualification from the EEA.
Complete the route to registration questionnaire to find out more.
Dental care professionals
The professions that make up the dental care professionals group are dental nurse, dental technician, dental therapist, dental hygienist, orthodontic therapist and clinical dental technician.
Full registration without assessment is available to those with a recognised UK qualification.
Complete the route to registration questionnaire to find out more.
Dental nursing assistant
Please note that dental nursing assistant or dental nursing assistant level 3 qualifications are not eligible for registration as a dental nurse with GDC. If you wish to qualify and go on to register as a dental nurse in the UK, please refer to the GDC list of accepted qualifications. If you have any queries, please contact the GDC.
Eligibility for assessment
If you do not have a recognised UK qualification, please check the following points to see if you can have your qualification and/or experience assessed. If the assessment is successful, your name will be entered onto the DCPs Register. Assessment is available for the following people:
- Those with a formal qualification from an EEA Member State.
- Those with a formal qualification from overseas.
Complete the route to registration questionnaire to find out more.
Overseas qualifications
If you do not have a recognised UK qualification you can have your qualification and/or experience assessed if you have a formal qualification from an EEA Member State or from overseas. If the assessment is successful, your name will be entered onto the DCPs Register.
Complete the route to registration questionnaire to find out more.