Finding Your First Job
Almost every dentist in the UK starts as an associate rather than a practice owner. The main choice is the kind of practice you join, and the work you do to be ready before you apply. This guide walks through both.
What you must have in place first
GDC registration
You must be on the General Dental Council register before you can work as a dentist anywhere in the UK. No practice can employ you without it.
Indemnity or insurance
Holding indemnity or insurance cover is a legal condition of GDC registration. You must have it in place before you treat a single patient.
Performers List for NHS work
To treat NHS patients in England you also need to be on the Dental Performers List, managed by PCSE. Private-only roles do not need this.
Right to work and references
Have your right to work documents, identity documents, and professional references ready. Practices will ask for these early in the process.
The kinds of role you will see
NHS associate
You treat NHS patients to a UDA target agreed with the practice.
Advantages
- + Steady patient flow
- + Predictable income
- + Fast route to broad experience
Considerations
- - UDA targets can be demanding
- - Needs Performers List entry
- - Less time per patient
Private associate
You treat fee-paying patients using rates the practice sets.
Advantages
- + More clinical time per patient
- + Wider treatment options
- + Higher potential earnings
Considerations
- - Relies on the practice patient base
- - Income can vary early on
- - Often wants some UK experience
Mixed associate
You combine an NHS commitment with private work in one practice.
Advantages
- + Balanced, steadier income
- + Range of cases
- + Common and flexible
Considerations
- - Two sets of expectations
- - More complex diary
- - Still needs Performers List for NHS
Where jobs are advertised
Most associate roles appear on dental job boards. The BDJ Jobs board run by the British Dental Journal is the best known, and general sites such as Indeed carry dental listings too. The large corporate groups, for example those running practices across the country, advertise directly on their own careers pages and often recruit dentists who trained overseas.
Specialist dental recruitment agencies can place you quickly, but always read the associate agreement yourself rather than relying on a verbal summary. A recommendation from another dentist still opens more doors than any advert, so tell people you are looking.
What practices look for
Beyond your registration and paperwork, practices want to know you can work safely and independently in the UK system. That means confident everyday dentistry, clear notes, good communication with patients, and an understanding of how NHS courses of treatment are recorded.
If you are newly registered, expect questions about how you handle common procedures and emergencies. A trial or observation day is normal, and it works both ways. Use it to judge the support, the diary, and whether the UDA target or private base is realistic for you.
Read the offer in full before you sign
An offer is more than a UDA rate or a private percentage. Check the notice period, the laboratory fee split, who owns the patient base if you leave, and how any clawback for missed NHS targets is handled. The British Dental Association reviews associate agreements for members, and it is worth doing before you commit rather than after.
Be first in line when your course goes live
Most of our courses are still in build. Tell us which exam you are preparing for and we will email you the moment it opens, along with early-access offers before anyone else.
- No payment now, just your details
- A friendly heads-up the day your course launches
- Early-bird pricing for people who register first
Register your interest
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