Getting your dental degree recognised
Before you can register in the UK, you need to prove that your overseas dental qualification is comparable to a UK one. That proof is a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. It is a small cost and an early step, but it is required for both the ORE and the LDS routes, so it is worth sorting out at the start.
The essentials
What it is
UK ENIC Statement of Comparability
It shows the GDC that your overseas dental degree is comparable to a UK qualification. ENIC is the same organisation that used to be called UK NARIC, so many pages and older guidance still say NARIC.
Cost
£69.60
This includes the electronic statement. Confirm the exact product and price with ENIC before you order, as the range of statements can be confusing.
How long it takes
Up to about 15 working days
This is measured from the point ENIC has your full documents and payment. Incomplete applications take longer.
How long it lasts
It does not expire
Once issued, the statement stays valid, so there is no need to renew it before you register.
Why you need it
The GDC does not assess your original degree itself. Instead it asks ENIC, the national agency for recognising international qualifications, to compare your degree against the UK framework and issue a statement. You send that statement to the GDC as part of your application.
This applies whichever exam route you take. Whether you sit the ORE or the LDS, you still need the ENIC statement to register.
A few things to get right
- Confirm the exact product you need with ENIC before you pay, as they offer more than one type of statement
- Have your degree certificates and transcripts ready, with certified translations where they are not in English
- Apply early, since the assessment only starts once ENIC has everything
- Keep the statement safe once it arrives, as it does not expire and you will not need to buy it again
Where it fits
The ENIC statement is one item on a longer list of documents the GDC asks for. To see how it sits alongside your Certificate of Good Standing, certified copies and English evidence, use the Document and English Checklist.
Once your qualification is recognised and your documents are in order, the next big step is GDC registration itself. The GDC Registration guide covers the fees, timelines and rules that follow.
Check the latest with ENIC
Prices, products and processing times can change, so confirm the exact statement and the current fee on the ENIC website before you order.
UK ENIC websiteBe 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
It takes less than a minute.