Road to Registration
The path from an overseas dental degree to treating patients in the UK has a clear order. Here are the seven steps, with links to a deeper guide for each one.
Get your qualification recognised
Start by checking whether the GDC recognises your primary dental qualification. If it does not lead straight to registration, you will need to pass one of the two overseas exams to prove your knowledge and clinical skill.
Read the GDC registration guide →Choose ORE or LDS
There are two exam routes to the same GDC register. The ORE is run through the GDC and the LDS is run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. They differ in cost, structure and the number of places, so weigh them up before you commit.
Compare ORE and LDS →Meet the English requirement
You must show the GDC that your English is strong enough to treat patients. Most candidates use IELTS Academic or OET, though there are accepted alternatives. It is worth sorting this early, since a valid report lasts two years.
See the English language requirements →Pass the exam
Work through both parts of the ORE, or all three parts of the LDS. Each part allows four attempts. This is the stage where focused preparation makes the biggest difference, and it is where Keystone Dental Academy is built to help.
Understand the exam structure →Apply to the GDC
With your exam passed, send the GDC a complete application. That means your qualification or exam evidence, passport, a character reference, your English evidence and a certificate of good standing from every regulator you have registered with. The GDC aims to assess a full application within three months.
See the full document list →Arrange indemnity
Under the Dentists Act 1984 you must have indemnity or insurance in place before you treat any patient. Registration alone does not cover you, so set up cover with a dental defence organisation or insurer as soon as you are registered.
Read about indemnity →Join the NHS Performers List
If you want to do NHS work in England, GDC registration is not enough on its own. You also have to join the NHS Performers List through PCSE Online. Overseas dentists who are not exempt from Foundation Training usually join through the PLVE route. Skip this step if you plan to work purely in private practice.
See what the whole journey costs →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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