Overseas registration exam Q & As

Dentists who gained their primary dental qualification from a university that is not in either the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland will usually be required to pass the ORE before being able to register with the GDC. Dentists who fall into this category but have an EEA passport are eligible to have their degree assessed on an individual basis. This is known as Individual Assessment: however, you should be aware that this is not a guaranteed route to registration and unsuccessful applicants are required to sit the ORE. Further information is available to help you find your route to registration.

3. Is the standard of the ORE different from the IQE?

The IQE and the ORE are both based on The First Five Years: A Framework for Undergraduate Dental Education. The dental schools use this GDC document to form the undergraduate dental curricula in the UK. The standard of the ORE is the same as that of the IQE; however, the methods of assessment used are different.

4. What are the fees for the ORE?

Part 1 - £600
Part 2 - £2250

Re-sitting the Medical Emergencies exam on its own if required and eligible - £300.

Under no circumstances can we offer candidates a discount on these fees.

5. Will there be a time limit in which I have to complete the exam?

The ORE candidates will have to pass Part 2 within 5 years of first sitting Part 1.

6. How many centres run the exam?

Part 1 is run by King’s College, London
Part 2 is run by a consortium group and the four components of the exam are held at separate venues in London. All four venues are situated near to each other.

7. How many times can I sit each Part? What are the options if I fail four times?

Candidates are allowed up to four attempts at each Part of the ORE

If you fail either Part 1 or Part 2 of the exam four times you will not be given the opportunity to sit the exam again.

8. What does Part 1 of the ORE cover?

There are two computer-based exam papers for Part 1 of the ORE:

Paper A covers clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease
Paper B covers aspects of clinical dentistry, including law and ethics and health and safety

Each paper lasts 3 hours and is made up of Multiple Short Answer questions (Extended Matching Questions and Single Best Answer Questions). Examples of this type of questioning are available to candidates as guidance.

9. What does Part 2 of the ORE cover?

There are four components to Part 2 of the ORE:

An operative test on a dental manikin Candidates are required to perform three procedures over a period of three hours. These procedures primarily involve the preparation and restoration of teeth, but may also include other procedures where appropriate simulation can allow assessment of operative skills. For more information visit our Part 2 page.

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) This is where candidates visit a series of ‘stations’ which test their clinical skills. These may include history-taking and assessment, communication skills (such as an explanation of problems and treatment plans), judgement and decision making, ethics and attitudes, and clinical examination. The series of stations may cover aspects of the following: behavioural sciences, human disease, law, ethics and professionalism, clinical dentistry, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, preventive dentistry, dental public health, comprehensive oral care, oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral microbiology, dental radiology and imaging.

There will be a maximum of 20 stations and the OSCE lasts 2 hours in total. For more information visit our Part 2 page.

A diagnostic and treatment planning exercise This involves an actor who will provide an appropriate history (but will not be examined), together with relevant additional information such as photographs, radiographs, study models or results of other special tests. The exercise may involve any of the above aspects of clinical dentistry. For more information visit our Part 2 page.

A practical examination in medical emergencies This assessment consists of two parts:

a structured scenario-based oral
demonstration of single handed basic life support. This will include cardiopulmonary resuscitation using a resuscitation manikin

For more information visit our Part 2 page.

10. Is there a syllabus for the ORE?

The syllabus is the learning outcomes from The First Five Years. Topic areas covered in each component of the exam are outlined in the Part 1 and Part 2 pages.

11. What preparation material will I be provided with?

Candidates will find the following preparation material on this website:

reading list for the ORE
blueprints for the ORE
the First Five Years: A Framework for Undergraduate Dental Education, General Dental Council 2002

12. Are there any training or refresher courses for the ORE?

Since the GDC sets the exam, it cannot provide preparation courses. Please refer to the reading list as a part of your preparation studies. It is likely that a wide variety of short courses are available; however the GDC is unable to recommend or give accreditation to these.

13. Can I get any exemptions for having done the MFDS or any other Membership diplomas or non-Membership exams?

The ORE will offer no exemptions for candidates who have completed the MFDS or other Membership diplomas or non-Membership exams.

14. When can I apply for the exam?

You can apply for the exam throughout the year, as there are no closing dates. You should be aware that applicants are expected to be academically and financially ready to sit an exam at the time of application. If you are not ready to sit the ORE, you should not submit your application. Applicants are also expected to submit all the required documents along with their application. The GDC will be unable to process your application until all documents have been received.

15. What documents do I have to submit?

Applicants need to provide the following:

An application form completed in all parts. The clinical reference must be written or typed onto the application form by the referee and should not be sent as a separate letter
An original Certificate of Good Standing (see below) that must be no older than 3 months on the day the application is received by the GDC. If there is a one year gap between ORE sittings, you will need to submit a new Certificate of Good Standing *
A single original stamped and signed Academic IELTS Test Report Form, showing a minimum overall score of 7.0, with no individual section lower than 6.5. The form must be no more than two years old. No other language test will be accepted and the results of two or more Test Report Forms cannot be combined
A certified copy of a primary dental degree recognised for the purpose of the exam **
A certified copy of a current, valid passport **
One recent passport-size photographs
NARIC statement

* A Certificate of Good Standing is a certificate or letter issued by the registration authority for dentists. We require this certificate from the country of graduation as well as any other country where a dentist has practiced.

** The documents can be certified by: solicitors or notaries.

16. Will I have to submit any health documents?

As the ORE does not involve a test on a real patient, applicants for the ORE do not have to submit any health documents for the purpose of sitting the exam. Candidates are advised that proof of health will be required for GDC registration after passing the exam.

17. What is the English language requirement for the ORE?

For the purpose of the ORE, candidates are required to submit a single original stamped academic IELTS Test Report Form, showing a minimum overall score of 7.0, and with a score of no less than 6.5 in any of the individual sections. The IELTS Test Report Form must be no more than two years old upon receipt. A score of 6.0 or below in any section will not be accepted and the results of two or more tests cannot be combined.

This applies to all candidates who are not EEA Nationals, or entitled to be treated as such. A candidate entitled to be treated as an EEA national is someone who is a spouse of an EEA national who has moved to live in the UK. Please read the relevant guidance to find out whether you are entitled to be treated as an EEA national in the UK (if you are not an EEA national yourself). UK nationals who do not have enforceable community rights, and spouses of UK nationals are not exempt from the English language requirement and must submit an acceptable academic IELTS test report form with their application.

The IELTS test is not administered by the GDC. It is administered by the British Council. For information on the IELTS test please visit their website.

18. Will an alternative English language qualification be accepted?

Only Academic IELTS Test Report Forms will be accepted as part of the ORE application process. Other language tests or qualifications and the length of time spent in an English-speaking country will not be considered.

19. How long will it take for an application to be processed?

Once we receive your application we will contact you with the status of the application. The time to process an application depends on the receipt of complete and satisfactory references and application documents. Therefore we request that you supply us with your referees’ current e-mail addresses as electronic mail is the preferred method of communication for the GDC and will also speed up the processing time for your application.

20. Will my documents be checked?

Yes, we will check your documents and references and to speed up this process we request that you provide us with the most up to date information for yourself and your referees.

21. What will happen if my application for the ORE is rejected?

If your application is rejected, you will be given the reasons why and advised on what you need to do to have your application accepted.

22. How long does it take to complete the whole exam process?

The ORE is designed to be a streamlined process for candidates and exam suppliers and take less time to complete overall than the IQE. If a candidate passed each exam at the first attempt, they could complete the exam in around six to twelve months. However, there can be large numbers of candidates on the two exam lists (Part 1 and Part 2) and so candidates are not guaranteed a place on an exam. From time to time it may be necessary to limit the number of candidate attempts over a period of 6-12 months in order to allow other candidates on a list the chance to book an exam place.

23. Once my correctly completed application has been checked and approved, how long will I have to wait to book a place on Part 1 of the ORE?

When you are added to the waiting list for ORE Part 1, you will receive two emails to your specified email address from us, containing log in details for the GDC ePay website. You will then be able to log into the website and check for available exams. Once a Part 1 exam is available for booking you will be eligible to book a place, however you are not guaranteed a place as there may be more candidates wishing to book than there are places available.

24. How does the GDC allocate places on the exam?

The GDC does not allocate places on the exam to particular candidates. The only exception to this are candidates approaching their 5 year limit. These candidates are prioritised for exams in the 6 months before their 5 year expiry date. The procedure document for this process can be found on the Booking your exam page. There will be one exam date available to book at a time. The ORE latest information page provides updates regarding the timing of future exam bookings. Every candidate on the waiting list will be informed by email in advance of a new exam date becoming available for booking. All places on exams will be booked on a first come first served basis.

25. What happens if I choose not to book an available exam?

We do not suspend candidates from the waiting list for refusing to book an exam, but you will have to send the GDC Exams Team a new valid Certificate of Good Standing if there is a gap of 12 months or longer between sittings.

26. When do I need to pay fees for an exam?

Payment of the full exam fee is required at the time of the booking. Credit or debit card payments must be made online via the GDC ePay website.

27. Can I appeal against my result?

No. The GDC does not accept applications for appeals against academic judgements.

28. Can I raise a complaint about my exam?

Yes. A complaint may be raised on the grounds of serious defect(s) in procedure that has led to a candidate being disadvantaged, or on the grounds of discrimination. The complaints policy for Part 1 is available to download on our Part 1 page. The link to the policies concerning the Part 2 exam can be found on our Part 2 page.

29. Where can I get information on postgraduate study?

For information and advice on postgraduate study please contact the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education.

30. What sort of visa do I need to sit the exam?

The functions of the GDC are separate from those in charge of administering visas. Therefore, the GDC is unable to advise on visas. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that they are permitted to be in the UK to take the exam that they are booked on to. For information on visas and entry to the UK, please contact the UK Border and Immigration Agency.

If you make payment for an exam and then are unable to obtain a visa, you will not be refunded your fees. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can obtain a visa before you make payment for an exam.

31. Can a candidate work in the UK as a dentist while waiting to complete the ORE?

Yes, you can work, but you must have temporary registration with the GDC. Please be aware that posts available under temporary registration are limited and there is also a very high demand for these posts.

For information and advice on employment in UK dentistry, you may wish to contact the British Dental Association.

32. How can I find a job in the UK?

Since the GDC deals with the regulation of dentists and dental care professionals, we do not advise on employment opportunities. However, helpful information can be provided by the British Dental Association.

33. Do I need to take vocational training (VT)? How do I find a VT place?

Candidates wishing to work within the NHS will be required to enter a ‘performers’ list’. In order to get onto such a list you will need to be evaluated for suitability. This may mean that you are required to undertake up to a year’s VT equivalence training. For further advice, you should contact the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Dental Deanery where you wish to work.

Overseas registration exam Q & As​

Overseas registration exam Q & As