Specialist lists
If you’re a dentist registered with us, you may apply to join one of our 13 specialist lists.
The Specialist lists are lists of registered dentists who meet certain conditions and are entitled to use a specialist title. You don’t have to join a Specialist List to practise any particular specialty, but you can only use the title 'specialist' if you are on the list.
Entry to the lists
To apply for entry to the specialist lists you must be eligible under one of the agreed entry criteria:
UK trained specialists – entry criteria If you hold full GDC registration and have completed a specialist training programme approved by the GDC you may apply for the award of a certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST) and entry onto the relevant specialist list. Further information is available from your local
postgraduate dental deanery.
Certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST)
If you are thinking of training to become a specialist in the UK you must complete a training programme approved by the GDC, leading to the award of a certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST). Please note that you must hold full GDC registration to be awarded a CCST.
Applications for approved training programmes must be submitted to your regional postgraduate dental dean who will monitor you throughout your period of training. At the end of your training you must hold the agreed qualification awarded by one of the
Royal Surgical Colleges. You must fulfil all entry, training and assessment criteria to be eligible for the award of a CCST.
For information about the availability of training programmes in your area and information on how to apply, contact your regional
postgraduate dental dean.
Specialty curricula
The GDC is completing the process of approving new curricula for each of the specialties. The following new curricula have been approved:
Dental and maxillofacial radiology (192KB, PDF) October 2010- Dental public health curriculum (222KB, PDF) February 2010
- Endodontics curriculum (882KB, PDF) June 2010
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology (221KB, PDF) June 2009
- Oral medicine curriculum (175KB, PDF) July 2010
- Oral surgery curriculum (264KB, PDF)June 2010
- Orthodontic curriculum (271KB, PDF) September 2010
- Paediatric dentistry (228KB, PDF) June 2009
- Periodontics curriculum (835KB, PDF) June 2010
- Prosthodontics curriculum (888KB, PDF) June 2010
- Restorative dentistry (656KB, PDF) June 2009
- Special care dentistry curriculum (367KB, PDF) February 2010
The curriculum for oral microbiology will be available at a later stage.
New trainees for programmes leading to the award of a CCST will be taught and assessed according to the 2009/10 curricula.
These curricula will also be valid for those applying under alternative routes.
Restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics
We are in the process of approving new curricula for each of the specialties. If you have completed a GDC-recognised specialist training programme and been awarded a CCST in restorative dentistry under the old curriculum you may also apply for a CCST and entry to the specialist lists in one or more of the former mono-specialties – endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics - provided you submit a separate application for each.
For those dentists completing specialist training under the new curriculum for restorative dentistry and wishing to apply for entry onto one of the related lists (endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics) a different procedure from that described above will apply.
The new curriculum for restorative dentistry is available above.
All other entry criteria
Please refer to the various application packs for the guidance notes detailing all other entry criteria for entry onto the specialist lists. All applicants for the specialist lists need to show that they have met the requirements of the specialty curricula leading to the award of a CCST.
Fees
First listing fees for each of the specialist lists is £345. If you are enclosing original documents with your application and would like these returned by recorded delivery, please add £10 to your fee.
You will find a payment section in your application form which you should complete before you return it, as incomplete forms cannot be processed. Payments can be made by credit card/debit card, postal orders or cheque. We accept MasterCard, Visa, Switch, Solo, Electron and Maestro. Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to 'General Dental Council' - please write your full name on the reverse. You will also need to pay an
annual retention fee for each of your specialties
Entry into the UK voluntary register for public health specialists
Policy on the specialist lists
If you have any questions on applying to join the specialist lists please
contact us.