So you want to register with the General Dental Council?

By law, all dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists have to register with us to work in the UK. You must hold a qualification approved by us in order to be eligible to apply for registration.

So - whether you're a student dentist, a dentist from overseas, or a dental care professional - what does it mean to be a registered dental professional? Most importantly, you work to standards set by the General Dental Council. These are how we fulfil our purpose, which is to protect the public by regulating dentists and dental care pofessionals. Please read these standards carefully.

If you think you can work to these standards, you can apply for registration here.

You can also apply for temporary registration, which allows dentists who are not eligible for full registration to practise dentistry in the UK under certain circumstances.

The Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) tests the clinical skills and knowledge of dentists from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) whose qualifications are not recognised for full registration with the GDC.

If you have been registered with the GDC before, you might want to apply to get back on the GDC register.

You can also apply to join the GDC’s Specialist Lists and keep up to date with the GDC’s latest releases and guidance that are relevant to you as a potential GDC registrant.