Examination for Overseas Qualified Dentists

The Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) tests the clinical skills and knowledge of dentists from outside the EEA whose qualifications are not recognised for full registration with the General Dental Council.  Candidates are tested against the standard expected of graduate dentists on first registation with the GDC.  This means that UK graduates and overseas dentists are expected to have the same basic level of knowledge and skills.

The ORE replaces the International Qualifying Examination (IQE) which will be phased out over a period through transitional arrangements for current  IQE candidates.

The examination is based on the UK dental curriculum and uses modern assessment methods to ensure a robust and consistent examination. Dentists who pass this examination become eligible to apply for full registration to practise in the UK.

You should use our  questionnaire to see whether the ORE is your route to registration.  It is important that you use this questionnaire as it shows which overseas dentists are eligible to apply for registration without taking the examination.

The application pack for the new Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) is now available - click here for the application pack section. The ORE entry list was opened on 27 July 2007 and will remain open for the forseeable future.