Pre-application requirements

Before completing the ORE application form, new applicants will have to fulfill our clinical experience and English language requirements.  Details of these are given below.

Evidence of previous clinical experience requirement for the ORE

On 6 June 2007 the Council approved a policy on prior clinical experience for all new applicants for the ORE, after a 12-week consultation period.

Purpose of the prior clinical experience requirement

The key purpose of this is to ensure patient protection as the new examination will not include a test on a patient.

Definition of prior clinical experience

The overseas dentist must have 1600 hours clinical experience where they have personally treated patients in the dental chair. The number of hours of this clinical experience will either be hours spent by the overseas dentist undertaking appropriate investigations and administering dental treatment during their dental degree, during post-qualification experience, or a combination of the two. It could also be undertaken during temporary registration.
It will not include time observing other dentists or assisting other dentists/dental students in undertaking diagnosis/treatment planning or provision of treatment.

Verification of the prior clinical experience

The clinical experience will be verified. The GDC will request signed references from university Dental Deans for the undergraduate experience and from employers for the post-qualification experience. The employers must provide their registration number. The GDC will reserve the right to undertake spot checks to verify references where appropriate. Affidavits will be accepted in only exceptional circumstances where an overseas dentist has proven refugee or asylum-seeker status.

Pre-examination language test

Dentists applying to sit the exam must demonstrate they have a good standard of English.  Candidates are required to submit a single, Academic IELTS Test Report Form before their application will be accepted.

The form must:

• be no more than two years' old on receipt at the GDC
• show a minimum overall band score of 7.0
• show no score lower than 6.5 in any section

In sections where scores are given in whole numbers only, a minimum score of 7 is required. Dentists who are nationals of the EEA or entitled to be treated no less favourably than nationals of the EEA are exempt from the English language requirement. This is in accordance with European Law.

Details about the IELTS may be obtained from:

The British Council (IELTS Enquiries), Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6BB, UK.
Telephone: 0161 957 7755;
Web: http://www.ielts.org
E mail: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org