Postgraduate training posts

If you are taking the MFDS diploma you will be required to complete 24 months of whole time equivalent postgraduate experience in dentistry (for more details about the MFDS, please contact the examinations department of the Royal Surgical Colleges of the UK).

A database of approved posts is available on The Royal College of Surgeons of England website (please note the posts are displayed only as a guide and not a list of vacancies). The database includes posts for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Posts in Scotland are approved by one of the two Scottish Royal Surgical Colleges.

If you are applying for a Senior House Officer post in addition you will require a letter of support from the relevant Postgraduate Deanery.  If the Postgraduate Deanery is unable to confirm to the GDC that the SHO post is suitable for training, Temporary Registration will not be issued. 

Temporary Registration will allow you to work in any 'House Officer' or 'Senior House Officer' posts in NHS Hospitals, which are approved by one of the Royal Surgical Colleges. Please note there are now very few approved House Officer posts available in the UK.

Tier 5 Training Posts
Due to changes in Immigration Regulations, Dental Attachment posts are no longer available.  Instead, these have been replaced by Tier 5 Training posts.  These posts are administered by the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education.  Please see the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education website for further information.

Locum Appointments

You may work in locum 'house officer' or 'senior house officer' appointments which are approved by one of the Royal Surgical Colleges, provided that the duration of the post is 3 months or more.

Specialist Training Posts

If you wish to undertake specialist training, temporary registration will allow you to work in a Specialist Registrar post. Applications for temporary registration for Specialist Registrar posts are considered by the Council on an individual basis.

The Council can only grant temporary registration if you are able to submit evidence that the Regional Postgraduate Dental Dean has awarded you a state training number. Evidence must also be provided that the post is recognised for specialist training (this would include a Locum Appointment for Training (LAT post) but not a Locum Appointment for Service (LAS post).

Research Posts

You may work in a research position for a dental school or hospital. Applications for temporary registration for research posts are considered on an individual basis.

In order for the Council to consider an application for temporary registration, you must submit a letter from your supervising consultant which details the nature of the clinical duties you would be required to undertake, the closeness of supervision you will receive and the extent to which you will be responsible for independent decision making.

Lecturing Posts

You may work in lecturing appointments for a university, dental school or hospital. Those registered as a lecturer may not take on clinical duties.

Teaching Posts

You may work in a teaching appointment for a university, dental school or hospital. Applications are considered by the Council on an individual basis.

In order to assess teaching posts, you are required to submit a detailed job description which must include any clinical duties you are required to undertake and the level of supervision you will be receiving.

Army and Royal Navy Personnel

Under an approved exchange programme, you may provide primary care dental treatment for Service personnel.

Supervision

In all cases you will be required to work under the supervision of a named consultant.

Finding Employment

Advice on employment matters in the UK can be obtained from the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education. You will find a small number of vacancies for the type of posts listed on this page advertised in the British Dental Journal, or from the British Dental Association.

Important note

The Council cannot arrange employment and does not keep information of available posts. Please note that availability of posts described is very limited. There is also a high volume of applications for any vacancies so you should be aware that eligibility for temporary registration does not guarantee you employment.

If you require any assistance with gaining employment, please contact the British Dental Association.