Before you begin applying for posts, you must check whether you are eligible for temporary registration. If you have not already done so, please view how to apply - a step by step guide.
Approved Posts |
Posts requiring Assessment |
| Dental Attachment |
Specialist Registrar (LAT) |
| House Officer |
Lecturer |
| Senior House Officer |
Teaching |
| Specialist Registrar |
Research |
| |
Army and Royal Navy Personnel Exchange programmes |
| |
All other training posts |
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.
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.
You may also work in a 'Dental Attachment' post. The aim of dental attachment posts is to provide initial opportunities for overseas trainees to gain experience in dentistry in the UK in preparation for the MFDS examination, with a view to obtaining a subsequent funded post. All applications for dental attachment posts must be arranged through the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education and are approved by the Council on an individual basis.
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.
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.
Temporary registration will not be granted for any posts other than those described. Other than in the 25 Primary Care posts approved by the NACPDE, temporary registration is not granted for work in general or private practice or the community dental service. You must not apply for employment in such posts.
If you require any assistance with gaining employment, please contact the British Dental Association.