GDC opens annual renewal period for dentists

We have today (10 November) opened the annual renewal period for dentists.

To maintain their registration, dentists must pay their Annual Retention Fee (ARF) of £698 by 31 December 2025, declare that they have appropriate indemnity or insurance cover in place, and make their continuing professional development (CPD) statement by 28 January 2026.

ARF

The Annual Retention Fee (ARF) for 2026 is £698 for dentists, an increase from £621 in 2025. This follows the public consultation on our new Corporate Strategy 2026-28.

Dentists can complete their annual renewal through their eGDC account. Those who have set up direct debit payments will have their first payment taken on 1 December, while those paying by post must ensure their payment reaches us by 31 December.

We wish to remind dentists that failure to complete renewal on time means they will be removed from the register and will no longer be able to legally practise in the UK. Those who miss the deadline will need to apply for restoration to the register.

CPD compliance

CPD compliance remains a key focus for us. Last year, 409 dentists did not comply with CPD requirements, with 75 dentists failing to complete the mandatory 10 hours over two years. All dental professionals must make an annual CPD statement, even if they have completed zero hours during the year.

Dentists in the final year of their five-year CPD cycle who need more time to complete their hours can apply for a grace period before the 31 December deadline, which if approved provides an additional eight weeks.

We introduced changes to the CPD scheme in March 2025, which include simplified documentation requirements, clearer guidance on grace periods, and making registration numbers no longer mandatory on CPD certificates.

Working patterns data

For the third consecutive year, we're asking dentists to complete a short, voluntary working patterns survey as part of their renewal. The survey asks about where they work, the type of care they deliver, and their weekly working hours. To date, 66% of dentists on the register have completed the survey at least once, and we are encouraging more of you to participate this year.

The data collected helps improve the sector's understanding of the dental workforce and supports future workforce resource planning, contributing to our objective of public safety and confidence in dental professionals.

Key dates for dentists' annual renewal:

• 1 December 2025: Direct debit payments taken
• 31 December 2025: Deadline to pay ARF and declare indemnity
• 28 January 2026: Deadline to make CPD declaration
  

CPD requirements for dentists:

• Complete no fewer than 10 hours of CPD in every two-year period
• Complete a minimum number of CPD hours across each five-year CPD cycle (the number of hours required varies by title).
• Make a compliant annual or end-of-cycle CPD statement.