Overseas registration exam FAQs

What does ORE stand for?

ORE stands for the Overseas Registration Examination.

Who is required to sit the ORE?

Dentists who hold a non-UK primary dental qualification that is not a recognised overseas diploma or relevant European Diploma - V.3. Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC at 11pm GMT on 31 December 2020 will be required to pass the ORE before being able to register with the GDC.

Swiss Dentists who do not hold such qualifications may be eligible to have their degree assessed on an individual basis. This is known as Individual Assessment: however, you should be aware that this is not a guaranteed route to registration and unsuccessful applicants are required to sit the ORE. Further information is available to help you find your route to registration

What are the fees for the ORE?

Application processing fee is £96

Examination fees until 31 December 2024:

ORE Part 1 £806
ORE Part 2 £2,929
Medical emergencies retakes £300

We cannot offer any discounts on these fees to any candidate.

Examination fees are set to change at the end of 2024, but are subject to further change. Examination fees are currently set to change on 1 January 2025 to:

Part 1 £584
Part 2 £4,235
Medical emergencies retakes £566

Will there be a time limit in which I have to complete the exam?

The ORE candidates will have to pass Part 2 within five years of first sitting Part 1.

How many centres run the exam?

Part 1 is run by King’s College, London

Part 2 is run by a consortium group and the four components of the exam are held at separate venues in London. All four venues are situated near to each other.

How many times can I sit each Part? What are the options if I fail four times?

Candidates are allowed up to four attempts at each Part of the ORE. If you fail either Part 1 or Part 2 of the exam four times you will not be given the opportunity to sit the exam again.

What does Part 1 of the ORE cover?

There are two computer-based exam papers for Part 1 of the ORE:

Paper A covers clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease
Paper B covers aspects of clinical dentistry, including law and ethics and health and safety

What does Part 2 of the ORE cover?

There are four components to Part 2 of the ORE:

An operative test on a dental manikin
Candidates are required to perform three procedures over a period of three hours. These procedures primarily involve the preparation and restoration of teeth, but may also include other procedures where appropriate simulation can allow assessment of operative skills. For more information visit our Part 2 page.

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
This is where candidates visit a series of ‘stations’ which test their clinical skills. These may include history-taking and assessment, communication skills (such as an explanation of problems and treatment plans), judgement and decision making, ethics and attitudes, and clinical examination. The series of stations may cover aspects of the following: behavioural sciences, human disease, law, ethics and professionalism, clinical dentistry, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, preventive dentistry, dental public health, comprehensive oral care, oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral microbiology, dental radiology and imaging. For more information visit our Part 2 page.

A diagnostic and treatment planning exercise
This involves an actor who will provide an appropriate history (but will not be examined), together with relevant additional information such as photographs, radiographs, study models or results of other special tests. The exercise may involve any of the above aspects of clinical dentistry. For more information visit our Part 2 page).

A practical examination in medical emergencies
This assessment consists of two parts:

a structured scenario-based oral.
demonstration of single handed basic life support. This will include cardiopulmonary resuscitation using a resuscitation manikin.

For more information visit our Part 2 page.

Is there a syllabus for the ORE?

The syllabus is the learning outcomes from Preparing for Practice.

What preparation material will I be provided with?

In preparation, you should read the below:

Are there any training or refresher courses for the ORE?

Since the GDC sets the exam, it cannot provide preparation courses. Please refer to the reading list as a part of your preparation studies. It is likely that a wide variety of short courses are available; however the GDC is unable to recommend or give accreditation to these.

Can I get any exemptions for having done the MFDS or any other Membership diplomas or non-Membership exams?

The ORE will offer no exemptions for candidates who have completed the MFDS or other Membership diplomas or non-Membership exams.

When can I apply for the exam?

You can apply for the exam throughout the year, as there are no closing dates. You should be aware that applicants are expected to be academically and financially ready to sit an exam at the time of application. If you are not ready to sit the ORE, you should not submit your application. Applicants are also expected to submit all the required documents along with their application. The GDC will be unable to process your application until all documents have been received.

You will be charged and application process fee when you apply.

What documents do I have to submit?

Applicants need to provide the following:

An application form completed in all parts. The clinical reference must be written or typed onto the application form and signed in person, by the referee, and should not be sent as a separate letter.
An original Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) that must be no older than three months on the day the application is received by the GDC. If there is a one year gap between ORE sittings, you will need to submit a new CCPS.
Evidence of knowledge of the English language. Please visit our English language controls page.
A certified copy of a primary dental degree recognised for the purpose of the exam *
A certified copy of a current, valid passport *
One recent passport-size photograph.
ENIC statement.

*The documents can be certified by solicitors or notaries.

Will I have to submit any health documents?

As the ORE does not involve a test on a real patient, applicants for the ORE do not have to submit any health documents for the purpose of sitting the exam. Candidates are advised that proof of health will be required for GDC registration after passing the exam.

What is the English language requirement for the ORE?

Candidates are required to submit evidence of competence in the English language. The types of evidence we are likely to accept are:

an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate at the appropriate level
a recent primary dental qualification that has been taught and examined in English
a recent pass in a language test for registration with a regulatory authority in a country where the first and native language is English
recent experience of practising in a country where the first and native language is English.

See our English language controls page for full details of the above requirements and other evidence we may accept.

How long will it take for an application to be processed?

Once we receive your application, we will contact you confirming it's receipt. The time to process an application depends on the receipt of complete and satisfactory references and application documents.

Will my documents be checked?

Yes, we will check your documents and references and to speed up this process we request that you provide us with the most up to date information for yourself and your referees.

What will happen if my application for the ORE is rejected?

If your application is rejected, you will be given the reasons why and advised on what you need to do to have your application accepted.

We cannot refund application processing fees.

How long does it take to complete the whole exam process?

The ORE is designed to be a streamlined process for candidates and exam suppliers and take less time to complete overall than the IQE. If a candidate passed each exam at the first attempt, they could complete the exam in around six to twelve months. However, there can be large numbers of candidates on the two exam lists (Part 1 and Part 2) and so candidates are not guaranteed a place on an exam. From time to time it may be necessary to limit the number of candidate attempts over a period of six to twelve months in order to allow other candidates on a list the chance to book an exam place.

Once my correctly completed application has been checked and approved, how long will I have to wait to book a place on Part 1 of the ORE?

When you are added to the waiting list for ORE Part 1, you will receive two emails to your specified email address from us, containing log in details for the eGDC website. You will then be able to log into the website and check for available exams. Once a Part 1 exam is available for booking you will be eligible to book a place, however you are not guaranteed a place as there may be more candidates wishing to book than there are places available.

How does the GDC allocate places on the exam?

The GDC does not allocate places on the exam to particular candidates. The only exception to this are candidates approaching their five year limit. These candidates are prioritised for exams in the nine months before their five year expiry date. The procedure document for this process can be found on the Booking your exam page. There will be one exam date available to book at a time. The ORE latest information page provides updates regarding the timing of future exam bookings. Each candidate on the waiting list will be informed by email in advance when a new exam date becomes available for booking. All places on exams will be booked on a first come, first served basis.

What happens if I choose not to book an available exam?

We do not suspend candidates from the waiting list for refusing to book an exam. However, we do periodically remove candidates for inactivity.

When do I need to pay fees for an exam?

Payment of the full exam fee is required at the time of the booking. Credit or debit card payments must be made online via the eGDC website. Please note that American Express is not an accepted type of payment.

Can I appeal against my result?

No, we do not accept applications for appeals against academic judgements.

Can I raise a complaint about my exam?

Yes. A complaint may be raised on the grounds of serious defect(s) in procedure that has led to a candidate being disadvantaged, or on the grounds of discrimination. Contact us for our complaints policy.

Where can I get information on postgraduate study?

For information and advice on postgraduate study please contact the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education.

What sort of visa do I need to sit the exam?

The functions of the GDC are separate from those in charge of administering visas. Therefore, we are unable to advise on visas. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that they are permitted to be in the UK to take the exam that they are booked on to. For information on visas and entry to the UK, please contact the UK Visas and Immigration.

If you make payment for an exam and then are unable to obtain a visa, please be aware that you will not be refunded your fees. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can obtain a visa before you make payment for an exam.

Can a candidate work in the UK as a dentist while waiting to complete the ORE?

To practise in the UK you must be appropriately registered. An option is temporary registration. Please be aware that posts available under temporary registration are limited and there is also a high demand for these posts.

For information and advice on employment in UK dentistry, you may wish to contact the British Dental Association.

How can I find a job in the UK?

Since the GDC deals with the regulation of dentists and dental care professionals, we do not advise on employment opportunities. However, helpful information can be provided by the British Dental Association.

Do I need to do foundation or vocational training, and how do I find a place?

If you want to work within the NHS or HSC, you will be required to enter a ‘Performers List’. To get onto such a list you will need to be evaluated for suitability. This may mean that you are required to undertake foundation or vocational equivalence training.

For more advice, contact the health board or integrated care board in your area, or the Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors.