Information for refugee dental professionals

To work as a dental professional in the UK you need to be registered. Dental professionals who are refugees will need to apply for registration before practising dentistry in the UK. Part of our role is facilitating access to the UK registers, and ensuring that overseas qualified dental professionals meet the standards that maintain public safety.

Routes to registration are set out in legislation. That legislation does not provide for separate or faster routes to registration for refugees or those seeking asylum. Dentists who qualify overseas may need to pass the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) (see below) before applying for UK registration. You can use these routes to registration, and we want to support you in your application, wherever possible. 

There are fees associated with:

applying for the ORE
sitting examinations
applying for registration
annual renewal of registration.

We will require certain information and documents when you apply (see below). We understand you may face difficulties in providing original documentation. If you are having issues, please contact us and we will help you to consider how you might meet the requirements. 

Routes to registration for dentists 

Qualifications from the UK and most European Economic Area countries are recognised for the purposes of registration and are unaffected by your status as a refugee. We also recognise some overseas qualifications from certain countries gained before 2001.

Dentists with qualifications from elsewhere will need to pass one of following before applying for registration:

Overseas Registration Examination (ORE): You will need to apply to become an ORE candidate, and pay an application processing fee. You will also need to pay for each ORE sitting. If a charity or organisation is assisting you to pay examination fees, please let us know as soon as the booking window opening date has been announced. We will ask for evidence of your refugee status.
Licence in Dental Surgery: From the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

You may be able to apply for temporary registration, where the offer of an approved supervised post has been made. Find out more about temporary registration.

Use the Route to Registration questionnaire to check your qualifications.

Find out more about how to join the register.

Route to registration for dental care professionals

The dental team is made up of dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs).

See the list of DCP titles used in the UK.

UK qualifications for any DCP roles are recognised for the purposes of registration and are unaffected by your status as a refugee. If you have a relevant overseas DCP qualification, you will need to apply for individual assessment to register. You cannot use a dentists’ qualification to apply for registration as a DCP.

Use the Route to Registration questionnaire for details.

Find out more about how to join the register.

Organisations that may provide support

The organisations below offer support to refugees and asylum seekers who hold professional qualifications. You should get in contact with them if you need further support.

Refugee Council provides free advice and information to refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK.
Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit provides specialist careers advice and guidance as well as employability training for all refugee health professionals.
British Dental Association offers free membership for refugee or dentists seeking asylum until the registration process has been completed.
Council for Assisting Refugee Academics provides information, advice and practical help to refugee academics to assist them in rebuilding their lives and careers.
Bridges Programmes supports the social, educational and economic integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants living in Glasgow.