eGDCLeaving the register
Voluntary removal is the process by which a registered dental professional can apply to have their details removed from the GDC register. You may wish to apply for voluntary removal if you have ceased practising or if you are considering retiring.
Applying for voluntary removal?
If you would like to be removed from the register, and are not subject to fitness to practise proceedings, please complete our online form.
If you have a general enquiry, or would like more information, you can contact our team for help.
If you are subject to ongoing fitness to practise (FtP) proceedings, you should make your GDC case contact aware that you want to submit an application for voluntary removal. This may be submitted at any time. The application will then be referred to the registrar or person with delegated authority for consideration.
The voluntary removal process for registrants with ongoing FtP proceedings
In order to request voluntary removal, you will be required to complete and return the "Fitness to Practise – Voluntary Removal Statutory Declaration" to the case owner at the GDC. This declaration, confirms that you have ceased to practise and do not intend to practise in the future. You should also provide any supporting documentation.
Prior to your application being submitted to the registrar for a decision, you will be asked to confirm whether you admit the allegations against you and whether you accept that your fitness to practise is impaired.
We will also contact the informant (if any) to notify them that an application for voluntary removal has been made, and invite them to submit any comments.
The case owner will then collate all the information for the registrar to consider. This information will ordinarily be shared with you in full, prior to the application being considered by the registrar.
The registrar will review the available information and will decide whether to grant voluntary removal. The registrar will prepare a written decision which will include the reasons for the decision and the matters taken into account in reaching it. Along with yourself, the informant and any employers or contracting bodies will be informed in writing of the registrar's decision.
Notifying us if someone on our register has passed away
If you are the relative or representative of someone on our register who has passed away, please get in touch to let us know.
Please send their full name and date of birth, GDC registration number if known, along with an original copy of their death certificate or a copy of the coroner’s certificate to the address below:
General Dental Council
1 Colmore Square
Birmingham
B4 6AJ
Please note we cannot remove a registered dental professional details from the GDC register without an original copy of their death certificate.
More information
When considering whether to allow voluntary removal, the registrar must be satisfied in all the circumstances that it is right to do so. In making that assessment, the registrar will balance the interests of the public and the interests of the registrant. Details of the factors that will be taken into account by the registrar are available in this Guidance on the consideration for voluntary removal applications.