Examination Details:

EXAMINATION FOR DENTISTS APPLYING FOR FULL REGISTRATION IN THE REGISTER OF DENTISTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 27 (2) (D) OF THE DENTISTS ACT 1985

1. Section 27 (2) of the Dentists Act 1985 provides for the admission to full registration in the Register of Dentists of any person who satisfies the Council that he/she has undergone such courses of training and passed such examinations as are specified in rules made by the Council. This provision is in addition to the provisions made in the Act for the admission to full registration of persons holding primary qualifications awarded by the licensing authorities in Ireland and of persons, being nationals of EEA member states, who have graduated within the EEA with a scheduled dental degree/diploma.
   
   
2. Council has decided that persons seeking registration under the provisions of Section 27 (2) (d) of the Act should normally be required to present for and pass a special examination.
   
   
3. This examination will be a Council examination conducted by the universities on its behalf and administered by an Examination Board appointed by the Council on which both dental schools and the Council will be represented.
   
   
4. An applicant for registration under the provisions of Section27 (2) (d) of the Act should, in the first instance, submit to Council a transcript of his/her training and qualifications for assessment. Any person who, as a result of this assessment, has been deemed to have followed an acceptable course of study and has indicated to the Council his/her competency to communicate in the English language will normally be permitted to present for the examination. An acceptable course of study in this context would be equivalent to that laid down in the Dental Directives of at least a five year full-time course of theoretical and practical instruction given in a university or similar educational institution, with training to provide the dentist with the skills necessary for carrying out all activities involving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of anomalies and diseases of the teeth, jaws and associated tissues.
   
   
5. The examination will be held in two parts
   1. Part 1 will include an examination in:
      1. The application of the basic sciences to dentistry incorporating written papers in the following subjects:
         1. General and oral anatomy
         2. Physiology and biochemistry
         3. Pharmacology, Pathology and Microbiology
      2. a practical examination in operative techniques in the clinical subjects e.g. a class 2 cavity and restoration, a class 4 cavity and restoration, or a crown preparation.
   2. Part 2 comprises of three theoretical examinations to test the candidates knowledge of the subjects necessary for the practice of dentistry including:
      • general medicine/general surgery
      • restorative dentistry (conservative dentistry, prosthetics and periodontology)
      • preventive dentistry
      • paediatric dentistry
      • therapeutics
      • anaesthesiology
      • radiology
      • law and ethics

      The above subjects are also subject to mandatory practical examinations in the form of clinical vivas and an OSCE.

      The examinations will be searching and test, to a standard not less than that required of an Irish graduate, the knowledge and skill required for the delivery of primary dental care to patients.

6. Examinations will be held at times appointed by Council following consultation with the universities. Not more than one examination for each part will be held each year.
   
   
7. Candidates will be allowed a maximum of two opportunities in which to pass Part 1 of the examination, including the practical examination, and a maximum of three in respect of Part 2 of the examination. Candidates must have credit for Part 1 of the examination before proceeding to Part 2.
   
   
8. Council and the universities will ensure that all legal requirements for the holding of the examinations are met and that adequate insurance cover is provided.
   
   
9. The examination fee payable by candidates will be fixed by Council with the approval of the Minister for Health and Children. The fee, at present, for entry to the examination is 1,500 euro which must be paid at the time of application. In the event of a candidate having to repeat a part of the examination an additional fee of 750.00 euro will be payable. The fee may be paid online or by cheque, postal order or bank draft. CASH CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE RETURNED  All payments must be made payable to the Dental Council.
   
   
10. Applications for entry to the examination must be submitted between the 1st September and the 28th November. Only candidates who have submitted completed applications and paid the fee by the closing date will be considered for acceptance to sit the examinations. Applicants must submit
    1. Fully completed application form.
    2. Fee of 1,500 euro for first time registrants or 750 euro for repeat candidates.
    3. Two passport sized photographs with the candidates name and signature on the reverse.
    4. Certified copy of diploma / degrees, and a certified translated copy if not in English./li>
    5. Certified copy of academic transcripts, and a certified translated copy if not in English.
    6. Evidence of having being engaged in the lawful practice of dentistry for a period of three consecutive years in the previous five years.
    7. Original Certificate of Good Standing (and a certified translated copy if not in English) from registration board in the jurisdiction the applicant last practiced dentistry.
    8. An original of one of the following, to have been completed within the two years previous to receipt of the completed application, as evidence of proficiency in the English Language

       	i.	IELTS (each component score):	7 or higher
       	ii.	TOFEL (paper based):	600 or higher
       	iii.	TOFEL (Internet based or iBT):	100 or higher
       	iv.	TOFEL (Computer based or CBT):	250 or higher

       
       
    9. Candidates must provide evidence of having being engaged in the lawful practice of dentistry for a period of three consecutive years in the previous five years. With effect from September 2016 candidates who have graduated within the three years preceding their application to sit the examination must have being practicing continuously since graduation.

    Candidates should provide proof if their dentistry degree was obtained through English as, in these circumstances, a language test may not be required.

11. The Dental Council may, at its sole discretion, decide to exempt a candidate from sitting the written Part I examinations. The Council will make a decision on whether an exemption is warranted when considering all completed applications, which will be after the closing date. All candidates are obliged to pass the practical examination in Part 1 before proceeding to sit Part 2.
    
    
12. Candidates who have previously sat the examinations and who are required to repeat either Part 1 or Part 2 must apply in writing to the Council before 30 November if they wish to be considered for acceptance to the examination.
    
    
13. Places for the examination will be offered in early December each year. Candidates must accept their place within 3 working days of the offer being made.
    • A candidate who fails to accept the offer of a place on the examination must reapply again if they wish to sit the examination in a subsequent year.
    • A candidate who accepts a place on the examination and subsequently fails to attend will be deemed to have failed and that it shall count as an attempt.


14. Candidates should note that success in the examination confers entitlement to registration in the Register of Dentists for Ireland. There is no ongoing entitlement to registration in the United Kingdom or any other EEA Member State.
    
    
15. Candidates are strongly advised to establish from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment that they would be entitled to a work permit to practise dentistry in Ireland if admitted to registration in the Register of Dentists.
    
    
16. The Council reserves the right to put a limitation on the number of candidates admitted to the examination in any year.
    
    
17. The Dental Council ceased granting routine examination deferrals in 2015 and unfortunately we are unable to grant a deferral from this year's examination.
    
    
18. Refunds will not be issued once a candidate has confirmed their attendance to sit the examination. This applies to new and repeat candidates.

Revised 03rd August 2015

The Dental Council has agreed a set of learning outcomes that applicants for the Dental Council examination must have achieved and be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Council. The Dental Council examination is designed to test that candidates have the required competence to practice as a dentist in Ireland.

Learning Outcomes [Download]

Examination Application Form:

[Microsoft Word .DOCX] [ Adobe Acrobat . PDF]

Dental Council Exam Rules. Please read this document carefully: [Microsoft Word .DOCX]