Overseas Dental Care Professionals in the UK
REGISTER WITH THE GDC
The General Dental Council (GDC) is the organisation that regulates dental professionals in the UK. All dentists and dental care professionals must be registered with the GDC and licensed to practise in the UK. If you are an international dentist, dental hygienist, or other dental care professional, Dental Tutors can support you with GDC dental nursing registration guidance and the documentation required to progress your UK career.
If you are an overseas dentist, technician, hygienist or therapist who wants to work in the UK, Dental Tutors can advise you on how to register with the GDC and the steps to take for the ORE/LDS routes or other suitable pathways.
Dental care professionals can enrol in our NEBDN Regulated Diploma for £1850 (if they are already in the process of ORE/LDS registration or have just passed the exams). After successfully finishing the online dental nursing course and passing the required exams, students are able to register with the GDC.
REGULATED DIPLOMA IN DENTAL NURSING
The General Dental Council recognises NEBDN’s Regulated Diploma in Dental Nursing as meeting their standards for education. Students who achieve this qualification can apply for GDC registration as dental nurses. By upholding these standards, we help maintain and enhance patient safety and care.
Our Diploma in Dental Nursing course is recognised by the NEBDN. We support overseas dental care professionals with:
ORE exam application process guidance
Support for dentists’ and dental hygienists’ GDC registration applications
How to register with the GDC (documentation & process)
Free consultation and eligibility checks
THE RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK
Registration with an appropriate regulatory authority does not give you the right to work in the UK.
If you are not a UK/EEA national, you will need to meet the requirements of UK visa and immigration regulations to gain the right to enter and work in the UK.
Registration with a professional regulator such as the GDC does not automatically grant the right to work in the UK. If you are not a UK/EEA national, you must meet UK visa and immigration requirements to obtain the right to enter and work in the UK.
European Economic Area nationals
Dentists from the EEA with a relevant primary qualification may be eligible to register with the General Dental Council and practise in the UK based on that qualification. All applicants from outside the UK should check their status and the documentation required for GDC registration before travel.
In some circumstances, non-EEA nationals who are family members of EEA nationals may be treated as EEA nationals for registration purposes—subject to specific documentation.
Non-European Economic Area nationals
Dentists from outside the EEA whose qualifications are not recognised for full registration with the GDC will need to take the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). For information on recognised qualifications and the GDC registration process for overseas dentists, contact the GDC or see the GDC guidance.
LICENCE IN DENTAL SURGERY – LDS
Similar to the ORE, the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) is another route to GDC registration and is awarded by the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The LDS follows similar curriculum requirements to UK qualifications but differs in structure. Successful candidates may apply for GDC registration depending on their pathway and eligibility.
OVERSEAS REGISTRATION EXAM (ORE)
The ORE is the route used by many overseas dental care professionals to gain full GDC registration when their primary qualification is not recognised in the UK. The ORE tests clinical skills and knowledge to the standard of a newly qualified UK BDS graduate and is split into two parts mapped to the UK curriculum. Places are limited and there can be waiting lists for both parts of the exam.
After passing the ORE, dentists may require up to a year’s additional training (for example, PLVE or VT-equivalence) before applying for NHS practice lists in certain UK nations.
For full information and official guidance refer to the GDC guidance on overseas registration: https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/overseas-registration-exam
TEMPORARY REGISTRATION
Temporary registration allows dentists who are not eligible for full registration to practise in supervised posts for training, teaching, or research for a limited period. Temporary registration will not permit work in general or private practice or in community dental services. It is granted for a minimum of 84 days and up to 365 days at a time and may be renewed up to a maximum period in line with GDC rules.
If you are an overseas-qualified dentist with a qualification recognised by NARIC UK for temporary registration and the ORE, Dental Tutors can help clarify eligibility and next steps.
