Become a dentist in the UK
A clear guide for dentists qualified outside the UK: how to get from your degree to GDC registration and a career in British dentistry.
One route for dentists from every country
The UK needs dentists. About three in ten dentists working in the UK trained abroad, and the General Dental Council (GDC) is increasing the number of places in the exam that lets overseas dentists register. The route is clear, but it has many steps and the order matters.
If you qualified outside the UK, the main route to GDC registration is the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE). The Royal College of Surgeons of England also offers an alternative, the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS). Some dentists with EU or EEA qualifications may register without either. The GDC will tell you after it checks your qualification.
Dentists from all these regions already look to Istanbul for postgraduate education. Our ORE programme is open to dentists from every country.
Seven steps to UK registration
The order matters, and your documents, your English and the exam dates decide how long it takes.
Check your qualification
You need a dental degree from a dental school the GDC accepts. Ask UK ENIC for a Statement of Comparability for your degree. We can guide you through this.
Show your English level
The GDC accepts a recent dental degree taught and examined entirely in English, an IELTS pass at the GDC’s required scores, or other recent proof of English. Check the GDC’s English language rules before you book a test.
Count your clinical hours
You must show at least 1,600 hours of clinical experience treating patients in the dental chair. Your dean or employer confirms the hours on a GDC form.
Apply to the GDC
Apply online and send your documents. Once the GDC accepts you, you join the ORE candidate list and can book your exam dates.
Pass ORE Part 1
A written exam with two computer-based papers. You have up to four attempts, and you must pass Part 1 before you can sit Part 2.
Pass ORE Part 2
The practical exam in London: a manikin operative test, OSCE stations, diagnosis and treatment planning, and medical emergencies. You must pass it within five years of first attempting Part 1.
Register and start work
After both parts, apply for full GDC registration. Then you can work as a dentist in the UK, usually with a sponsoring practice and the right visa.
Prepare in Istanbul, or from anywhere
Our ORE Preparation Programme is a hybrid course. You study online, wherever you live, with live and recorded lessons. You practise the hands-on parts in person in Istanbul, with tutors who travel from the UK, and finish with a mock practical exam in London.
Istanbul is easy to reach from the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe. Many dentists find it a practical and affordable place to train, and you can combine the visit with your work at home.
Good to know. The GDC does not require a preparation course, and no course can guarantee that you will pass. A good course helps you study in the right order and practise the exact skills the examiners test.
This guide is for general information. Rules, fees and dates are set by the GDC and the Home Office and can change, so always check their websites before you act. Knightsbridge Academy is a training provider, not a regulator or an immigration adviser.
More guides for international dentists
The ORE explained
Eligibility, Part 1, Part 2, fees, the LDS route and how to apply.
Read the guide →The alternative routeThe LDS explained
The Royal College of Surgeons of England exam that also leads to GDC registration.
Read the guide →Life and workWorking as a dentist in the UK
Ways of working, settlement, citizenship and family life.
Read the guide →Ready to start your UK journey?
Join our ORE Preparation Programme, or write to us and we will plan your steps with you.