How To Become A Dentist In The UK
The UK is a great place to work, especially for those from the low economic country or under-developed or developing countries but are talented enough to provide their services in the UK for the NHS.
Due to its strong economic status and exceptional medical facilities, NHS always tries to employ skilled dentists. This is why the UK offers a great opportunity to become a dentist in the UK.
You can read the whole article till the end to get all the necessary information and step by guide to working as a dentist in the UK.
If you want any assistance, you can contact info@ukdentistjobs.co.uk. Please Note there is a different process for UK and non-UK residents. This article focuses on those who are from outside the UK. If you are from the UK, there is a separate article on how to become a dentist in the UK for you.
Steps To Follow To Become A Dentist In The UK
1. Graduate Degree:
Each country has a different program to get a graduate degree or equivalent degree that should be approved by the General Dental Council (GDC). If the GDC OR Exam does not recognize your degree is necessary.
Generally, a five-year BDS degree is required as an eligibility criterion to apply for a dentist job in the UK. Also, Biology and chemistry are a must in your dentistry course curriculum. Contact info@ukdentistjobs.co.uk for further info.
2. OR Exam:
This is the most important, widely known as the Overseas Registration Exam. If your education is not recognised, you must take an Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) test. This will be the one way to practice as a dentist in the UK.
GDC runs an ORE as a licensing exam to validate the foreign dentist’s intention to relocate to the UK. The test is held every two years.
It is important to find the exact date of the year you wish to sit for it on the GDC website. They usually take place in the months of April and September. Visit their website and ensure that you know the exact time and date.
The ORE test consists of two sections:
- Theory
- Practical
ORE examines your clinical and academic skills in the field of dentistry. It is an assessment based on your knowledge and skills in the UK dentistry curriculum.
After completing part one of the ORE, you will be given five years to finish the second portion. Each part can be attempted four times in order to obtain the passing score. The ORE test is conducted in the UK.
Therefore, you must visit the country to sit for the test. If you require an entry visa for the UK, you can apply for a UK visitor visa to enter the country.
The test allows you to stay within Britain for up to six months. UK indefinitely for up to 6 months. So, it’s enough time to pass the test.
3. English Proficiency Test/IELTS:
UK is an English-speaking country. So, the NHS requires a good English Proficiency Test score to ensure your English communication with UK citizens.
4. GDC Registration:
General Dental Council (GDC) is the main authorizing body in the UK that makes all the important decisions regarding the NHS or health facilities in the UK. This is why anyone who wants to work for NHS must be registered with the GDC.
This is the last step to working as a dentist in the UK. You can visit the GDC registration steps for detailed information about the registration process.
Dentistry Career Options
A dentist majorly works as a dentist in clinics or hospitals. However, there are a lot more options. A dentist can work as an independent associate in the dentist’s business. Once you have gained experience, you can become a partner within your practice (taking some of the responsibility for running your practice) or start the practice of your choice. There are many options for working either for the NHS or privately. Some general dentists work both.
Other Options For Careers Are:
Dental services for the armed forces: Offering dental care to soldiers in the armed forces or the UK or elsewhere
Dental public health: finding methods to enhance the health of teeth of the entire population within an area instead of treating individual patients.
Community dental care: That treats patients who are unable to go to a dental office, like those with disabilities.
Hospital dentists: this might comprise performing orthodontia, orthodontics and restorative dentistry. Offering dental treatments to long-stay hospital patients.
General dentists typically are employed for a nine-to-five work week, sometimes on weekends or at night, while working in hospitals may have more irregular hours, like night shifts.
I hope you find this article useful. If you wish to apply for NHS jobs as a dentist and seek assistance from the expert team, you can contact info@ukdentistjobs.co.uk. They will guide you step by step, multi-folding the success rate in less time.