DENTISTRY IN AUSTRALIA

Introduction

This document has been prepared by the Australian Dental Council (ADC), for the information and guidance of overseas trained dentists who wish to obtain recognition of their qualifications in Australia and become registered to practise dentistry. It is intended as a guide only, and is not legally binding on any of the bodies or agencies listed. The information given is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, however requirements for recognition may vary from time to time.

If you live overseas and are a dentist with a qualification gained outside Australia or a qualification in dentistry gained from an Australian tertiary institution and you intend to migrate and work in this profession in Australia, you should first contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. Information relating to the general skilled migration program, including requirements for assessment of skills and qualifications, is available in the General Skilled Migration booklet. This can be purchased from the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.

If you are already in Australia but need a skills assessment to support an application to change your immigration status, you should seek the advice of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)

Dentistry in Australia

Australia has a federal system of government, comprising a Federal Government (at the national level) and six State and two Territory governments. From 01 July 2010 (and for Western Australia from 18 October 2010), a new national registration and accreditation scheme for the health professions, including dentistry, commenced operation across Australia, replacing separate legislation covering registration in each State and Territory.

To practise dentistry in Australia you must be registered with the Dental Board of Australia. The steps you need to take to obtain registration in
Australia are explained below.

Dentists work in general practice or specialise in one of the following principal fields: Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Periodontics and Prosthodontics.

Dentists trained in Australia must meet the entry requirements of one of the Australian institutions offering dental courses, and then complete the required full-time academic training (four or five years) leading to a dental degree. If dentists wish to specialise, they must complete extra study after having had clinical experience.

The Universities of Adelaide, Melbourne, Queensland, Sydney and Western Australia and Griffith University all offer dental degree courses. The accredited qualifications awarded by these universities are approved for registration by the Dental Board of Australia. La Trobe University (Bendigo, Victoria), Charles Sturt University (Orange, NSW) and James Cook University (Cairns, Queensland) have commenced new programs with currently enrolled students. Contact details for Dental Schools and the Dental Board of Australia are listed on the links page.

Procedures for Assessment and Recognition of Overseas Qualification
There are three ways in which overseas qualified dentists can enter the profession in Australia: by enrolling at an Australian dental school where they may be granted some credit for previous study, by recognition of their overseas qualifications, or by successfully completing the Australian Dental Council (ADC) examinations.
Overseas Qualifications Acceptable for Registration
Dentists with a Bachelor degree obtained from the United Kingdom or Ireland, or Canada (after 31 March 2010), may have qualifications which may be acceptable for registration in Australia.
Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) individuals registered or licensed to practise an occupation in New Zealand are entitled to practise the equivalent occupation in any Australian State and Territory, and visa versa. The TTMRA applies irrespective of where training was undertaken.
As the acceptability of any dental qualification may change from time to time, you should seek up-to-date information from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority.
Overseas Qualifications Not Acceptable for Registration
If your qualifications do not meet requirements for registration to practise in Australia, there are two options available to you. The first is to complete an Australian dental degree course at an Australian university.
The second option is to undertake the examination procedure conducted by the ADC described below.

ADC Examinations
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) is the organisation responsible for assessing overseas trained dentists to enable them to obtain registration in Australia. The ADC also accredits Australian Dental Schools courses leading to registrable qualifications. The dental boards, the dental schools, the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Australian Dental Association, the Australian Dental & Oral Health Therapists Association and the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia are represented on the ADC.
Eligibility criteria
Overseas trained dentists are eligible to undertake the ADC examination procedure if they have completed and passed a dental degree which included at least four years' full-time academic study at a university recognised by the ADC and are registered as a dentist in their country of training or practice.
Immune Status
Australian dental institutions are committed to, and have a responsibility to ensure that staff and patients are safeguarded.
Prior to giving an ADC candidate access to clinical facilities for examination purposes, dental hospitals may require a routine assessment of disease history and immune status. This is already in place in some States.
Immunisation, immune response to immunisation, and disease history for tuberculosis, rubella, measles, mumps, chickenpox, herpes simplex virus, and hepatitis B virus may need to be documented.
Some States require that health care workers should be immunised for Hepatitis B and have demonstrated levels of immunity. All operators who will treat patients will be expected to not pose a risk of Hep B transmission to patients or staff. In some States a copy of dates of records of completed Hep B immunisations and of serological screen, to confirm immunity, must be provided prior to an examination. All information provided to the dental hospital remains confidential.
Candidates should ensure that they know their status and advise the ADC if they anticipate that they may not be able to meet the hospitals’ requirements.
Examination Procedures
The ADC examination procedures have been developed specifically to assess the qualifications of overseas trained dentists whose qualifications are not accepted as a basis for registration by Australian Dental Boards.
The examination procedure consists of three parts an Occupational English Test (OET); a Preliminary Examination (Multiple Choice Questions and Short Answer questions); and a Final Examination(Clinical). These must be taken sequentially.
Occupational English Test (OET)
All overseas trained dentists (regardless of country of training) are required to pass the Occupational English Test (OET) for healthcare professionals, prior to acceptance into the Australian Dental Council examinations. Exemptions are not granted.
The Occupational English Test is designed to assess a candidate’s understanding and use of English in the professional workplace. It tests both written and spoken English in four categories: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

• All four categories must be passed at an ‘A’ or ‘B’ level to achieve an overall acceptable pass in the test.
• All four categories must be passed in a single sitting.

The result of the test helps determine whether a candidate’s general level of English is sufficiently high to enable them to practise dentistry in Australia. Difficulties with this test should alert the candidate to the possibility of difficulties with the later stages of the ADC examinations.
Note:

1. No other English tests are accepted by the ADC.
2. A pass in the OET is valid for two years only.
3. Candidates are required to hold a valid OET pass at the closing date for applications for each exam stage, ie at Preliminary and at Final Exam.

The OET is administered by the OET Centre. For information and to register online visit www.occupationalenglishtest.org
Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination is a written examination in multiple choice and short written answer format. It is designed to test your knowledge of the practice of dentistry and of clinical and technical procedures as they are practised in Australia. Previous examination papers are not available, but sample multiple choice questions are made available to enrolled candidates.
Unlimited attempts are permitted for this examination. A pass is valid for three years. In order to be eligible to attempt the Preliminary Examination, at the closing date for the exam you must have a satisfactory pass in the OET (valid for two years).
Final Examination - Clinical
In order to be eligible to sit for the Final Examination, at the closing date for the exam you must have passed the Preliminary Examination (pass valid for 3 years) and have a satisfactory pass in the OET (valid for two years).
The examinations are grouped into two series each year, a ‘July series’ and a ‘November series’. Scheduling for the examination sessions within each series may be over a period of months, as negotiated from time to time by the ADC with the participating venues.
Candidates may apply to sit the Final Examination within either the July series or November series. After the closing date candidates will be allocated to a specific examination session and venue in accordance with the following priority system:

• candidates making their first attempt at the examination have priority over repeat attempt candidates
• for first attempt candidates, preference for less time elapsed since passing the Preliminary Examination
• preference for candidates with higher scores in the Preliminary Examination
• preference for candidates with fewer repeat attempts.

An exception to the above priority system applies to candidates in thePublic Sector Dental Workforce Scheme, who are given priority ahead of all other candidates.
Candidates are notified of the examination session to which they have been allocated at least one month before the examination session. There is no provision for candidates to nominate a particular venue or date for their examination session.
The Final Examination is held over a full clinical week. The Examination is designed to test the clinical competence of the candidate in terms of dental knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes for the safe and effective clinical practice of dentistry in the Australian community. The examination is at the level of newly qualified graduates of Australian dental schools.
The Final Examination includes the principal clinical disciplines grouped into three sections:
Clinical Dentistry 1 (CD1)       Operative Dentistry including endodontics
                                               Fixed Prosthodontics
                                               Paediatric Dentistry
Clinical Dentistry 2 (CD2)        Periodontics
                                               Removable Prosthodontics
                                               Treatment planning
Clinical Dentistry 3 (CD3)       Oral Surgery
                                               Oral Diagnosis
                                               Oral Radiology and Radiography
                                               Infection Control
Aspects of other clinical disciplines such as Orthodontics, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Pharmacology and Preventive Dentistry may also be included within the sections.
Examination Venues and Training
If you live overseas, you may take the OET and the ADC Preliminary Examination at an overseas venue. Availability of venues varies and some venues may not be available for a particular session. All visa and travel arrangements are the responsibility of the candidate. Candidates should ensure that they are able to travel to the nominated venue. If you are in Australia, you can sit both these examinations in any of the State capital cities and some larger provincial centres.
The Preliminary Examination is usually held in the first week of March and in the first week of September each year. You are allowed unlimited attempts at this examination, but a new fee must be paid for each attempt.
The Final Examination is held only in Australia. Candidates resident outside Australia may be able to obtain a temporary entry visa, at their own expense, to cover the trip to Australia to attend the examination. You are allowed unlimited attempts at this Examination, but a new fee must be paid for each attempt.
ADC Certificate
An ADC Certificate is issued upon successful completion of the ADC examination procedure. The ADC Certificate entitles you to apply for registration with any of the Australian Dental Boards.
How to Apply
To obtain an application form for assessment of your eligibility to complete the ADC examination process, please download it by clicking on the following link: Application for Assessment

Send all Applications for Assessment's to:

Australian Dental Council (ADC)

Ground Floor, 120 Jolimont Road

East Melbourne Vic 3002, Australia

For further enquiries please email: Info@adc.org.au
Fees
All fees paid must be by bank cheque in Australian dollars made payable to The Australian Dental Council, Australian money order, or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).
For current information on fees for the Eligibility Assessment, Preliminary Examination or Final Examination, please click here

For current information on the Occupational English Test (OET) fee, you should contact:

The OET Centre
GPO Box 372
Melbourne VIC 3001
Australia
Website: http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/

Each fee for the OET, ADC Preliminary and ADC Final Examination allows only one attempt at the examination. Withdrawal from any examination may result in a cancellation fee being charged.
All visa and travel arrangements are the responsibility of the candidate. Candidates should ensure that they are able to travel to the nominated venues. Failure to undertake an examination because of an inability to obtain necessary visas or to arrange travel, etc will be considered a withdrawal and fees will apply.

Appeals
Results for all candidates are reviewed by the panel of examiners after the Final Examination session and confirmed by a meeting of the Examinations Committee prior to release. The decision of the Committee is final. Candidates may submit an appeal to the ADC only if they believe that the procedural requirements (as specified in the current ADCInformation Handbook for Dentistry Candidates and in formal communications with the ADC Secretariat and in the instructions for specific examination sessions) were not followed in a significant way or to a significant extent, or if their performance was impaired by significant deficiencies in the examination procedures beyond their control. The Committee cannot change a fail grade to a pass grade or exempt a candidate from any other requirements of the Final Examination. Contact the ADC Office if you want to be sent a copy of the appeals guidelines. Appeals must be lodged within 28 days of notification of the results of the examination. A fee applies for appeals.

Professional Organisation
The Australian Dental Association Inc (ADA) is the national Australian professional body of dentists, founded in 1928, with a branch in every State and Territory. The Association, which aims to improve public health and to promote the 'art and science of dentistry', is a member of the FDI World Dental Federation and the Asia Pacific Dental Federation
Membership is open to any dentist registered in Australia. For further details see the ADA website http://www.ada.org.au/

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