Initial Assessment Questions

There is a transition period for all candidates whose initial assessment has expired, or will expire in 2020.

As part of the transition period, you are still able to apply for the relevant examinations in 2020, however, both your application for, and your attendance at, these examinations (subject to approval to sit), must occur in 2020.

You must act promptly if you wish to continue your involvement in the ADC dental practitioner assessment process beyond 2020, by renewing your initial assessment by 31 December 2020.

If you submitted original documents with your initial application, you may request to have these documents returned. The ADC will check to see if your documents are still held on file.

Candidates who completed an initial assessment prior to 1 January 2014 may apply for the return of their original documentation during 2020.

Candidates who completed an initial assessment from 1 January 2014 onwards my apply for the return of their original documents prior to the end of their seven-year initial assessment validity period.

Administrative and postage fees apply for the return of original documents.

The ADC does not return certified copies of documents. The ADC cannot return documents from expired applications.

No. As the we need to view certified copies of your documentation as part of the initial assessment process, applications are required to be either posted or hand delivered to the ADC.

The renewal of an initial assessment costs $250.00AUD.

No. You must hold a valid initial assessment at the time of the examination application period AND examination date in order be eligible to apply for that examination. If you have a renewal application in progress, your renewal must be assessed as complete before  the application period for that examination.

Once an Application for renewal of initial assessment is assessed as complete, it will be valid for seven years from the date of completion.

If you submit a renewal application before your initial assessment expiration date, you will keep the same ADC reference number.

If an Application for renewal of initial assessment is not received by the ADC before the initial assessment expiration date, your initial assessment will expire.

If your initial assessment expires, all records relating to you will be destroyed. If you wish to continue the ADC process, you will be required to submit a new initial assessment application form, along with all supporting documentation and the relevant fee. You will be issued with a new ADC reference number upon receipt of a new initial assessment application.

To renew an initial assessment, you must submit an Application for renewal of initial assessment. This application must be received by the ADC before your initial assessment expires. You can download a copy of the form here.

If you do not successfully complete the ADC process within seven years from the date of completion of your initial assessment, you will be required to renew your initial assessment in order to continue the process.

Yes, the validity period will be retrospectively applied to all current candidates.

Candidates who completed their initial assessment on or after 1 January 2014 have initial assessments expiring from 2021 onwards.

Candidates approaching their seven year initial assessment expiration will be notified via the email address held on file by the ADC prior to their expiration date. If you wish to continue the ADC dental practitioner assessment process, you must apply for renewal of your initial assessment before your initial assessment expires, or complete the assessment process.

Please allow approximately 8 weeks from the day the application is received for your application to be assessed.

If additional information or documentation is required, the initial assessment period may be extended.

Yes. The ADC appreciates that the revised initial assessment validity rules will affect some candidates sooner than others. As a result, 2020 has been identified as a transition period for the implantation of the new policy.

The transition period is designed to give all candidates the opportunity to become familiar with the changes and provide sufficient time to renew their initial assessment, if they choose to.

Yes, the validity period applies to you. Candidates who completed their initial assessment prior to 1 January 2014, have an expired initial assessment, or an initial assessment expiring in 2020.

There is a transition period for these candidates. These candidates are still able to apply for relevant examinations in 2020, however, both the application for, and the attendance at, those examinations (subject to approval to sit), must occur in 2020.

These candidates must act promptly if they wish to continue their involvement in the ADC dental practitioner assessment process beyond 2020, by renewing their initial assessment by 31 December 2020.

The role of the ADC is to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring dental practitioners meet the high standards required of the dental professions in Australia.

The introduction of a validity period for the initial assessment ensures candidates completing the process have continued to hold good standing throughout their time as an ADC candidate. Furthermore, it ensures the candidate information we have on file is relevant and up-to-date.

The ADC is committed to following best practice privacy and security practices. The introduction of the validity period to the initial assessment ensures candidates are aware of the timeframes the ADC follows when storing your information.

Information pertaining to a candidate who does not renew their initial assessment will be securely destroyed.

From 1 January 2020, all initial assessment applications will have a seven year validity period. For current candidates, this validity period will be applied retrospectively to your existing completed initial assessment.

For new candidates, once your initial assessment is assessed as complete, it will be valid for seven years from the date of completion.

Yes.

The ADC will email you following the assessment of your application to advise you of the outcome.

Applicants with incomplete applications will be asked to provide further information during this time.

The ADC will provide successful applicants with the paperwork required for the next stage of the assessment process. This includes your eligibility letter for the written examination.

An initial assessment can be completed at any time of year. However, if you would like to sit the next written examination, it is recommended you submit your initial assessment 12 weeks prior to the written examination application closing date.

This allows sufficient time for the ADC to process your application.

No.

Your regional registering authority must arrange to send an original certificate or letter of good standing directly to the ADC.

This cannot be sent by you as an applicant.

Your certificate, or letter, of good standing should be sent to the ADC during your initial assessment application period.

When the ADC receives this document, it will be held securely and matched with your application.

If you completed your secondary education in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, the USA, the Republic of Ireland, or South Africa, you will need to provide evidence of your secondary education in your application.

If you did not complete your secondary education in one of these countries, you are not required to provide this information.

Yes.

If you have not practised in the past five years, or since graduation, you will be required to provide a signed written statement with your application, explaining the reasons why you have not worked during this period.