The ADC works to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring dental practitioners meet the high standards required of dental professionals in Australia.
Information for internationally qualified dental practitioners on assessment pathways and requirements for practice in Australia.
Guidance and resources for education providers delivering ADC-accredited dental practitioner programs in Australia.
Learn more about our submissions, consultations and research activities that support the oral health sector
ADC International (ADCI) is a leading independent authority in accreditation and assessment of health programs worldwide, with a particular focus on oral health.
You can submit an initial assessment application at any time via ADC Connect.
If you are planning to apply for a specific written examination, ensure you allow enough time for your initial assessment application to be processed.
Provisional documents will not be accepted. We strongly recommend you provide completed certificates with your application.
You may request for original documents to be returned to you. We will check to see if these documents are still held on file.
Candidates completing an initial assessment from 1 January 2015 onwards may apply for the return of their original documents before your initial assessment expires. An initial assessment is valid for seven years.
Administrative and postage fees apply for the return of original documents.
We do not return certified copies of documents or those from expired applications.
An initial assessment costs $647 AUD.
An initial assessment renewal costs $265 AUD.
Skills assessments cost $647 AUD.
No.
Your initial assessment must be valid for the application period and the advertised examination dates for you to be eligible to apply. If a renewal application is in progress, this must be assessed as complete before the application period.
An initial assessment, including renewals, is valid for seven years once it is assessed as complete.
Your candidate reference number will be allocated when we start assessing your initial assessment application. This will appear on your ADC Connect portal.
No. You will keep the same ADC candidate reference number.
Your initial assessment will expire if a renewal application is not received by the expiry date.
If you decide that you want to continue the process after your assessment expires, you must submit a new initial assessment application form via ADC Connect and start the process again.
If you have a valid written examination, this will also expire with your initial assessment.
You can check your initial assessment expiry date at any time via your ADC Connect account.
You can also renew your initial assessment via your ADC Connect account. Go to the initial assessment renewal section on your ADC Connect dashboard and follow the instructions to renew your account.
Please allow a minimum of eight weeks from the day the application is received for your application to be assessed.
This timeline may be extended if we require additional information or documentation.
Initial assessments are valid for seven years.
You will receive an email when your outcome letter is available. You can access your outcome letter via the Documents section of your ADC Connect account.
If you are planning to sit the next written examination, we strongly recommend you submit your initial assessment at least 12 weeks before the application period closing date. This allows enough time for us to process your application.
Please note if your application is deemed incomplete and you are required to submit additional documents, your assessment may not be finalised by the application period. If this occurs you will have to wait until the following written examination application period.
Original certificates/letters of good standing must be sent directly to the ADC by your regional registering authority. We cannot accept certificates/letters of good standing provided by applicants.
You should arrange for your certificate/letter of good standing to be sent to the ADC at the same time you complete your application.
We will match your certificate/letter of good standing with your application once we receive it.
Should your certificate/letter of good standing arrive before you complete your application via ADC Connect, we will keep your certificate/letter of good standing for up to three months of the date of issue by the registering authority.
No. You do not need to upload certified copies of your documents with your initial assessment application.
Yes. We ask you provide an official English translation for any documents issued in a language other than English. More information about document translation is provided in the Translation of document guidelines (PDF, 106KB).
The following documents must be provided as part of an initial assessment application:
You can view our Initial Assessment Checklist here.
No. Our team only assesses documents once they are submitted as part of an application. We cannot check documents before they are submitted to us.
Our Initial assessment for dental practitioners page has more information on the documents you need to provide as part of your application.
The initial assessment determines your eligibility to sit the written examination. It involves the assessment of your professional qualifications and can be completed by all dental practitioner divisions.
Once you have successfully completed your initial assessment, you are eligible to apply for the written examination.
Skills assessments are used as part of an Australian visa application. They are only available for dentists and dental specialists. The process involves the assessment of your work experience, registration history, and good standing.
Depending on where you obtained your qualification, you may be exempt from sitting the written and practical examination. For further information, please refer to the Dental Board of Australia – Dentists
Not everyone migrating to Australia requires a skills assessment. We recommend you contact the Australian Department of Home Affairs to find out if you require a skills assessment for your visa application.
If you are required to complete the dental practitioner assessment process to register as a dental practitioner in Australia, you must complete it in full.
More information about registering as a dental practitioner in Australia is available on the Dental Board of Australia website.
Information on visa requirements is on the Department of Home Affairs website under each visa type. It is important to check what visa requirements affect you before applying for a skills assessment.
The following documents must be submitted with a skills assessment application:
Passport photographs must be clear and uploaded as a .jpg or .png file. All other documents must be clear and submitted in .pdf, .jpg, .tif, .tiff, or .png format.
You must provide an official English translation for any documents issued in a language other than English. Translations must be from a state-certified translator and include translator name, contact details (email) and translator identification number (if applicable) Original documents and translations of original documents are to be submitted in one file. View our translation guidelines here.
A letter/certificate of good standing confirms your registration, good standing, and fitness to practise as a dental practitioner. The organisation responsible for registering dental practitioners in each country or jurisdiction provides this.
All applications remain open for 12 months from the date you started your application. You will be required to create a new application if you don’t submit an open application within this timeframe.
The status of your application is available via your ADC Connect dashboard.
If our team ask you to provide additional documents for your application, you will be able to upload these via your initial assessment application. We will unlock the sections of your applications requiring more information.
Supporting documents must be clear and submitted in .pdf, .jpg, .tif, .tiff, or .png format.
The Pearson VUE website has a feature which allows you to search for testing centres for the written examination.
The written examination for dental hygiene, dental therapy, oral health therapy, and dental prosthetist is held at our examination centre in Melbourne, Australia; as well as Toronto, Canada; London, England; Johannesburg, South Africa: Singapore, Singapore: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
We have developed written examination handbooks for each profession. These handbooks are a guide to help you prepare for your examination. They contain more information about the examination process, along with example multiple choice questions and resources to help you prepare for the examination.
The handbooks are available via our Handbooks and materials page.
We have developed a resources list and a series of handbooks and information packs to help you prepare for your examination. These are available on our Handbooks and materials page.
We strongly recommend you use this information as your definitive source of examination preparation material. We do not recommend or endorse any proprietary or informational courses which advertise as preparation for the written examination. Such courses are developed and run without our input. We cannot be held responsible for the quality of training or advice provided through these courses.
Yes. The penalty varies depending on when you withdraw.
A 20 per cent administration fee will be applied if you withdraw from an examination after your application is received.
Withdrawals requests received up to two weeks before your written examination date are eligible for a refund of 50 per cent of the examination fee. Withdrawal requests received within two weeks of your written exam date are not eligible for a refund.
A 20 per cent administration fee will be applied if you withdraw from an exam after your application is received.
Withdrawals requests received up to four weeks before your written examination date are eligible for a refund of 50 per cent of the examination fee. Withdrawals requests received within two weeks of your written examination date are not eligible for a refund.
No. Examinations cannot be transferred or rescheduled for another time. If you wish to sit the written exam at another time you will need to submit a new application and pay the associated examination fee via ADC Connect during the next application period.
You can withdraw from a written examination via your ADC Connect account. Our YouTube page has more information on how to withdraw via ADC Connect.
If you are unable to access, or submit, this form via ADC Connect, please contact us.
The ADC examination withdrawal procedure (PDF, 114KB) contains more information about the withdrawal procedure, including detailed information regarding eligibility for a partial refund.
The written examination is valid for three years.
The written examination for dentists costs $2,122 AUD.
The written examination for dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, and dental prosthetists costs $1,432 AUD.
You can apply for the written examination via your ADC Connect account.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, a written examination application link will appear on your ADC Connect dashboard when the application period opens. Follow the instructions to complete the application and pay the associated fee.
Our YouTube account includes a walkthrough video on how to apply for the written examination.
To sit the written examination, you must:
Your ADC Connect dashboard will be updated once you have successfully applied for a written examination. You will also receive a confirmation email from the ADC.
If you have successfully applied for the written examination, you will see a confirmation on your ADC Connect dashboard.
If you are sitting the general dentist writing examination, you will receive an Authorisation to test email from Pearson VUE a few weeks after completing your application. This email outlines when you can log into the Pearson VUE system to book your examination venue.
Instructions on how to book your examination venue are provided in your Written examination authorisation letter.
You do not need to book an examination venue. These examinations are held at the ADC examination centre in Melbourne, Victoria.
If you have problems logging into the Pearson VUE system or booking your examination, you should contact Pearson VUE immediately.
You can request a change of your examination venue up until the closure of the venue booking period. All change of venue requests must be made directly to Pearson VUE.
You cannot change your examination venue once the booking period is closed.
The written examination for dental hygiene, dental therapy, oral health therapy, and dental prosthetics is held at the ADC examination centre in Melbourne, Victoria. There is no option to change your examination venue.
Yes. Pearson VUE will send a Confirmation email detailing the time, location, venue, and requirements for your examination once your booking is complete.
Pearson VUE will also send a reminder email seven days before your examination.
Some venues have limited capacity and allocate seats in order of receipt.
For the best chance to secure your preferred venue, we recommend you book as soon as you can during the booking period.
The written examination for dental hygiene, dental therapy, oral health therapy, and dental prosthetics is held at the ADC examination centre in Melbourne, Victoria. We will ensure there are enough seats for all candidates wishing to sit the written examination.
Yes. Venues are subject to change, sometimes at short notice.
We strongly recommend you check the current venues for your preferred location once you have your Authorisation to test email. You should also ensure you can travel to your preferred venue before booking.
The written examination for dental hygiene, dental therapy, oral health therapy, and dental prosthetics is held at our examination centre in Melbourne, Victoria. Should there be any changes to the venue, we will contacted affected candidates directly.
The number of questions in the written examination varies depending on profession.
The examination is made up of 280 questions across four sections. Each section is made up of 70 questions.
The examination is made up of 160 questions across two sections. Each section is made up of 80 questions.
The examination is made up of 120 questions across two sections. Section one consists of 80 questions and section two consists of 40 questions.
The examination is made up of 185 questions across three sections. Section one consists of 80 questions, section two consists of 65 questions, and section three consists of 40 questions.
The length of the written examination varies depending on the profession.
Two days.
One day.
The time allocated to each paper varies between professions.
You will be allocated two hours to complete each section. Two sections are scheduled for day one and two for day two.
You will be allocated two hours to complete each section.
You will be allocated two hours to complete section one and an hour to complete section two.
You will be allocated two hours to complete sections one and two and an hour to complete section three.
The construction of written examination questions varies between professions.
This examination is comprised of scenario based MCQ items. There are 56 scenarios, each with five related multiple-choice questions.
These examinations have a mix of scenario-based and single best answer MCQs. Each examination containing a different set of questions.
More information about the written examination for all professions is available via our Handbooks and materials page.
We have also created handbooks for each profession:
Your written exam time is outlined in your Pearson VUE Confirmation letter. Arrival times will vary from venue to venue, but we recommend you arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the exam start time.
No. You will not be granted late entry once your exam starts, regardless of the reason.
If you do not arrive in time to sit this will be counted as a withdrawal from the exam and you will not be eligible to receive any results.
Yes. You are required to bring evidence of your identity (ID) as authorisation to sit your exam. Your ID will be checked as part of the written exam registration process.
If you don’t meet the ID requirements, you will not be allowed into your exam.
You must present two forms of ID. You can present either:
Your ID documents you present must:
Further information for the ID required for the General Dentistry written examination can be found on the Pearson Vue website.
Yes. Any non-English documents must be accompanied by an appropriate translation. Our Translation guidelines (PDF, 106KB) provides more information on translations accepted by the ADC.
Primary ID is:
An example is an international travel passport.
Secondary ID must show:
An example is a debit/credit card.
You must contact the ADC if you do not have suitable forms of primary or secondary ID. Any exceptions to our ID policy must be pre-approved by the ADC at least two weeks before your exam date.
No. All equipment and supplies is provided by the exam venue.
No. Calculators and other electronic devices are not allowed in the exam.
Yes. At the beginning of the day you will be presented with a tutorial on how to use the computer and move between the questions on each paper.
A demonstration of the exam software is available on the Pearson VUE website.
You must contact us if you wish to request reasonable adjustments due to disability or other medical condition. Requests for reasonable adjustments must be made during the application period and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Please note that we may deny requests for reasonable adjustments if doing so affects other candidates or the integrity and validity of the written exam.
If you cannot attend your written exam, you will be required to withdraw. Depending on when you withdraw, you may forfeit some, or all, of your exam fee.
Failure to sit the exam due to illness, inability to obtain the necessary visa, or failure to arrange travel is considered a withdrawal.
More information on withdrawals is available on the written exam for dentists page.
Our Written examination handbook for general dentistry (PDF, 761KB) has information about the scoring process for the written exam.
To pass the written exam, you must pass all four exam clusters by achieving a grade of A or B for each cluster. The clusters are based on the domains of the Professional competencies of the newly qualified dental practitioner:
Information on the written exam passing requirement is available in the Written examination handbook for general dentistry (PDF, 761KB).
We recommend you read the Written examination handbook for general dentistry (PDF, 761KB) in the first instance. If you cannot find the answer to your question here, please contact us.
Please keep in mind that we are unable to provide you with your combined cluster scores, your scores against each cluster, or any feedback your examination performance.
Written exam results will be made available via your ADC Connect portal approximately six weeks after your exam. In some cases, this may be longer.
You will receive an email once your results are available via your ADC Connect account. Results are not released via phone or fax.
You can apply for a verification, review, or appeal of your written exam results via your ADC Connect portal.
Our policies page has more information on this process.
The practical exam is held at our examination centre at Level 6, 469 La Trobe Street, Melbourne.
The practical exam handbook Practical examination handbook has more information on the conduct and format of the practical exam.
The Practical examination handbook for dentists is a guide to help you prepare for your examination. It contains more information about the examination process, along with example questions and resources to help you prepare for the examination.
The Practical examination handbook for dental hygiene and dental therapy has more information about the practical examination. It includes detailed information about the process, along with questions and resources to help you prepare for your examination.
We have developed a series of handbooks and information packs to help you prepare for your exam. These are available on our Handbooks and materials page.
We strongly recommend you use this information as your definitive source of exam preparation material. We do not recommend or endorse any proprietary or informational courses which advertise as preparation for the practical exam. Such courses are developed and run without our input. We cannot be held responsible for the quality of training or advice provided through these courses.
A list of materials provided during the technical skills day is provided in the Practical examination information package.
While you are likely to have preferred burs, materials, and instruments, those available during the practical exam are consistent for all candidates and are adequate to achieve a pass mark for each task. We do not accept requests for additional burs, materials, and instruments.
We may make amendments or additions to this list. We will work to inform you of these changes as soon as possible.
Burs, instruments, and materials available on the clinical skills day are not published as these tasks are changed regularly.
A 50 per cent administration fee will be applied if you withdraw up to six weeks before your confirmed examination date.
Withdrawals processed within six weeks of your confirmed examination date are not eligible for a refund.
More information about withdrawals is available in our Withdrawal Procedure
No. Examinations cannot be transferred or rescheduled for another time. You will need to submit a new application form and pay the examination fee via ADC Connect during the next application period.
A successful practical examination does not expire.
You will be awarded an ADC certificate for your respective registration division upon successful completion of your practical examination. This will be available to download via your ADC Connect portal.
Once you have your certificate, you can apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia. Information about registration is available on the Dental Board of Australia website.
The practical examination for dentists costs $4,775 AUD.
The practical examination for dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, and dental prosthetists costs $3,342 AUD.
You can apply for the practical examination via your ADC Connect account.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, a practical examination application link will appear on your ADC Connect dashboard when the application period opens. Follow the instructions to complete the application form and pay the application fee.
Our ADC Connect video playlist page includes a walkthrough video on how to apply for the practical examination.
To sit the practical examination, you must:
You will receive an email from us inviting you to book your preferred practical examination dates when the booking period opens. This will only be sent to candidates who successfully applied for their practical examination during the application period.
Log into your ADC Connect account and follow the steps to book your preferred practical examination dates. Our How to book a practical exam video steps you through the process.
We will try and accommodate you where we can, however we do not guarantee that you will be allocated your preferred dates. Remember that you must be available to sit the practical examination at any time during the examination period. You will receive an email from us with your confirmed examination dates within a week after the booking period closes. Your ADC Connect dashboard will also be updated with your confirmed examination dates.
Practical examinations for dental hygienists, dental therapists, combined dental hygienist and dental therapist, and dental prosthetists are held in one two-day session. As a result, there is no need for you to book your preferred examination date.
No. We will confirm practical examination dates after the booking period closes. We will try and accommodate you where we can, however we do not guarantee that you will be allocated your preferred dates. Remember that you must be available to sit the practical examination at any time during the examination period.
You will receive an email confirming your examination dates once they have been reviewed by our team. Your ADC Connect profile will also be updated with your confirmed examination dates.
Your practical examination dates are confirmed at the time of your application period. The email you receive to confirm your application is also your confirmation of your examination dates.
No. There are no waitlists for practical examinations.
Depending on when you withdraw you may be entitled to a refund in line with the Withdrawal procedure.
Yes. There are 24 places available for each practical examination session.
No. We do not offer credits or exemptions for previous practical examination attempts.
Yes. Application periods are scheduled throughout year. If you hold a valid initial assessment, a valid written examination, and you meet the criteria for the application period you are welcome to apply.
No. You can apply for the practical exam as many times as you like if you hold a valid initial assessment, a valid written examination, and you meet the criteria for the application period.
There are no limits on the number of times you can attempt the practical exam.
However, you are required to pass the practical exam within three years of successfully passing the written exam.
If you do not pass the practical exam within three years you will be require to re-take and pass the written exam before being eligible to reapply for the practical exam.
Practical examination results are released to your ADC Connect account approximately six to eight weeks after your exam date.
In some cases, there may be a delay in the release of your results. We will notify you of any delays should they occur.
Your results are available via your ADC Connect profile.
Yes. To get an overall pass, you must pass both days of the practical examination.
We will provide you with registration times for your practical examination. It is your responsibility to allow enough time to travel to the exam venue in case of any transport or other delays.
We cannot guarantee that you can enter your practical examination if you arrive after your start time. Late entry will be at the discretion of the convenor. You will not be granted additional examination time if you are late.
The practical examination handbooks include information about the conduct of the examination and the types of tasks you may be expected to complete during your examination.
The practical examination is designed to assess your clinical competence. This is done by using simulation. The exam tasks are designed to reflect common and/or important real-life scenarios.
The content of the practical examination is based on the expected competencies of a recently qualified Australian dental practitioner at the point of graduation form an ADC accredited dental practitioner program. Our competencies page provides more information about the competencies and how they are applied.
No. Examinations cannot be transferred or rescheduled for another time.
If you wish to sit the practical examination at another time you will need to submit a new application and pay the associated examination fee via ADC Connect during the next application period.
You can withdraw from a practical examination via your ADC Connect account. Our ADC Connect video playlist page has more information on how to withdraw via ADC Connect.
The ADC Withdrawal Procedure contains more information about the withdrawal procedure, including detailed information regarding eligibility for a partial refund.
No. We cannot grant exemptions from the requirements of the practical examination under any circumstance.
Please note that we may deny requests for reasonable adjustments if doing so affects other candidates or the integrity and validity of the practical examination.
No. You will only be able to apply for the practical examination via your ADC Connect account during the advertised application period.
We will send you a confirmation email once your practical examination application and associated payment has been received.
Your ADC Connect dashboard will also be updated to reflect your application status.
If your application is incomplete or if payment is not received by the end of the application period, you will not be eligible to book a practical examination place.
Practical examination dates and application periods are provided on the dentist practical examination page.
The practical examination is held over two days. It is made up of a technical skills day and a clinical skills day.
You must sit both days and be prepared to complete either day first.
Depending on your profession, the practical examination is held over one or two days.
You must provide photographic identification during registration. Your identification must be government-issued, valid and include your signature. This could be a driver’s licence or passport.
We will supply all the materials needed for the practical examination. More information about the equipment and materials is available in the Practical examination information package.
Gloves, and gowns will be available for your use, however, due to varying individual requirements, you must provide your own protective eyewear and N95/P2 masks. You may also bring and use clinically suitable magnification aids.
No. We will provide burs during your practical examination.
You are not allowed to bring any other equipment, including burs, materials, personal effects, or electronic devices, including but not limited to, smart watches or smart glasses, into the practical examination.
Any exemptions to this must be approved in writing by the ADC before your practical examination.
We recommend you read the Practical examination handbook for dentists in the first instance. If you cannot find the answer to your question here, please contact us.
Please keep in mind that we are unable to provide you with your combined scores, your scores against each station or task, or any feedback your examination performance.
You can apply for a verification, review, or appeal of your practical examination results via your ADC Connect portal.
Our Practitioner assessments policies page has more information on this process.
Our Practical examination handbook for dentists has more information about the scoring process for the practical examination.
Information on the practical examination passing requirement is available in the Practical examination handbook for dentists.
More information about upcoming examination dates and application periods for both the written and practical examinations is available on the practitioner assessment pages for each profession.
Examination dates are updated as new information is available. We strongly recommend you regularly check our website for the most up-to-date information.
No. Our applications team is working to process pending initial assessment applications. As part of this process, we will create an ADC Connect account for you.
We will email you an activation link once your application is assessed.
You will be issued with a candidate ID when your initial assessment application is assessed by our team. You will be able to see this via your ADC Connect dashboard once you log in.
We will email you an activation link for you ADC Connect account once your application is assessed by our applications team.
No, the CRM number is not your candidate ID.
Candidates waiting for a candidate ID will receive one when the initial assessment application is assessed by our team. You will be able to see this via your ADC Connect dashboard once you login.
We will email you an activation link for your ADC Connect account once your application is assessed by our applications team.
Yes. Your assessing authority can email your Letter/Certificate of Good Standing to assess@adc.org.au
No. Your Letter/Certificate of Good Standing must come directly from the organisation responsible for regulating dental registration or dental licence in your country of practice.
They can email your Letter/Certificate of Good Standing to assess@adc.org.au
Your Letter/Certificate of Good Standing can be emailed to assess@adc.org.au
No. You do not need to certify your documents for your initial assessment application.
You do not need to complete an English test for any stage of the ADC dental practitioner assessment process.
However, you should note that the written and practical examinations are delivered in English and your ability to communicate effectively will be assessed as part of your practical examination.
Successful candidates applying for registration must meet the Dental Board of Australia English language skills registration standard. Further information on this standard can be found on the Dental board of Australia’s website.
We have developed written examination handbooks for each profession. These handbooks are a guide to help you prepare for your examination. They contain more information about the examination process, along with example multiple choice questions and resources to help you prepare.
We do not recommend or endorse any proprietary or informal courses advertising as preparation for the written examination. These courses are developed and run without ADC input. We cannot be held responsible for the quality of training or advice provided through these courses.
The written examination for general dentists is delivered in conjunction with our delivery partner Pearson VUE. Information on examination venues is available on the Pearson VUE website.
Candidates should note however that this list is indicative only and venues may have capacity limits or be subject to change sometimes at late notice.
In some cases, candidates may need to travel to an alternate state or country to sit the examination. Candidates should carefully consider the feasibility of travel before they apply.
Candidates must meet eligibility criteria and successfully submit and pay for their application within the advertised application periods. Application periods are announced periodically on the practitioner assessments pages:
If you are unable to book your preferred written examination venue through Pearson VUE, please contact our written examination team via our Contact page.
If you are having trouble logging into the Pearson VUE booking system, please contact Pearson VUE.
Examination schedules for the general dentistry practical examination are emailed to candidates approximately four weeks before your examination dates.
If you are scheduled to sit a practical examination, but have tested positive for COVID-19, please contact our practical examination team via practical@adc.org.au
We advertise application periods for the written and practical examinations via the practitioner pages for each profession.
Application periods are updated as new information is released by the ADC team. We strongly recommend you regularly check our website for the most recent application periods.
We advertise examination dates for the written and practical examinations via the practitioner pages for each profession.
Examination dates are updated as new information is released by the ADC team. We strongly recommend you regularly check our website for the most recent examination dates.
Yes. Initial assessments are valid for 7 years.
Yes, the validity period applies to you.
Initial assessments completed before 1 January 2014, that were not renewed during the advertised transition period in 2020, expired on 31 December 2020.
If your initial assessment was completed before 1 January 2014 and you did not complete a renewal application, you must complete a new initial assessment. You will not be allowed to continue with the dental practitioner assessment process until your new initial assessment is assessed as eligible by the ADC team.
No. If you are an existing candidate with an expired initial assessment, you will keep the same candidate ID.
Yes. If you wish to apply for a written or practical examination, you must have a valid initial assessment during the application period AND on your examination dates.
If your renewal application is in progress, it must be assessed as eligible by the ADC team before the application period for that examination.
If you do not renew your initial assessment by the expiry date, any written examination validities will be forfeited.
Clusters were introduced in the written examination in September 2021 to assist candidates in identifying about which area of their performance in the written examination meet or did not meet the required minimum standards. The clusters in the written examination are based on the domains included in the Professional competencies of the newly qualified dental practitioner. Additional feedback about a candidate’s performance cannot be provided at this stage and the written examination papers are not able to be released after the examination. Options are being investigated to provide additional guidance to assist candidates in preparing for the examination but as indicated in a previous edition of the Candidate Lounge, it will take some time to progress this work.
Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability to meet the required minimum standards across all clusters on the same examination attempt. When a candidate fails a cluster that they have previously passed, they are no longer able to demonstrate that they can meet the overall minimum standards expected of a minimally competent recent Australian dental graduate. The Professional competencies of the newly qualified dental practitioner document provides guidance regarding the minimum standards required of recent Australian dental graduates.
A patient’s informed consent to assessment or treatment is an essential part of proper dental care.
Dental Protection Australia has many free resources on their website around consent and many other issues.
For information on receiving consent please follow this link.
For information on managing difficult interactions please follow this link.