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.
To be eligible to apply for an initial assessment you must hold a minimum four-year, full time university dental degree, or diploma, from a recognised university.
When we start assessing your initial assessment, you will be provided with a candidate reference number. You must provide this number when contacting us about your application.
ELIGIBILITY:
Minimum 4-year full-time degree/diploma
TIMEFRAME:
8 weeks (approximately)*
COST:
$647 AUD (application) $35 AUD (renewal – registration only)
VALIDITY:
7 years
APPLICATION PERIOD:
Apply at anytime**
ASSESSMENT TIMEFRAME:
*Timeframes can be delayed if information submitted is incomplete. **Note that there are initial assessment application deadline dates for each written examination.
New candidates must create a new ADC Connect account to start the dental practitioner assessment process.
You can complete an initial assessment at any time via ADC Connect.
You need to confirm your registration and application type at the start of your application.
Registration type is the general registration division you want to register with the Dental Board of Australia. For example, if you are an overseas qualified dentist you cannot apply for registration as a dental hygienist.
Application type is the type of application you want to complete. For dentists there are two options: initial assessment for registration or skills assessment. If you apply for registration and need a skills assessment for migration purposes, you will have an opportunity to apply for that once you have successfully completed the dental practitioner process. The documentation requirements are similar to a skills assessment and are outlined on our skills assessment page.
Complete your initial assessment application by submitting the following documents, and make payment as instructed.
You must submit these documents with your 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.
If your supporting documents have different names, or different versions of your name, you will need to provide evidence. Evidence must be a legal change of name document, issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages, or an official change of name by deed poll. If your educational institution has altered or abbreviated your name, they must provide an explanatory letter. This letter should be uploaded to your ADC Connect account, as part of your application. Newspaper or gazette articles, affidavits of statutory declarations are not considered legal evidence.
View the Initial Assessment checklist to ensure your application is complete.
You will receive an email from us advising of the outcome of your assessment once it is assessed.
There are three possible outcomes:
Successful initial assessments are valid for seven years.
Initial assessments are valid for 7 years. The expiry date of your initial assessment is available on your ADC Connect dashboard.
You can renew your initial assessment via your ADC Connect account. This can be done at any time before the advertised expiry date.
To complete your renewal, follow the instructions on the form. As part of the process, you may need to arrange for a new certificate/letter of good standing to be sent to the ADC.
Renewals are valid for 7 years. Your new eligibility expiry date will be updated in your ADC Connect profile once the renewal has been assessed and approved.
If you do not complete your renewal before the expiry of your initial assessment you will be required to start the process afresh and any previous successful exam results will be void.