Dental Foundation Training (DFT) overview

Dental Foundation Training (DFT) follows a nationally agreed curriculum.

A specific portfolio is used throughout the year which aligns to this curriculum.

This is the applicant guidance for DFT recruitment 2026-27.

Since September 2016, a formal process has been used by NHS England to sign off Foundation Dentists as having demonstrated the necessary competences and prescribed elements to work independently in NHS general dental practice.

This process is called Review of Competence Progression, also known as ‘satisfactory completion’, of DFT.

It includes a series of practice-based assessments, prescribed activities and panel reviews of each Foundation Dentist throughout the year.

This includes a decision near the end of the training year as to whether the necessary competencies have been demonstrated or whether further training is necessary.

This process is regularly reviewed by the Dental Foundation Training Advisory Group and COPDEND.

Only candidates signed off at the end of the year as having satisfactorily completed DFT will be eligible to have their conditional inclusion in the NHS Performers List (or equivalent) changed to an unconditional inclusion.

In 2025/2026 there were approximately 70 geographical schemes across 12 regions located in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Schemes are for September 2026 start dates. This information will be available from mid year 2026.

Please note that the number of schemes has not yet been finalised at the time of the publication of this guide.

Other dental recruitment processes

The information on these pages relates to all DFT Schemes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is managed by DFT national recruitment office (NRO). 

There are separate recruitment offices that run recruitment for the following, see details below: please note you will need to make separate applications for these if you wish to apply.