Eligibility

Each specialty has a person specification that lists the required competences for that programme.

You'll need to show that you meet the eligibility criteria at the time of application and further specified criteria at the time of post commencement.

Eligibility for specialty training

Specific entry and selection requirements for specialty training are detailed in nationally-agreed person specifications.

A programme's person specifications list that programme's required competencies. You'll need to demonstrate that you meet specified eligibility criteria at the time of application and further specified criteria at the time of post commencement.

Academic person specifications

If you're applying to an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) or Clinical Lectureship (CL), you'll need to meet the criteria in both the clinical and ACF or CL person specifications.

For more information go to the Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) or Clinical Lectureship (CL) pages.

Eligibility for specialist lists

To use the title "specialist", you must be on one of the General Dental Council's (GDCs) specialist lists. To be accepted onto one of the GDC’s specialty training lists, dentists should:

• be eligible for full GDC registration
• have successfully completed an approved programme (with National Training Number (NTN)) including all entry, training and assessment criteria
• hold the agreed qualification awarded by one of the Royal Colleges

Evidence of English Language skills

You will need to provide evidence of their English language skills at the relevant Selection Centre in line with the acceptable evidence detailed in the relevant national person specification.

Evidence of communication skills for UK Dental Performers/NHS list

For some posts eligibility for entry onto a UK Dental Performers’/NHS List/NI Dental List is an essential criterion in the person specification. You must therefore also ensure your evidence of communication skills complies with the standard operating procedure (SOP) or guidance issued by the relevant primary care organisation (PCO) responsible for maintaining a UK Dental Performers’/NHS List/NI Dental List in each of the 4 countries.

The UK's PCOs are:

• England: NHS England
• Northern Ireland: Health and Social Care Board
• Scotland: Primary Care Divisions within Health Boards
• Wales: Local Health Boards

Evidence of Dental Foundation Training (DFT) or Vocational Training (VT)

One criterion for posts other than DFT/VT is that applicants may need to evidence their completion of DFT/VT. As per the relevant person specification this can be proven in 1 of 2 ways.

• Current employment in a UK DFT/VT or exemption from the requirement to undertake DFT/VT or Certificate of Completion of DFT/VT if a UK Dental School graduate.
• If an overseas dental school graduate (non-UK/EEA): Completion of UK DFT/VT or hold a Certificate of Demonstration of Completion of Performers List Validation by Experience (PLVE) signed by the postgraduate dental dean from the area in which equivalence was demonstrated.

Assessment of dental core competency

Applicants must demonstrate the competencies required at the end of UK Dental Core Training year 1 (DCT1) - that is, outcome 1 - at the time of interview and year 2 at the time of post commencement (or equivalent). Core competence can be demonstrated in the following ways.

Applicants currently undertaking a UK Dental Core Training year 2 (DCT2) post

If you're currently in a UK Dental Core Training year 2 (DCT2) post, you do not need to provide any further evidence at the time of application. However, any offer of a training post will be conditional on successful completion of DCT2. You'll be required to provide a certificate of completion of DCT2 or evidence of satisfactory Review of Competence Progression (RCP) outcome to your employing Trust prior to commencement.

Applicants who've previously completed a UK DCT2 post

• If you've successfully completed a UK DCT2 post  which commenced on or after August 2016 , you're required to provide a certificate of completion of DCT2 or evidence of satisfactory RCP outcome at the time of application. You must attach scanned or PDF copies of your certificate or RCP outcome to your application.
• If you hold a certificate of completion of DCT which commenced prior to August 2016, you'll need to apply for a National Certificate of Dental Core Equivalence (NCDCE) through the process detailed on the NHS Education for Scotland website.

All other applicants

• If you hold a National Certificate of Dental Core Equivalence (NCDCE) at the time of application, you're required to attach a copy of your certificate to your application.
• If you do not currently hold an NCDCE, you'll need to apply for a certificate through the process detailed on the NHS Education for Scotland website. If you're unsuccessful in being awarded a certificate you will not be eligible for appointment to specialty training and will be removed from the recruitment process.

Right to work in the UK

All applicants to dental training programmes will be required to provide right to work documentation.