Recruitment timeline
Dental Specialty Training recruitmentRecruitment to specialty training posts takes place through a national selection process led by various local teams.
Key dates
Adverts for most specialty training posts, which will commence from September 2026, will appear on Oriel on Tuesday 6 January 2026. The application portal will then open at 10am on Thursday 8 January 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Please note that Dental Public Health recruitment timeline and Orthodontics ST4 recruitment timeline are different from other specialties.
Recruitment timelines for 2026
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
September 2025
Applications open between
Date: Monday 29 September 2025
and
Date: Tuesday 21 October 2025
Applications close between
Date: Monday 27 October 2025
and
Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025
October 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
January 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 9 January 2026
Initial offers released from
Date: Wednesday 14 January 2026
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 21 January 2026
Time: 4pm
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
January 2026
Adverts appear
Date: Tuesday 6 January 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 8 January 2026
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
Time: 4pm
March 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 9 March 2026
May 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 1pm
June 2026
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 June 2026
Time: 4pm
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2025
Adverts appear
Date: Wednesday 22 October 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 10am
November 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 4pm
March 2026
Selection Centre
Date: Wednesday 11 March 2026
May 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 1pm
June 2026
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 June 2026
Time: 4pm
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
January 2026
Adverts appear
Date: Tuesday 6 January 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 8 January 2026
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
Time: 4pm
July 2026
Interview date
Date: Wednesday 1 July 2026
Initial offers released
Date: by Wednesday 15 July 2026
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
September 2025
Applications open between
Date: Monday 29 September 2025
and
Date: Tuesday 21 October 2025
Applications close between
Date: Monday 27 October 2025
and
Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025
October 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
January 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 9 January 2026
Initial offers released from
Date: Wednesday 14 January 2026
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 21 January 2026
Time: 4pm
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
January 2026
Adverts appear
Date: Tuesday 6 January 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 8 January 2026
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
Time: 4pm
March 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 9 March 2026
May 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 1pm
June 2026
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 June 2026
Time: 4pm
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2025
Adverts appear
Date: Wednesday 22 October 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 10am
November 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 4pm
March 2026
Selection Centre
Date: Wednesday 11 March 2026
May 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 1pm
June 2026
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 June 2026
Time: 4pm
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
January 2026
Adverts appear
Date: Tuesday 6 January 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 8 January 2026
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
Time: 4pm
July 2026
Interview date
Date: Wednesday 1 July 2026
Initial offers released
Date: by Wednesday 15 July 2026
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026
National Certificate of Dental Core Equivalence (NCDCE) timelines
This process has now closed.
A process has been developed to facilitate applications to Specialty Training posts from individuals who have not followed a standard UK training pathway.
For further information on the NCDCE process, please visit the NHS Education for Scotland website.
NHS Education for Scotland website - NCDCE 1
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2025
Applications open
Date: Monday 7 July 2025
Time: 10am
September 2025
Applications close
Date: Monday 1 September 2025
Time: 23:59pm
Evidence upload window closes
Date: Wednesday 3 September 2025
Time: 4pm
Applications will be considered by the Panel
Date: 16 - 17 September 2025
Appeals window opens
Date: Thursday 18 September 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Appeals window closes
Date: Thursday 25 September 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Outcome of appeals process
From 3 October 2025
This process has now closed.
A process has been developed to facilitate applications to Specialty Training posts from individuals who have not followed a standard UK training pathway.
For further information on the NCDCE process, please visit the NHS Education for Scotland website.
NHS Education for Scotland website - NCDCE 2
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2025
Applications open
Date: Monday 7 July 2025
Time: 10am
September 2025
Applications close
Date: Monday 1 September 2025
Time: 23:59pm
Evidence upload window closes
Date: Wednesday 3 September 2025
Time: 4pm
Applications will be considered by the Panel
Date: 22 - 24 September 2025
Appeals window opens
Date: Thursday 25 September 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Appeals window closes
Date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Outcome of appeals process
From 9 October 2025
This process has now closed.
A process has been developed to facilitate applications to Specialty Training posts from individuals who have not followed a standard UK training pathway.
For further information on the NCDCE process, please visit the NHS Education for Scotland website.
NHS Education for Scotland website - NCDCE 1
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2025
Applications open
Date: Monday 7 July 2025
Time: 10am
September 2025
Applications close
Date: Monday 1 September 2025
Time: 23:59pm
Evidence upload window closes
Date: Wednesday 3 September 2025
Time: 4pm
Applications will be considered by the Panel
Date: 16 - 17 September 2025
Appeals window opens
Date: Thursday 18 September 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Appeals window closes
Date: Thursday 25 September 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Outcome of appeals process
From 3 October 2025
This process has now closed.
A process has been developed to facilitate applications to Specialty Training posts from individuals who have not followed a standard UK training pathway.
For further information on the NCDCE process, please visit the NHS Education for Scotland website.
NHS Education for Scotland website - NCDCE 2
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2025
Applications open
Date: Monday 7 July 2025
Time: 10am
September 2025
Applications close
Date: Monday 1 September 2025
Time: 23:59pm
Evidence upload window closes
Date: Wednesday 3 September 2025
Time: 4pm
Applications will be considered by the Panel
Date: 22 - 24 September 2025
Appeals window opens
Date: Thursday 25 September 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Appeals window closes
Date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Time: 12:00pm
Outcome of appeals process
From 9 October 2025
Page last reviewed: 25 July 2024
Next review due: 25 July 2025