Hi Dental Warrior,
Welcome to the ultimate premium article on
“How to Work as a Licensed/Approved Dentist & Dental Professional in Australia?”
(If you are a foreigner – Non-Australian dentist or with a dental degree outside of Australia)
This article has been prepared after extensive research and interaction with past dentists who have tried and been successful in working as a dentist/dental professional in Australia. Also, in this series, you will find all the relevant official links for your reference along with videos, flowcharts, and documents.
The goal of this article is to explain all the basic steps in a chronological manner that must be fulfilled by a dentist/dental professional to get legally certified or licensed to work as a dentist/dental professional in Australia.
Disclaimer:
- The information in this article is collected from the experiences of the past students and from online sources including the official website of ADC (Australian Dental Council). (This website/webpage is not directly related to ADC). The goal is just to provide information in a simplified and chronological manner with the help of flowcharts and videos.
- The article provides you the links from the official website of ADC for accurate understanding. The aim is to just explain to you the process and make it simple for you. All the links are directed to the official website of ADC.
- We do not provide any Visa or Registration Related Services. Nor we provide any physical assistance for getting certified as a Dentist in Australia. This article is only for the purpose of information.
- Check the official website of ADC for all the latest changes. In the case of any doubts always visit the Australian embassy in your country and get your doubts cleared directly. Never pay any unverified middle party that claims to help you get the registration by using shortcuts. No shortcut is available, and you must follow all the official steps mentioned on the ADC website.
- Use this article just as a rough tool to understand the process better. It is not a replacement for the official information and ADC (Australian Dental Council) website. After reading this article and watching the videos, visit the official website of ADC to check for all the latest changes.
We will start with a basic introduction to provide you an initial overview of the process. Once the initial presentation is complete, we will then cover the method of acquiring the License for working as a dental professional in Australia.
Initial Introduction & Overview of the process
In the initial overview, we will cover the following points with the aim to review the popularity and viability of Australia as a suitable working country for Dentists & Dental Professionals.
- Why is Australia a popular destination for Dentists & Dental Professionals to work?
- In what capacity can you work as a Dentist or Dental Professional in Australia?
- What is the basic salary or annual earning for a Dental Professional in Australia?
Why is Australia considered a popular destination for Dental Professionals to work?
Though over the years there has been an exponential rise in the migration of Dental Professionals to Australia, it is still considered as the go-to country by almost every dental professional who wants to migrate abroad.
By an official statistics, it has been found that Australia is one of the top countries aimed by the dentists/dental professionals (particularly from Asian, South Asian and Economically Developing countries) to migrate and establish a dental career.
Reasons:
- Financial Viability: The biggest motivator for Dental Professionals from Economically emerging countries to migrate to Australia.
- General high living standard: The living standard in Australia is great that appeals to both the Western as well as Asian dental professionals.
- High Dental Awareness among the population: The general population is very health conscious. Hence, they are particular about maintaining proper oral health as well as necessary dental treatments.
In what capacity can you work as a Dentist or Dental Professional in Australia?
In Australia, you can work in the following streams of professional dental career (Depending on your educational qualifications and clinical experiences)
General Dentist
Dental Specialist
Dental Hygienist, Dental Therapist, and Oral Health Therapist
Dental Prosthetist (Technician)
What are the Basic Annual Earnings of Dental Professionals in Australia?
It is the crux of the entire journey to get certified as a dental professional in Australia. The average pay or annual earnings for dentists and dental professionals in Australia is very respectable. If you are a dentist/dental professional from Asian or South Asian Countries, then the earning in the dollar when converted to Asian Currencies gets quite high due to high conversion rates.
Check out the annual earning stats of dentists and dental professionals from verified financial & job portals
We will have a detailed overview of the salary aspect of the dental professionals (General dentists and Specialists) in the Slide Number 4
It is a very long article. Hence before you start reading this article, it will be easier to first check the video below which gives a complete overview of the ADC and Dentist License Process in Australia. Watch this video at least two times before, jumping into the article. Also, please note the terms that are being used in the video. Those terms and many more additional terms will appear as you read through the article.
To work in Australia, every health professional including dental practitioners must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice in Australia.
AHPRA supports the 15 National Boards that are responsible for regulating the health professions. The primary role of the National Board is to protect the public and they set standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet.
AHPRA Home Website:
The 15 National Boards Under AHPRA
Under AHPRA, National Board that regulates and controls the specific health specialties is present. Dentistry is one of those and is controlled by the Dental Board of Australia
The Dental Board of Australia Home Website
The Dental Board of Australia Overseas Dentist Page
Role Of ADC – Australian Dental Council
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) is an independent accreditation authority assigned the accreditation functions for the dental professions by the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) within the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS)
Formed in 1993, the Australian Dental Council (ADC) is an independent organization appointed by the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) to conduct assessment and accreditation functions for the dental professions under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS).
The ADC is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. It holds charity status under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and is funded by a grant from the DBA and fee for service activities.
- ADC is the body authorized by the Govt. of Australia to perform the accreditation functions for the Dental Board of Australia (DBA).
- One of the accreditation functions is the assessment of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of overseas trained dental practitioners who are seeking registration with the DBA to practice in Australia.
- For any dentist who has received his degree in a country outside Australia, ADC is the only way to get the official approval & license to work in Australia as a dentist.
Welcome to the Australian Dental Council
Role of the Australian Dental Council The Australian Dental Council (ADC) is an independent accreditation authority assigned the accreditation functions for the dental professions by the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) within the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS).
Take Away Point:Every Dental Professional (Dentist, Dental Specialist, Dental Hygienist, Dental Prosthetist) needs to qualify the assessment steps mentioned and controlled by ADC. Only after successfully completing all the assessment steps, an abroad qualified dental professional is eligible to work as a certified dental professional in Australia
What are the THREE STEPS that every Dental Professional has to Successfully Complete to get a working License in Australia?
So, irrespective of the type of dental professional you are (Dental Specialist, General Dentist or Hygienist/Prosthetist) you will have to go through the 3 stages mentioned above.
Of course, the assessment tests for a Dentist will vary from the assessment steps for a dental hygienist. But as mentioned before, only after completing all the three steps successfully, a dental professional can get the license to work.
But before we start discussing ADC, there are few very crucial points that you must have an idea about. Please read the below points very carefully. It will provide you the initial information before you start on your journey of ADC Exams.
Points to know – Before you appear for the assessment exams of ADC
[VISA & International Criminal History Check]
(Please note the points on VISA and ICHC are valid for every overseas dentist, dental specialist, and professional applying for a registration in Australia)
Before you appear for the three steps mentioned above, there are some other important points that you need to take care depending on the type of registration and professional qualification.
Registration with Dental Board of Australia
| Dental Board of Australia | Dental Practitioner/Specialist | Dentist Dental therapist Dental hygienist Dental prosthetist Oral health therapist |
All dental practitioners must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice in Australia. There is a range of different types of registration to match different levels of training and experience. Most dental practitioners have general registration. General registration divisions include dentists, dental prosthetists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists, and dental therapists. Dentists may also qualify and be eligible for specialist registration. There are 13 approved dental specialties in Australia (Dental Board of Australia 2018).
To work as a health practitioner in Australia, you need to apply for and be registered with the relevant national board.
for example, if you are a dental professional, general dentist or a dental specialist then you need to be registered with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA).
Applying for VISA
You may also need to apply for a visa issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Australian Immigration Department).
(The above two application processes – Registration with relevant board & VISA application, are entirely separate and success in one does not automatically guarantee success in the other.)
Point to Note before you read further
The two most important aspects of your steps to work as a dental professional in Australia is –
VISA & International Criminal History Record.
International Criminal History Record:
As of 4 February 2015, a new process applies for checking criminal history outside of Australia. This new approach requires certain applicants and registered practitioners to apply for an international criminal history check from an approved supplier. For more information, please refer to the international criminal history page on the AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency) website.
An international criminal history check will be required in circumstances where an applicant declares that they have resided in a country, other than Australia, for a period exceeding 6 months when aged 18 years or more, or if they have declared a criminal history in a jurisdiction outside of Australia.
The applicant will be required to apply and pay the cost for their international criminal history report, for all countries identified, directly to an AHPRA approved supplier before applying for registration.
For further information, please refer to the International criminal history checks page.
So, who will carry out the criminal history check (ICHC)
Apply for an ICHC before submitting your Dental Board of Australia registration. It is important to note that your ICHC result is valid for three months from the date of issue.
If the candidate has lived overseas for a period of six consecutive months or more as an adult, it is required to complete an international criminal history check (ICHC). It is the responsibility of the candidate to request and pay for ICHC through an AHPRA-approved supplier.The results will be provided to you and passed on to us directly. ICHC results are valid for three months from the date of issue.
Please note: DBA cannot register you until they have received and considered the results of your ICHC.
ICHC is carried out by independent curators who have been approved by AHPRA (Australian Health Practioner Registration Agency)
Apply for an International Criminal History Check (ICHC) | AIS Australia
Check the details of the ICHC from the official PDF below
Please note that it a very essential and important aspect of your process of getting registered as a dentist in Australia. Visit the below official link to get all the data on ICHC.
International criminal history checks
What is the requirement for the VISA for ADC Exams?
Acquiring a VISA from the Australian authorities is one of the most crucial aspects of your ADC journey. Now if you ask why do you need a VISA for ADC exams and beyond, then here are the reasons behind it.
- The ADC Exam has 3 stages. The first two stages (Initial Assessment and Written Exam) can be undertaken from outside of Australia. For the first two stages, you do not need to enter Australia.
- The 3rd Stage of ADC – Practical Exams takes place in Australia. So, if you qualify for the first two stages, then for the practical exams you will need to enter Australia and for that, you will need the appropriate VISA.
- After successfully qualifying the ADC Exams – Once you qualify the ADC Assessments, then you can register with the Dental Board of Australia and you are eligible to Work in Australia as a certified dental professional. Now again, you will need to have the correct type of VISA that allows you to work and stay in Australia. In due time you may also need to upgrade or modify the VISA to apply for the permanent residency.
Due to the above-mentioned points, it is essential that you realize the importance and legality of having the correct VISA. For all the latest information regarding the VISA regulations, it is always preferable to get the latest and the most updated information directly from the Australian Embassy in your region. Never randomly follow any information regarding the VISA points. If you are planning to take the services of any private VISA/Immigration services, then do thorough research about the company. If in doubt, check with the official embassy regarding it.
CORRECT VISA TO WORK IN AUSTRALIA AS A HEALTH PRACTITIONER
The most crucial step for legally working in Australia as a health professional. Never be careless while completing the steps for acquiring the Visa.
Must CAREFUL POINTS while trying for the Australian Visa to work as a Health Professional
- Never trust and pay money to any unverified party or agency claiming to help you in acquiring your Visa easily bypassing the official route. (Remeber, the official route might be longer but it is the safest and the only legal way to work in Australia)
- Always and always approach the official Australian Embassy in your country/region to gather knowledge regarding Visa procedures and to apply for the same.
- Never hide any important information related to your career or personality during the visa application process.
- As you are planning to qualify and work as a health professional in Australia, hence select and apply for the appropriate Visa that will allow you to do so.
- Follow all the steps mentioned by the Official Visa authorities.
- You would need to successfully clear the skills assessment test (for example the Assessment Steps of the Dentist as prescribed by ADC)
Please note that you are legally allowed to work in Australia as a health professional only when you successfully complete the major steps mentioned just before –
Check out the official links relevant to applying for Visa related information for working in Australia as a health professional
Skills assessment
Be assessed against the professional standards set by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation. See step by step process on how to get your skills assessed.
Check out the official list of skilled eligible occupations and the visa provisions associated with it. At the official link below, search for Dentists in the list.
Please note the points we covered are just a few basics regarding the Visa regulations to work as a Dentist/Dental Professional in Australia. However, fulfilling all the criteria for Visa is the most important aspect of your aim to work as a health professional in Australia. As mentioned before, always refer to the official sources like the Australian Embassy in your country and the mentioned official links for the most updated information on the Visa regulations.
What are the Types of VISA available to Dentists and Permanent Residency for Dentists
As mentioned, the first stage of VISA you will require when you are traveling to Australia to appear for the Practical Exams. Hence to find the type of VISA that you might require, check below the official Immigration Website.
Explore visa options for studying in Australia
For appearing for the Practical Exams to be held in Australia you will require a student VISA or a Temporary VISA. For the most accurate details on the exact type of VISA suitable for you to appear for the ADC Practical Exams, visit the Australian Embassy in your region. They will be able to guide you as per the most updated and latest information.
Supposing you qualify the ADC Exams then the next step is to apply for the Work-related VISA so that you can apply for the various job openings and Work in Australia as a Dentist
Depending on the Qualifications – a dentist can work in Australia as a General Dentist (With a Bachelors’ Degree in Dentistry) or a Dental Specialist. (With a Specialist Degree e.g. MDS)
———————————
Possible VISA types for a General Dentist
You can check the VISA Type required at the following official Immigration Skill Occupation List
| Dentist | 252312 |
|
Know about each of the above types of VISA by clicking on the official links below
482 VISA:
489 VISA:
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
407 VISA:
187 VISA:
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa
So, as a general dentist career goal, you will need to check with the type of Visa you will like to apply for. With VISA number 482 & 187 there is the possibility for permanent residency.
Possible VISA type for Dental Specialists
(Endodontist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral Pathologist, Orthodontist, Pedodontist, Periodontist, Prosthodontist)
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Visa | List | Assessing Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Specialist | 252311 |
|
STSOL |
In addition to all the VISA types available to general dentists, there is an additional VISA type available to Dental Specialists
All the points mentioned above regarding the VISA is the basic information that you should know on an initial basis. VISA and Immigration are the most crucial aspect of completing your journey of a Dental career in Australia. Refer to all the official links mentioned above regarding the VISA. That will provide you the initial idea. Then you should refer to the official embassy in your region, to get the most updated and latest details on VISA regulations and recent changes to it.
Working as a General Dentist in Australia
In the first phase of the article, we will overview the process to work as a General Dentist in Australia
If you are an overseas dentist aiming to work in Australia, then first you need to know the various types of pathways depending on the country of your dental education.
The Dental Board of Australia has enumerated the following pathways to get registered as a Dentist:
- Dentists who are registered to practice in New Zealand under Trans Tasman mutual recognition
- Dentists with eligible bachelor degrees from the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand
- Dentists with eligible degrees from Canada and compliant with the ‘additional requirements’
- Dentists with other qualifications:
a. complete an Australian approved program of study
b. undertake the examination procedure conducted by the Australian Dental Council (ADC).
Hence, if you are not from Newzealand, UK, Republic of Ireland or Canada and if you are from Asian and South Asian countries, then the most common pathway for you to get registered as a Dentist in Australia is to undertake the examination procedure conducted by the Australian Dental Council (ADC).
Check this official Dental Board of Australia link, where they have mentioned the various pathways to work as a General Dentist in Australia, based on the country of education or origin.
With all the above basic information covered, it is now time to review the process of applying for ADC Evaluation and Exam Process
The Dentist Assessment Process – To get the License to Work as a General Dentist – ADC Exams
As we discussed a few paragraphs before, the ADC evaluation process consists of 3 Phases
Before we proceed further, let us first clear the most common doubt related to ADC
What is the status of the English Language in the ADC Assessment Exams & Dentist License Registration?
The ADC Exams take place entirely in English. Hence, fluency and knowledge of English is required.
Q.1. Do you need to have an English Language certificate for appearing for ADC Exams (Written & Practical)?
(As mentioned in the latest application form for ADC)
For Written Exam
English language test – OET and IELTS Results. You are not required to provide evidence of English language proficiency to sit the ADC written examination. The examination is only conducted in English.
For Practical Exam
English language test – OET and IELTS Results. You are not required to provide evidence of English language proficiency to sit the ADC Practical Examination.
Q.2. Do you need to have an English Language certificate after successfully clearing ADC Exams?
Though you do not require to provide the English language proficiency proof to sit for the ADC Exams (Written and Practical).
However, Please be advised, on completion of the ADC process, evidence of English language skills may be required for Dentist License registration purposes by AHPRA (ahpra.gov.au) or for migration purposes by the Department of Home Affairs (homeaffairs.gov.au).
You will find the official document mentioning the English language standards below taken from the official registration requirement page for Dentists.
English language skills registration standard FAQ
| Dental English Language Skills Registration Standard | PDF (225KB) | Word version (72.8KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2015 |
Check the official AHPRA English Language Regulation for Dental Practioners
Points Recap:
- You do not need to provide English Language Proficiency Certificate for appearing in ADC Written or Practical Exams.
- You will need to provide English Language Proficiency Certificate when registering for Dentist License in AHPRA (DBA).
We will discuss more on how to get the English proficiency certificate for registering as a Dentist with DBA in the 3rd Slide.
The dentist assessment process evaluates the knowledge, judgment, clinical skills, and professional competencies of overseas-trained dentists seeking eligibility to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA), and whose qualifications are not directly approved for registration.
The format of the assessment and examination process has been approved for the purposes of registration in Australia. It consists of three stages: an initial assessment, a written examination, and a practical examination.
STEP 1: INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF YOUR QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATES
The first stage of the assessment process is the Initial Assessment.
The initial assessment process involves the evaluation of documents including professional qualifications, work experience, registration history, and good standing to determine eligibility to sit the written examination.
Requirements of a General Dentist to apply for Initial Assessment:
To apply for an initial assessment as a General Dentist you must:
- hold a university dental degree or diploma obtained after at least four years of full-time academic study at an acknowledged university; or an appropriate qualification; and,
- have held registration/licensure in either your home country or country of training, and there has been no withdrawal of registration.
When can a Dentist apply for Initial Assessment?
An initial assessment can be completed at any time of year by submitting an Initial assessment of professional qualification application form for the relevant profession.
Once the application form and supporting documents have been received, applicants will be assigned an ADC candidate reference number. This number should always be used when contacting the ADC.
- Download the Latest Verison of the Initial Assessment of Professional Qualification Application form. Download the form and take a hard print before you start filling up the form.
You can download the Initial Assessment of Professional Qualification Application form for GENERAL DENTISTS from this official link.
The assessment forms undergo minor modifications regularly and you always need to use the latest application form for every stage.
You can get the latest Initial Assessment Form at this official link https://www.adc.org.au/Publications-and-forms/Assessment-Forms
Assessment forms
(Latest ADC Forms)
Read the official Initial Assessment Application form below multiple times to understand the requirements and details asked for you. You will also find a CHECKLIST of all the documents required. Read the checklist thoroughly and arrange the documents as necessary and applicable for your application.
How to send the application form after filling it?
Please note: The application form cannot be e-mailed. As mentioned clearly at the end of the application form, after completing filling the form you need to physically post the application along with all the certified copies of your supporting documents.
Post applications and certified documents to: PO Box 13278, Law Courts Vic 8010, Australia.
If you plan on sending your documents via courier, please post to Level 6, 469 Latrobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia
Submission of the Initial Assessment Application form
(What are the documents that you should provide)
Along with the completed application form, you are required to submit a clear, certified copy of your:
- current passport high-quality color copy
- evidence of the change of name (if applicable)
- dental qualification, official certificate or testamur
- academic transcript
- internship certificate
- evidence of registration or license to practice dentistry (from the licensing authority of your country)
- two written professional references
- evidence of practice or work history as a registered or licensed dentist. (Proof of clinical work and expertise)
What is the meaning of certified documents?
It basically means that you cannot just scan your certificates and send then over to ADC for evaluation. All the documents that you send are required to be certified by authorized personnel.
ADC has released an official document mentioning how you can get your documents certified in the correct manner. You can download the official Certifications Instruction at this ADC Link: Certification Guideline ADC Link
Check the official link that mentions the details on Certified Documents
For candidates who are from outside Australia, the document certification rules as stated by ADC are as follows:
Outside Australia The following people are authorized to certify documents:
• Justice of the Peace • Notary public • Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955) • Employee of the Commonwealth or the Australian Trade Commission who works outside Australia.
For the official details check the official certification
Translation of Documents
The official language for the documents in English. Hence, if your documents are in a language other than English, then you would need to translate those into English.
Please note, once the translation is complete, both the original document and the translated documents are to be certified before submission.
Below is the official link that explains about translation guidelines for documents
Check out the official translation guidelines released by ADC.
What is the total cost of the ADC Initial Assessment?
Its costs around approximately, 610 Australian Dollar.
You can convert it to your own currency by using online currency converters.
Certificate of Good Standing
If you have been previously registered outside of Australia as a dentist, the Board requires a Certificate of Registration Status or Certificate of Good Standing from every jurisdiction outside of Australia in which you are currently, or have previously been registered as a health practitioner during the past five years. For example, if you were registered in India as a Dentist, then you would need a letter of good standing from DCI.
Please note: The applicants cannot provide this document on their own. In such a case DBA will not accept it.
Candidate MUST arrange for original Certificates of Registration Status or Certificates of Good Standing to be posted directly from the registration authority of your current dental degree to your AHPRA state office.
It is recommended that letters of good standing are posted to the ADC after your initial assessment application has been submitted. The letter of good standing is valid for three months from the date that it was issued by the registering authority.
If you want to know more about your state office where you shall send the GSC, refer to www.ahpra.gov.au/About-AHPRA/Contact-Us for your AHPRA state office address.
Importance of Name in the Application
Ideally your supporting documents and Govt. Ids must have a single same name throughout. In case, your supporting documents have different names or different versions of your name you must provide evidence of any name changes.
Evidence must be a legal change of name document. Newspaper or gazette articles, affidavits or statutory declarations are not considered as legal evidence.
Initial Assessment Results
Initial assessment for dental practitioners
Other important requirements Change of name The ADC must ensure the legitimacy of all supporting documentation. If your supporting documents have different names or different versions of your name you must provide evidence of any name changes.
Till now, we have covered all the basic points related to the steps to be aware of before you start working on your dental career in Australia. We also enumerated all 3 steps of the Australian Dental Skill Assessment Examination.
We had a detailed look at the first step in the process – Initial Assessment by the ADC.
In the next slide, we will have a review of the next steps in the Australian Dental Journey.
We are reviewing the process of working as a certified dentist and dental professional in Australia.
In the previous slide, we have covered all the basic points related to the steps to be aware of before you start working on your dental career in Australia. (Related to VISA and others)
We also enumerated all 3 steps of the Australian Dental Examination.
We had a detailed look at the first step in the process – Initial Assessment by the ADC.
In this slide, we would have a review of the second step of the ADC Certification Process – The Written Examination
STEP 2: DENTIST WRITTEN EXAMINATION
The second stage of the assessment process is the Written Examination.
The written test evaluates a candidate’s knowledge of the dental science and practices of dentistry. The examination also assesses the application of clinical judgment and reasoning skills relevant to dental practice in Australia.
For exam related dates, always refer to the official website of ADC.
All the latest exam dates, result notifications, and other ADC related updates are published at the media center section of the website.
Tentative months for the written examination?
Two written examination sessions are scheduled each calendar year. These are usually held in March and September.
Written examination application periods are advertised on the ADC website and usually occur three to four months before the examination date.
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) written examination for dentists is a computer-delivered examination designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of the science and practice of the dentistry, and assess the application of clinical judgment and reasoning skills relevant to dental practice in Australia.
ADC has published an official handbook for you to refer and get all the necessary details to undertake the written exam. The official link to the ADC Written Exam handbook is displayed below.
Below you will find the summary of some of the important points from the handbook for your better understanding. Download the handbook and read it completely to have a detailed idea about the ADC Written Exams.
Each written examination session is held over two full consecutive days and two sessions are held each year, generally in early March and September. (Each is considered as one cycle). The examination is computer-delivered and is offered in multiple locations within Australia and overseas.
The written examination consists of four papers containing both scenario-based and single-best answer multiple-choice questions (MCQ).
The four papers must be completed in one examination session, i.e. it is not possible to sit in one of the papers in March (or September) and the remaining paper/s in September (or March).
There is no restriction on the number of attempts allowed for the ADC written examination, however, a new application is needed and the examination fee must be paid for each attempt.
A pass in the written examination is valid for three years only. This means that candidates who pass the written examination must sit and pass the practical examination within three years of notification of a successful result in the written examination.
Candidates who do not complete the practical examination in this timeframe must re-sit and pass the written examination to again become eligible to enter the practical examination.
How To apply for the written examination:
- To be eligible for the written exam, the candidate must have successfully completed the ADC Initial assessment of professional qualifications in general dentistry. Once all the certificates are successfully verified then the candidate can appear for the written exam.
- In a single calendar year – two written exams are usually scheduled. These are usually held in March and September.
- Hence the candidate needs to check the official ADC website for notification of written exams. The candidate must submit the Written Examination Application with the mentioned Date/Time limit of the published exam notification at the ADC website.
- Are there any official materials for exam preparation?
- Check the official link that explains the preparation of Written Exams for ADC. Written examination handbook for general dentistry (ADC)
- There are many private exam preparatory materials/coaching centers available that the candidates can use to get practiced in the ADC. (But such courses are not officially endorsed by ADC)
The assessment forms undergo minor modifications regularly and you always need to use the latest application form for every stage.
You can get the latest Written Exam Form at this official link https://www.adc.org.au/Publications-and-forms/Assessment-Forms
Assessment forms
(Latest ADC Forms)
Read the official Written Exam Application form below multiple times to understand the requirements and details asked for you. You will also find a CHECKLIST of all the documents required. Read the checklist thoroughly and arrange the documents as necessary and applicable for your application. As mentioned always download the latest version of the application form from the official ADC Forms Section at this official link https://www.adc.org.au/Publications-and-forms/Assessment-Forms
How to send the application form after filling it?
Please note: The application form cannot be e-mailed. As mentioned clearly at the end of the application form, after completing filling the form you need to physically post the application along with all the certified copies of your supporting documents.
Post applications and certified documents to: PO Box 13278, Law Courts Vic 8010, Australia.
If you plan on sending your documents via courier, please post to Level 6, 469 Latrobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia
Process of Submitting for the Written Exam
Steps after your Written Exam Application gets approved
Congratulations first! If your application for Written Exam gets approved, now it is time to book your written exam.
What are the possible venues for booking a Written Exam
Can you request a change of venue?
Once an examination booking has been made, you may request a change in venue up until the closure of the booking period (subject to availability).
Changes to examination venues cannot be made after the booking period has closed.
All change of venue requests should be made directly to Pearson VUE.
Check your contact details properly
Venue details and urgent information will be communicated to you via your nominated email address. Please ensure the email address you provide is reliable and checked regularly. Candidates who use free internet providers (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) should properly maintain their mailboxes and check junk mail or other filters. The ADC/Pearson VUE will not be responsible for non-receipt of correctly addressed emails.
Additional information on Written Exams for General Dentistry
- ADC written exam consists of scenario-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for its written examinations.
- The use of scenario-based MCQs allows for the assessment of not only knowledge but also the application of knowledge.
- Significance of the Written Exam: ADC candidates must successfully complete the written examination before being able to progress to the practical examination. To ensure currency of knowledge, the practical examination must be completed within three years of successful completion of the written examination.
Format of the Written Exam
The written exam goes on for TWO days.
Candidate needs to clear the Written exam successfully to be eligible to appear for the Practical Exams.
The questions in each paper will focus on, but not be limited to, the disciplines listed in the table below. For example, Paper 2 will mainly focus on Prosthodontics and Implantology but will also require knowledge from other disciplines.
Books for Preparing for the Written Exams
How the Written Exam is conducted
- The candidate is supposed to reach the examination venue at the stipulated time. The usual time for both the days of examination is 8 AM to 5PM. Hence you will need to plan your accommodation and travel as per the required timing.You must be at the examination center usually 30-60 minutes before the examination starts. Once the examination has commenced no candidate will be granted late entry, regardless of the reason. If you fail to sit a paper, this will be counted as a withdrawal from the examination and you will not receive any examination results.
- You will be provided with a copy of the Candidate Rules Agreement at the examination venue and will be asked to provide a sample of your signature at registration, signifying that you understand and accept these rules.
- You may view the Candidate Rules Agreement on the ADC website. Any candidate found to be in breach of the examination rules will be subject to the processes outlined in the ADC Misconduct Policy.
- The written examination will be delivered via a computer screen. Each candidate will be allocated a workstation.
- At the start of each day, you will be presented with a tutorial guiding you through the format of the examination. You will be provided with all the materials necessary for the examination.
- Calculators or other electronic or mechanical aids are neither required nor permitted. Scrap paper is neither provided nor permitted for the Written Examination papers.
Documents to carry for verification in Written Exam
Candidates are required to bring the evidence of identity as authorization to sit the examination. These documents will be checked before you will be allowed to sit for the examination.
You must present two forms of identification (ID).
You may present either two forms of Primary ID or one form of Primary ID and one form of Secondary ID.
Primary ID: Primary ID documents must be government-issued with your name, a recent recognizable photograph and a signature, such as an International Travel Passport.
Secondary ID: Secondary ID documents must contain either your name and a recent, recognizable photograph or your name and signature such as a debit/credit card, or your driver’s license (if not used as primary ID).
- The ID documents that you present at the examination must be original (i.e. no photocopies) and current at the time of the examination.
- The first and last names 7 that you used to register for the examination must exactly match the first and last names on the ID documents that you present.
- Other than your international passport, all forms of identification must be issued in the country you are testing in. Any non-English documents must be accompanied by an appropriate translation as outlined in the ADC translation of document guidelines.
How will you access the results of the Written Exams?
Candidates will receive their result in the written examination via the ADC Candidate Portal.
To access the Portal you will be provided with your own unique login and password prior to the release of results. First-time examination candidates will not be able to access the candidate portal until results have been released. If you are a repeat examiner, you will already have the login and password.
Written examination results will be released approximately 6 weeks after the date of the examination. It will be announced/notified on the ADC website.
Results for the ADC Exams are mentioned as PASS or FAIL. (You will also recieve grades) ADC written examination results will appear on your Results Profile. To access your examination grades please click on your PASS or FAIL result.
To be awarded a PASS in the written examination, candidates must PASS all four written papers. The Results Profile also provides a grade for each paper attempted.
Grades A, B, and C are PASS grades and grades D and E are FAIL grades.
Withdrawl and Verification of Exam Results
Can a candidate withdraw from the Written Exam?
Yes, withdrawal from an ADC examination can be made by submitting a Notification of withdrawal form. Candidate needs to submit this withdrawal form directly to ADC, stating that you are withdrawing from the written exam.
Will you receive a Refund?
Yes, if you submit the withdrawal form before the conduction of the written exam, you are eligible for a refund. However, the amount of refund depends on at which stage you have applied from the refund and withdrawal. For example, if you withdraw from a booked examination up to two (2) weeks before the examination date you will be eligible to receive a 50% refund of the examination 6 fees. Check the two links below from ADC site:
Will I incur a financial penalty if I withdraw from the written examination?
Verification of Exam Results
Candidates who wish to have their results verified must submit an Application for Verification of Written Examination Results, together with the required fee, within 28 days of the date that results are posted. The application form and current fee are available on the ADC website. The ADC does not release examination material to candidates. The verification process does not provide candidates with the questions and answers from the examination.
The Timeframe and Cost of Written Examination
| ACTIVITY | TIMEFRAME |
|---|---|
| Written examination application period | Approximately 3 to 4 months before the examination |
| Authorisation to test emails sent | 8 weeks before examination |
| Pearson VUE bookings open | 8 weeks before examination |
| Pearson VUE bookings close | 5 weeks before examination |
| Notification of examination results | 6 weeks after examination |
| Application for verifications and appeals close | 28 days from notification of results |
Cost of Written Exam: AUD$ 2000
Dentist written examination
We have covered all the basic points related to the steps to be aware of before you start working on your dental career in Australia. We also enumerated all 3 steps of the Australian Dental Skill Assessment Examination.
In the next slide, we will have a review of the 3rd Step in the Australian Dental Journey (Practical Examination).
We are reviewing the process of working as a certified General Dentist in Australia.
In the previous 2 slides, we have covered all the basic points related to the steps to be aware of before you start working on your dental career as a General Dentist in Australia. (Related to VISA and others)
We also enumerated all 3 steps of the Australian Dental Examination.
We had a detailed look at the first 2 steps in the process – Initial Assessment by the ADC & Written Examination
In this slide, we would have a review of the third and final step of the ADC Certification Process – The Practical Examination
STEP 3: DENTIST PRACTICAL EXAMINATION
The third stage of the assessment process is the Practical Examination.
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) practical examination is the platform for candidates to demonstrate that they are competent to practise safely as a dentist in Australia. The practical examination assesses candidates across the range of the Entry-level competencies of the newly qualified dentist relevant to dental practice in Australia.
For exam related dates, always refer to the official website of ADC.
All the latest exam dates, result notifications, and other ADC related updates are published at the media center section of the website.
What are the competencies that ADC reviews via the Practical Exams? Check the official ADC Document for the complete list of the expected professional competencies of a newly qualified dentist in Australia
The assessment forms undergo minor modifications regularly and you always need to use the latest application form for every stage.
You can get the latest Accredition & Competencies Form at this official link https://www.adc.org.au/Publications-and-forms/Assessment-Forms
Check out some of the important competencies expected for a General Dentist in Australia
The practical examination focusses on the competencies listed in Domain 6 (Patient Care) of the competency statement and its subdomains: clinical information gathering (6.1), diagnosis and management planning (6.2), and clinical treatment and evaluation.
PLEASE NOTE: You are responsible for arranging your own visa, travel, and accommodation for your examination.
Eligibility to apply for the Practical Exam
To be eligible to sit the practical exam, you need to successfully clear or PASS the Written Exam. The PASS result of the written exam is valid for three years. Within the three years, you can apply and sit for the practical exam.
Please note: If you do not sit for the practical exam within three years of passing the Written Exam, the validity will lapse. In that case, you will again need to appear for the Written Exam and PASS it once more to be eligible for sitting in he Practical Exam.
When can you apply for the practical exam?
Examination dates, application periods and the Practical Examination Application – Dentist form are located on the ADC website. You will need to check the official ADC website for the Application Period. Check this demo table below.
In the table above, for the practical exam that is going to be conducted in November 2019, the period to send the Application form is 29th July to 9th August. Which means if the candidate does not apply within the mentioned period, then the application will not be accepted.
ADC will not consider applications received outside the listed periods, or from candidates who do not meet the eligibility criteria for that application period. (By Eligibility means: Candidate must have passed the Written Exam of ADC)
If you are eligible then within the application period you can apply to sit in the practical examination by completing the Practical Examination Application – Dentist form and submitting a hard copy to the ADC during the designated application period.
Read the official Practical Exam Application form below multiple times to understand the requirements and details asked from you. You will also find a CHECKLIST of all the documents required. Read the checklist thoroughly and arrange the documents as necessary and applicable for your application.
How to send the application form after filling it?
Please note: The application form cannot be e-mailed. As mentioned clearly at the end of the application form, after completing filling the form you need to physically post the application along with all the certified copies of your supporting documents.
Post applications and certified documents to: PO Box 13278, Law Courts Vic 8010, Australia.
If you plan on sending your documents via courier, please post to Level 6, 469 Latrobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia
Booking a seat for the practical exam
Some Major Points on Practical Examination
The protocols and the details of the practical exams are vast. The official documents by ADC explain all the points in details. Below we are reviewing some of the main points for your better understanding.
1. Where is the Practical Exam Venue
Please note there are NO multiple centers for the practical exam. Unlike the written exam, the practical exam is held only in Australia. All practical examinations are held at the ADC Examination Centre at: Level 6, 469 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 Tel: 03 9657 1777
Please note that the practical exam goes on for 2 days – at the venue mentioned above. Hence, you will need to be present at the exam venue for the 2 days.
2. On Venue Registration for the Exam
Reach the exam venue well before the stipulated time. You will need to complete the onsite registration area at the ADC exam venue reception center. For the exam venue registration:
- You must present current, government-issued photographic identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, which includes your signature.
- Your photograph will be taken at registration and your identity confirmed.
If you fail to provide the correct identification, comply with registration standards, or arrive after during the scheduled registration time, you may not be permitted into the examination.
- After successful registration, the registering officer will issue you with an identification badge. Once admitted into the examination centre you must wear your identification badge at all times.
- The identification badge must be returned before leaving the examination center. (after the 1st day of the exam)
- When you arrive at the venue for the second day of the exam, you will need to re-register again similar to the 1st day. (presenting the same current, government-issued photographic identification as on day one).
After the registration, each candidate will be allotted a secure locker for the duration of the day’s examination. Candidates are supposed to place all their belonging’s, teaching materials and mobile phones, in the locker. The candidates will be asked to demonstrate so.
Once the registration process is over, the candidate is directed to dedicated candidate lounge with seating areas, refreshments, and bathrooms.
Before the start of the examination, candidates will get an orientation outlining the entire schedule of the day’s exam. If you have any doubts, you can clarify with ADC appointed persons at the venue after the orientation.
3. Do I need to carry my own equipment & supplies?
The ADC will supply all the materials and equipment required for the practical examination. To assist you with your preparations, details of the materials and equipment available to you at the examination center are available in the Practical examination information package.
-
- Gloves, masks, and gowns will be available for your use.
- You must provide your own protective eyewear. You may also bring and use clinically suitable magnification aids.
Materials and Instruments that will be given by ADC at the Exam Center (from the offical ADC infobook)
4. What I cannot Bring To The Exam?
You cannot bring the following items to either day of your examination:
× Any dental materials, burs, instruments or equipment other than your safety eye-wear.
× Reference material including ADC handbooks, textbooks, stationery or measuring tools.
× Any telecommunications or transmitting devices. This includes but is not limited to smartwatches, smart glasses, and mobile phones.
5. Can I Bring Food Items to the Exam?
- You must bring your lunch on your technical skills day. Fruit, biscuits, tea and coffee will be available in the candidate lounge. You will not be permitted to leave the Examination Centre during any break period on either examination day.
- Your lunch must be presented in clear packaging such as a clear container or clear snap-lock bag. The packaging must be such that ADC staff can clearly see its contents.
- After placing your items in your locker, we will ask you to present your lunch, in its clear packaging to the ADC staff member, who will label it with your ADC reference number and provide you with further instructions for storing your lunch in the candidate lounge fridge.
6. Can I take a Break During the Exam?
You are not permitted to leave the examination centre during the technical skills day or clinical skills day session.
However, within the exam hall you are allowed to take break from time to time
- Breaks can be taken as desired throughout the technical skills day.
- The technical skills day includes a mandated 45 minute lunch break.
- Each clinical skills day session will include scheduled breaks. All breaks are taken in the candidate lounge area which includes a kitchen, lounge area, male and female bathrooms, and a quiet room.
6. Can You take a any medications to the exam?
You can but prior authorisation is required for any medication to be brought with you on examination day. Appropriate storage of your medication(s) will be arranged for.
Health-related items can be presented in a non-transparent bag at the time of registration. An ADC staff member may inspect the contents of this bag and will provide you with further instructions on where your items will be located in the Examination Centre.
What is the pattern and the details of the Pratical Exam?
Official Assessment Tasks in the Technical and Clinical Skiils Day (overview)
Summary of Technical Tasks and Clinical Skills you are expected to perform
Clinical Skills Day
- During the clinical skills day you are required to complete a ten-station OSCE.
- This is a station-based examination, where you are allocated a defined amount of time at each station.
- Each station is set up in a designated room with a different task relating to a clinical scenario or clinical skill demonstration.
- Tasks may include the use of standardised simulated patients, video-based scenarios, procedures on manikins and/or other related resources.
- Upon entry, you will be provided with the detailed instructions and information for that station. You will have a designated period of reading time upon entering a station. You will be notified when the examination period starts and finishes.
Your clinical skills day examination is a half-day examination and you will be scheduled to either a morning or afternoon session. For example:
- As a guide, a clinical skills day examination may consist of tasks such as:
- taking a history from a simulated patient
- explaining a diagnosis and management plan to a simulated patient
- establishing a risk profile for a simulated patient
- communicating a health promotion strategy to a simulated patient
- managing a medical emergency in a simulated environment
Practical Exam – 2 Days Overview
How the Reults of the Pratical Exams are reviewed?
There is a defined state of criteria that are reviewed by trained and calibrated examiners in order to rate or grade the performance of the candidates.
Detailed information about the format, content and marking of the practical examination is provided in ADC Assessment Process – An overview of the ADC assessment and examinations process for overseas qualified dental practitioners.
Individual performance in each clinical skills day OSCE station task and technical skills day task is assessed using both global rating scales and checklists.
Examiners will also assess performance in a task using a checklist. Individual assessment criteria (or items) are presented to the examiner in the form of a checklist and are used by examiners to assess performance in a standardised and reliable manner.
A candidate can receive one of four possible grades for each checklist criterion: very good, satisfactory, borderline or unsatisfactory. Each grade relates to a numerical score of 3, 2, 1 or 0 respectively. The grade description for each criterion may vary by task however, in broad terms, the grade descriptors are outlined below.
The final result of the practical exam is declared as a PASS or FAIL.
To obtain an overall “pass” in the practical examination candidates
must pass both days of the examination at a single attempt.
The clinical skills day and technical skills day are assessing fundamentally different competencies and a strong performance on one examination day cannot compensate or replace for a substandard performance on the other examination day.
Check the section from the official ADC Overview ADC Assessment Process – An overview of ADC assessment and examinations for overseas qualified dental practitioners that explains the assessment process of practical exam in detail
The practical exams in the process of ADC are the most crucial and consists of multiple points that you should be mindful about. The pointers you read above were part of the snippets broken down in to easy to understand segments. By now you should be having a basic initial understanding of all the points. Hence, it is now the correct time to check the detailed official documents on the practical exams of ADC. You will need to read the documents more than two times, to get a clear cut understanding of all the points.
ADC Practical Exam Information Package
ADC Practical Exam Hand Book
You can check for all the latest official handbooks for various stages of ADC Exams at the below official link
Assessment publications
Practical examination handbook for dentists Practical examination information package for dentists Practical examination information package for dental hygiene and dental therapy Practical examination handbook for dental hygiene and dental therapy Five tips for your upcoming practical examination fact sheet
We just covered the entire sequence of the ADC Practical exams. Now you can again check the official ADC Page for reference
What to do after you PASS the practical exam?
Applying for the dentist license registration
Once you pass the practical exam, then your journey of ADC Assessment is completed. As an overseas dentist, you have cleared the ADC hurdle in front of you. The Dental Board of Australia (DBA) has assigned (Australian Dental Council) ADC to carry out the assessment tests. Once you clear the ADC Exams, then the next step is to apply for the Dentist Registration.
For that, please visit the official DBA page below and check the application forms
| Application for general registration as a dental practitioner – AGEN-20 | PDF (1.23 MB) | 1 October 2019 |
Check the apploication form below for your reference. Always DOWNLOAD the latest application form by visiting the forms section mentioned above
The application will require you to furnish all the necessary details. Fill all the details as asked and provide the supporting documents as mentioned and required. The application form in the above-mentioned link (PDF) explains every point required in the form in detail. Hence, please download the form and read it multiple times to get an idea regarding all the points asked in the form. In case of any doubts regarding filling the registration form, the best option is to directly contact the DBA helpline. Check below the dedicated “Contact” page for DBA. It has a hotline number where you can call and clarify your doubts regarding form filling.
What is the cost of registration?
For dentist/specialist is the cost of registration as a dentist with DBA is (Application Fees + Registration Fees)
When you go through the registration application form in detail you will come across many documents and information being asked for. We are discussing some of those. But as mentioned before, read the application in detail to understand all the documents that are applicable for you and you need to attach for your registration to be successful.
Certificate of Good Standing
If you have been previously registered outside of Australia as a dentist, the Board requires a Certificate of Registration Status or Certificate of Good Standing from every jurisdiction outside of Australia in which you are currently, or have previously been registered as a health practitioner during the past five years. For example, if you were registered in India as a Dentist, then you would need a letter of good standing from DCI.
Please note: The applicants cannot provide this document on their own. In such a case DBA will not accept it.
Candidate MUST arrange for original Certificates of Registration Status or Certificates of Good Standing to be forwarded directly from the registration authority to your AHPRA state office.
If you want to know more about your state office where you shall send the GSC, refer to www.ahpra.gov.au/About-AHPRA/Contact-Us for your AHPRA state office address.
Full Practice History (curriculum vitae)
Candidate must attach to your application a curriculum vitae that describes your full practice history and any clinical or procedural skills training undertaken. To know more details on how to fill your CV and also to download a demo CV, visit the official link below
ICHC (International Criminal History Check)
We have already discussed this in stage 1 of ADC – Initial Assessment. During dentist license registration too, you are supposed to submit ICHC Certificate issued to you by an independent vendor approved by the DBA. Please check the official DBA link below to know the details.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Practitioners must meet the minimum requirements set out in the Board’s continuing professional development (CPD) registration standard.
The Board encourages practitioners to engage in CPD activities each year, gradually accumulating a minimum of 60 hours over the three-year CPD cycle.
- a minimum of 48 of the 60 hours (80 percent) must be spent on clinically or scientifically-based activities.
- a maximum of 12 of the 60 hours (20 percent) can be spent on nonscientific activities.
- Each three-year CPD cycle covers three registration periods from 1 December to 30 November. The Board encourages practitioners to engage in CPD activities each year, gradually accumulating a minimum of 60 hours over the three-year CPD cycle.
- For more information, view the full registration standard online at www.dentalboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards
What are the requirements if you are applying for registration for the first time?
If you are registered for the first time as a dental practitioner during the three-year CPD cycle, the minimum required CPD hours will be calculated pro-rata. The formula used to calculate the pro-rata hours is provided in Attachment A. (Document is attached below)
Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII)
When practicing dentistry in Australia, dental practitioners must be covered by professional indemnity insurance that meets the requirements for PII
arrangements outlined in the PII arrangements registration standard.
- A registered health practitioner must not practice the health profession in which the practitioner is registered unless appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are in force in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession.
- A National Board may, at any time by written notice, require a registered health practitioner registered by the Board to give the Board evidence of the appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements that are in force in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession.
- A registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a written notice given to the practitioner under point above
Recency of Practice
To ensure that you are able to practice competently and safely, you must have recent practice in dentistry and in any field of practice (including specialist, endorsement or division of the register), in which you intend to work during the period of registration for which you are applying.
What if you have not been actively practicing in dentistry?
If in the previous five years you have not practiced in dentistry or the field of practice in which you intend to work during the period of registration, you will need to satisfy the Board’s recency of practice requirements.
The above are some of the points asked in the License Registration application form. As mentioned before, read the application form in detail and check for all the details that are applicable to you and for which you need to provide documents. Also, please note that all the documents are supposed to be in English. If not you will need to get your documents translated as mentioned in the first slide of the article. You can find more details on document translation at the below official link:
English Proficiency Certificate for Dentist License Registration
After completing ADC Exams successfully, candidates must demonstrate a valid English language proficiency in order to successfully apply for Dentist registration license to DBA.
Q. Do you need to have an English Language certificate after successfully clearing ADC Exams?
On completion of the ADC process, evidence of English language skills is required for Dentist License registration purposes by AHPRA (ahpra.gov.au) or for migration purposes by the Department of Home Affairs (homeaffairs.gov.au).
It is also clearly highlighted in the license registration application form that the candidates must demonstrate authentic English language proficiency while applying for dentist license registration.
You will find the official document mentioning the English language standards below taken from the official registration requirement page for Dentists.
English language skills registration standard FAQ
| Dental English Language Skills Registration Standard | PDF (225KB) | Word version (72.8KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2015 |
Check the official AHPRA English Language Regulation for Dental Practitioners
How to give the English Language Proficiency Test?
The most common option is to apply for English Language tests conducted by DBA Authorized English language test systems. Please check the official document shared above which mentions the various English language proficiency tests you can undertake. You will need to score at least a minimum overall score to qualify the English test.
Please check the license registration application form (Point number 20). You are required to mention which English test you have completed and mention your English test form number for verification by AHPRA. You are also asked to attach the test scores.
For example, if you are undertaking the IELTS English test (academic module) then you need to pass with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking). Only then you will be considered proficient in the English language as per DBA. Check below the various Engish language tests available to you:
IELTS Australia: Computer-Based English Language Test
OET – The English Language Test for Healthcare Professionals
Pearson English Language Test | PTE Academic
How long the English language test results are valid?
The test results are valid within two years before the date you submit your license registration application. As stated in the official registration application:
If your English language test(s) were completed within the past two years, you must provide a copy of your test results, including the reference number(s), so that AHPRA can verify your results. If your English language test(s) were not completed within the past two years, you must provide a certified copy of your results.
Please read the document on the English language requirement (PDF) (shared above) to get a complete idea of the validity duration points of your English language test.
We have now completed slide 3 of the article and till now have covered all the relevant details on ADC Exams (all the 3 stages), Preliminary VISA & ICHC Points & steps in registering as a licensed dentist after clearing ADC Exams.
In the upcoming slides, we will have a detailed review of the financial aspects of ADC, Dental Career Prospects in Australia, Job options & scenario, Expenses, Work VISA Related official links and How to get Licensed & work as a Dental Specialist.
Financial Aspects of – ADC and Building a Dental Career in Australia
Expenses in the ADC Process
Working in Australia as a Certified General Dentist is a great and ambitious idea. Once successfully done, it has many rewards and riches. However, as you read in the previous slides, you need to clear the ADC Exams and the exams do not come cheap. The entire ADC Exam is separated into 3 separate steps. You will need to clear each stage separately. Each stage is its own cost and requirements. Other than the main ADC Exam cost (for all the three stages), you also have the associated logistic costs such as – Visa related, international traveling, local traveling, accommodation and day to day expenses in Australia.
Not to forget you will also need to spend finance on ADC exam preparation. You will need to invest in books and materials.
The Biggest Expenditure Factor in ADC Exams
The biggest expenditure point in the ADC Exams is the Practical exam which has high registration fees (AUD $4,500). Also, chairside dental management, patient interaction, diagnosis presentation, and many other clinical parameters assessment in Australia, will vary from what you are used to in your country where you completed the BDS (Dental Graduation).
This difference is even more prominent if you are from South Asian countries like India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Though the basic education remains similar, there is a marked difference in the clinical approach and modes of patient interaction between a dentist from South Asia and an Australian dental graduate.
Hence before sitting for the Practical exam, it gets highly important to get a complete familiarity with the pattern and approach of the ADC clinical exams.
To provide coaching there are many private and professional coaching centers in Australia. These centers prepare the candidates for all stages of ADC examination and most importantly, the ADC clinical exams.
Please note that these private coaching centers are not directly affiliated with ADC and they charge a hefty amount. But reputed and long-standing centers can give a complete overview of the practical exam to a student from South Asia and other non-western regions. Getting a prior practice, knowledge, and preparation on the practical exam, is always wiser than directly sitting for the practical exam. With that overview, let us now have a review of all the possible expenses associated with your journey to ADC success.
ADC Initial Assessment
Cost for ADC Initial Assessment: AUD $610 (Time frame – 8 months)
Associated Costs: Depends on the type of requirements you will have. For example, let’s say you have your documents, not in the English language. So, you will need to get it translated from ADC certified translators. That might require some additional fees to be paid. Another example of associated costs can be the costs incurred while you arrange for all the necessary documents such as transcripts etc.
Initial assessment for dental practitioners
ADC Dentist Written Exam
Cost for ADC Initial Assessment: AUD $2000
(Time frame – 5 months)
| ACTIVITY | TIMEFRAME |
|---|---|
| Written examination application period | Approximately 3 to 4 months before the examination |
| Authorisation to test emails sent | 8 weeks before examination |
| Pearson VUE bookings open | 8 weeks before examination |
| Pearson VUE bookings close | 5 weeks before examination |
| Notification of examination results | 6 weeks after examination |
| Application for verifications and appeals close | 28 days from notification of results |
Associated Costs: Buying the prescribed textbooks and materials for ADC preparation. Reaching the exam venue etc.
Also, check the official ADC written Exam Handbook for the complete details.
ADC Dentist Practical Exam
(The exam will Take Place in Australia at the ADC Headquarter)
Cost for ADC Practical Exam: AUD $4500
(Time frame – 6 to 9 months)
| ACTIVITY | TIMEFRAME |
|---|---|
| Practical examination application period | Approximately 3 months prior to examination |
| Notification of application receipt | Within 2 weeks of receipt of application |
| Notification of allocated practical examination date | Within 6 weeks of practical examination application period |
| Notification of examination results | 6 weeks after examination |
Associated Costs: Books, preparation materials, private coaching if you choose to take, travel+ accommodation expenses, other expenses
Official ADC Practical Exam handbook with complete details of the information related to practical exam. You will also find suggested Accommodations with pricing.
The cost of the coaching centers for ADC Preparation
(If you decide to enroll in any)
At the beginning of this slide, we have discussed in detail, on the point of private coaching centers for ADC Exams. Please note the coaching centers are not associated with ADC directly in any way. Enrolling in any of the coaching centers does not mean you will have an additional upper hand in the exams.
The only benefit you will have is gaining FAMILIARITY with the various patterns and approaches that you should follow in ADC written and Practical exams. This is in particular beneficial for dentists who are from Asian or South Asian countries, where the approach and the system are slightly different from that of Australia. Hence, prior preparation is extremely helpful for the exams. For example, there are coaching centers in India and in Australia that provides comprehensive, detailed preparation for all stages of ADC to 16-day extensive preparation for the practical exams.
For the point of being unbiased, we would not be mentioning any coaching center by name.
But we will provide you a rough estimate of the prices that can be charged.
Coaching for ADC Clinicals: ₹162,000.00 = AUD $ 3387
One of our colleagues had suggested, “Dental Health Services Victoria” which along with health programs also conducts special Courses for overseas-trained dentists. These courses are ADC Oriented and cover almost every aspect that is expected in the ADC Exams. However, the courses are extremely pricy if you are a student from Asian and South Asian Countries due to currency conversion.
Caution: Before enrolling for any coaching center, evaluate properly about its authenticity and reputation. Check its reviews, its website and if possible visit the center to check on a first-hand basis. Ask your friends, check social media pages of the coaching centers and check for the reviews. In short, be careful before you decide to pay any fees to any coaching center for the preparatory ADC Exams course.
The Total Cost for ADC Exams as of 2019
$610 + $ 2000 + $4500 = AUD $ 7110
(The combined registration costs for all the 3 stages of ADC to be payble to ADC)
If you decide to join any private coaching center then it will be add on to the above price.
ADC Exam Registration Fees (3 stages) + Coaching center Charges = AUD $7110 + AUD $4000 = AUD$ 10,000 onwards
N.B: To the above pricing you can always add the logistical costs:
Travelling (International + Within Australia), Books, Accommodations and others
Its a considerable investment in terms of finance and timing. Hence, it is crucial that you take up the journey of ADC only when you are clear about two things:
- You are very passionate and motivated about working in Australia as a dentist and for that, you are willing to do all the hard work that is necessary.
- You have the proper financial backing to cover all the expenses mentioned above for ADC and the associated additional costs.
If you are not sure about either of the two steps above, then it is not advisable to try for the ADC journey. It will just lead to a loss of money and precious time.
The Cost of Living in Australia
If you are planning a stay in Australia much before qualifying the exam (and obviously after completing the ADC Exams successfully), then you need to have the preliminary information on the cost of living in Australia. Read the articles below from reputed financial sources explaining the cost of living in Australia.
The cost of living in Australia
If you already have direct relatives settled in Australia, then it gets relatively easier to get things moving. They can act as your sponsor and also will provide you the much-required logistical help in your initial days in Australia. However, if you do not have any direct family members in Australia, then it is advisable to contact fellow students, educational groups that can provide you the necessary information. You can also contact the Australian embassy in your country where they have counselors to provide information.
What’s the next step after Clearing the ADC Exams and getting registered with Dental Board of Australia
Its a great achievement clearing all the stages of ADC and finally getting your License from DBA (Dental Board of Australia). So, what’s next?
If you are assuming that once you clear the ADC exams, job options will come searching for you, then that is not true. All you have in your hands right now is the license to work as a general dentist in Australia. Hence, now you have to start working towards the money-making part of your entire journey of ADC – applying for job openings as Dentists.
You can start applying for General Dentist Openings in various Private Dental Setups or Hospitals (with an opening for a General Dentist). Few Sites that you can use to look for Dentist jobs in Australia are mentioned below.
Dentist Jobs In Australia | Recruit.net
Dental Jobs – Dentist Job Search
Please note: You will not be the only one applying for the post of general dentist. There will be many applicants of varying experience and all having cleared ADC Exams. For general dentist posts in reputed, long-standing and established private clinics/setups the competition will be stiff.
So, how do you improve your chances of getting the post?
You can improve your chances by adding on to your credentials. So, it is important that during your BDS/MDS days you attend reputed CDE programs, conferences to build up your CV. Even after clearing your ADC Exams, you will need to attend the Workshops to improve your clinical skills that are appropriate for high standards of the Australian dental health sector. Maintain documentation and certificates of all the events that you attend.
Join the Australian Dental Association as a member (after you clear your ADC Exams)
Being a member of the Australian Dental Association is beneficial in many ways. You get to increase your professional networking, meet fellow dentists and learn about more job opportunities.
Can I set up my own practice after Clearing ADC?
Is it viable? Is the most preferred approach?
Yes, you can. If you have adequate finances and planning then you may. But if this is the approach you are planning, then, you need to be very cautious and aware that it’s not going to be easy. Setting up your private practice in Australia can be as tricky as doing so in your native country.
The basic requirements are the same. You need a good real estate, proper location/neighborhood, instruments, sterilization protocols and much more. Also, the regulatory system in Australia is strict and the expected standards are high. Hence, in order to fulfill all the criteria to the best, it is going to require considerable financial investment as well as professional consultations.
We spoke with many expats working as Dentists in Australia regarding the viability of opening a private practice after clearing the ADC Exams. Here are some of the direct points gathered from the discussions.
- If you are from a affluent source with adequate cash flow, then the initial aspects get easy and much more manageable. Please note, it does not mean that your practice will be a runaway success. But it’s like having a head start. However, beyond that, it’s your quality, PR Skills, dental skills and business acumen which will decide how your practice fares.
- In case you do not have personal cash support, you will need to raise money from the market.
- For a general suburban dental practice, you might need to spend around $400,000 on infrastructure and equipment is around another $500,000. That’s almost $900,000. Let’s say you need to break even (to earn $900,000) then you will require $75,000 per month. That’s roughly $10,000 week and $2000 per day. Or 10 appointments a day with an average of $200 per appointment patient spend.
That’s easier said than done. So, for the possibility to break even you would need to earn at least $ 2000 per day. And to mention again that’s not going to be easy.
Hence, if you are new to Australia and planning a career in Dentistry (after qualifying ADC), then the best option is to Work as an Associate Dentist in a private practice owned by someone else. Depending on your experience and the reputation of the practice, you will receive a handsome HOURLY pay + Incentives or percentage. All that with no stress of owning and managing the practice. Just do your work properly and get the salary and incentive.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one working hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour.
Am I going to really have a better earning if I get a job as a General Dentist after qualifying ADC?
There have been multiple types of research over the years to review the earning potential of dentists in Australia. You have to understand that individual earnings will vary from one dentist to another depending on many factors – for example, the city of location in Australia, the experience and credentials.
But for the sake of assessment we will need to take an average. One of the best articles that I have come across which provides an in-depth comparison of the earnings of general dentist taking into consideration multiple factors is by SalaryExplorer.
Dentist Average Salary in Australia 2019
The survey divides and reviews the salary of dentists based on multiple factors like – location, educational degrees, gender, years of work experience and many other variables. So, if you want to have an idea regarding the possible salaries for working as a dentist in Australia, then the above article will provide you a detailed overview.
We have selected the major points of the article in a PDF format above. You can download the PDF.
Here is the summary of the Salary review from the above article.
- A person working as a Dentist in Australia typically earns around 17,812 AUD per month.
- This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Dentist salaries may differ drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
- The salary varies with the years of experience in the market.
- A Dentist with less than two years of experience makes approximately 9,457 AUD per month. While someone with experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 12,411 AUD per month, 31% more than someone with less than two year’s experience.
- The Salary comparison by Educational Degrees.
- When the education level is Certificate or Diploma, the average salary of a Dentist is 12,697 AUD per month.
- While someone with a Bachelor’s Degree gets a salary of 16,413 AUD per month, 29% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma.
- A Master’s Degree gets its holder an average salary of 20,701 AUD per month, 26% more than someone with a Bachelor’s Degree.
- Dentist Average Hourly Wage in Australia.
- The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Australia for Dentists is 103 AUD. This means that the average Dentist in Australia earns approximately 103 AUD for every worked hour.
- This can be negotiated (whether hourly salary or a fixed salary) at the time of your appointment.
The Good Point
The above survey indicated one very pertinent and valuable point. Comparision of Australia’s salaries for Dentists, Health and Medical, and all other jobs. Dentists’ salaries are 68% more than those of Health and Medical.
What are the difficulties that you will face to start a dental career in Australia after I clear ADC?
The difficulties that you may face in Australia to establish a career in dentistry are more or less are the same which you will face anywhere in the world. None the less, it is wise to know about the points.
-
Saturation:
- If you feel you are the only one who cleared ADC, then you know you are mistaken. Every year more people apply and qualify than the previous year. Along with that, there are dental graduates from Australian Dental Colleges too.
- Hence, it is getting saturated and more competitive with each passing year.
- You cannot just expect to only work in the major Australian cities like Sydney etc. You will need to have a watch for job openings in the suburban areas too.
-
Cultural and Work Ethics Difference:
- This point gets more relevant if you are from Asian or South Asian countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. or the Middle East, Gulf countries. The majority of Asian and South Asian countries are developing countries with a vast population (of all age groups) with a doctor to population ration being very low. Hence, more focus is on getting health services for as many as possible.
- But, in Australia and other developed western countries, the population is low and the standards of treatment quality, patient-doctor interaction is of high standards and meticulously regulated. The patients are very aware of oral health and expect top-notch aesthetic treatments.
- Hence, a dentist from Asian and South Asian countries needs to adapt to the language usage of Australia and learn the professional protocols/ethics of the Oral Health sector in Australia as early as possible. Then only it is possible to make inroads in the highly competitive sector of dentistry.
- Work on your English speaking skills.
I hear so many stories and experiences from different people about Dental career in Australia – Some Negative and Some Encouraging
You are bound to come across many points of view, both against and in favor of a career in dentistry in Australia for a foreign national.
Negative Points:
- It requires a lot of financial investment. You have already spent a lot of money on completing dentistry in your own country. Now you will need to spend even more for the ADC Exams preparation and for the various stages of ADC Exam.
- It demands a lot of time and hard work. ADC Exams are not easy that you can just appear for. There is a long preparatory phase to make yourself adept in clearing the written and practical exams with a Pass.
- Difficult to get Jobs. Saturation is building up and it is getting difficult for the foreign dentists to get a job in Australia.
- Hard regulations: Dentistry as a profession is highly regulated in Australia.
Positive Points:
- The earings are high. In general, the dentists have a high earning capacity (we have covered this in detail above in this slide)
- Good lifestyle: Australia is a developed country with an advanced economy, health care, and lifestyle. That is one of the biggest motivations for young foreign dentists to work in Australia and eventually settle down as a residence.
- High oral health awareness. The general Australian population is more aware of oral health and is motivated to maintain oral health & aesthetics.
There will be positive and negative points. But it’s your journey and hence you should be clear regarding the points. Anyone else of your friends or colleagues finding success as a dentist in Australia does not mean that it will be easy for you too. Maybe you will need to work even harder than others. So, what you should follow is hard concrete data and if you are motivated enough to start a dental career in Australia. You have to review the resources you have to get down into the process and if it’s feasible for you financially.
Are there enough Jobs to work as a Dentist in Australia? I hear so much about Saturation.
This is the most common Qs that aspirants (planning to seriously work in Australia as a dentist or not) keep asking and there is no direct answer for it. There has been a rise in the number of dentists (Australian dentists and foreigners who have cleared ADC). The number of dentists and the jobs keeps fluctuating year to year. Hence rather than just writing statements on the Job scenario, we present to you some of the official facts and data on the dentist related jobs in Australia.
The Job Scenario for Dentists
Refer to the official: Oral Health & Dental Care in Australia Report
Here is the summary of the important points of the above link:
Please note the term FTE: Full-time equivalent (FTE) rate: The FTE rate (number of FTE dental practitioners per 100,000 population) is a measure of supply. By defining supply in terms of the FTE rate, meaningful comparisons of supply can be made across geographic areas and over time.
All dental practitioners must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice in Australia. There is a range of different types of registration to match different levels of training and experience. Most dental practitioners have general registration. General registration divisions include dentists, dental prosthetists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists, and dental therapists. Dentists may also qualify and be eligible for specialist registration. There are 13 approved dental specialties in Australia (Dental Board of Australia 2018).
- The number of all registered dental practitioners in Australia has increased from 20,469 in 2013 to 22,042 in 2016
- The number of registered dentists in Australia has increased from 15,479 in 2013 to 16,549 in 2016.
- Around 9 in 10 of all dental practitioners registered in 2016 were employed in their field.
- The proportion of dentists employed in their field has remained relatively stable, ranging from 89% in 2013 to 91% in 2016.
- In 2016, the number of FTE dentists in Australia was 57.7 per 100,000 population.
- Major cities had the highest FTE rate of dentists employed in the private sector (51.5) whilst Remote and very remote areas had the highest FTE rate of dentists employed in the public sector (8.4).
- In 2016, around 4 in 10 (41%) employed dentists were female.
- In 2016, around 1 in 10 (10%) employed dentists were specialists. The largest group of dental specialists in Australia were orthodontists (529) equivalent to 36% of all dental specialists.
Hence, though the dentistry job sector scenario keeps changing (the same happens with every job sector worldwide), there are still opportunities for dentists who are willing to make it work.
VISA and Permanent Residencies for Dentists
VISA regulations keep changing depending on the requirements of any job sector in Australia.
Possible VISA types for a General Dentist
You can check the VISA Type required at the following official Immigration Skill Occupation List
| Dentist | 252312 |
|
Know about each of the above types of VISA by clicking on the official links below
482 VISA:
489 VISA:
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
407 VISA:
187 VISA:
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa
So, as a general dentist career goal, you will need to check with the type of Visa you will like to apply for. With VISA number 482 & 187 there is the possibility for permanent residency.
What if you are a Dental Specialist? Then you have an additional VISA type to apply for. But we will discuss that in the next slide when we discuss on Dental Specialists (MDS or People with dental specialization)
Working in Australia as a Dental Specialist
In the previous slides, we had a detailed look at how to work as a general dentist in Australia. In this slide, we will overview the necessary steps to work as a Dental Specialist in Australia.
Who is a Dental Specialist?
Anyone who has a post-graduate degree in a specific dental stream after dental graduation is considered a dental specialist.
Here is the official list of the Dental Specialists as stated by the Dental Board of Australia.
Official AHPRA page for the Specialist Registration
I am an overseas-qualified dental specialist and I want to apply for specialist registration. What do I need to do?
(A Quick Overview)
You need to apply for both:
1. general registrations as a dentist (Via ADC Assessment)
2. specialist registration in your specialty. (DBA will assess your specialty degree)
Your application for general registration will be assessed first. Find more information on how to apply for general registration as a dentist.
You will need to complete and submit an application form (ASEQ-20) if you want to apply for specialist registration in:
- dento-maxillofacial radiology
- endodontics
- forensic odontology
- oral medicine
- oral and maxillofacial pathology
- oral surgery
- orthodontics
- paediatric dentistry
- periodontics
- prosthodontics, and
- special needs dentistry.
For more information on this pathway to specialist registration, see the Qualification equivalence pathway page.
You will need to complete and submit the application form (ASCA-20) if you want to apply for specialist registration in:
public health (community dentistry).
For more information on this pathway to specialist registration, see the Assessment pathway page.
Dental specialist assessment
The assessment for dental specialist registration is not undertaken by ADC.
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) does not assess the knowledge, judgment of clinical skills, or professional competency of overseas-trained dental specialists seeking to register as a dental specialist in Australia. This assessment is administered by the Dental Board of Australia (DBA).
Then how the assessment for Dental Specialists is done?
All applicants for specialist registration must be qualified and meet the requirements set out in the Board’s Specialist registration standard. These requirements include that applicants have:
- completed a minimum of two years general dental practice (this requirement may be achieved by experience outside Australia, subject to assessment and approval by the Board), and
- met all other requirements for general registration as a dentist.
- if you are an overseas dentist, then you have successfully cleared the ADC Assessments for general dentist registration
As an overseas dentist with a specialization degree, your dental specialization degree is not directly approved by the Dental Board of Australia. So, as stated by the official notification of DBA, you will require to complete the Qualification Equivalence Pathway.
Qualification Equivalence Pathway
The deciding path for your registration as a Dental Specialist in Australia.
You can check the official link for reference:
Summary of the Qualification Equivalence PAthway for Dental Specialists
As a first step: You will need to complete the application form mentioned below with all the documents asked in the application.
| Application for specialist registration – For an equivalence assessment of qualification – ASEQ-20 | PDF (775KB) | 1 October 2019 |
The above mentioned form is applicabe to all Dental Specialities (Endodontist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral Pathologist, Orthodontist, Pedodontist, Periodontist, Prosthodontist, Forensic odontology, dento-maxillofacial radiology, Oral medicine)
The above Form is not applicable for the specialty of Public Health Dentistry
- The Board’s Specialist registration standard requires applicants applying for specialist registration to have completed a minimum of two years of general dental practice in addition to meeting all other requirements for general registration as a dentist.
This general practice requirement may be achieved outside Australia, subject to assessment and approval by the Board.
You must attach to your application a signed and dated curriculum vitae that describes your full practice history and any clinical or procedural skills training relevant to the specialty you are applying for.
If you do not have at least two years of general dental practice experience in or outside of Australia you are not eligible to apply for specialist registration.
You will need to attach a separate sheet mentioning the details of your specialist qualification details if it does not fit in the space provided in the application form. (Your specialization degree, Name of the Institution, Year of Completion)
If you have been previously registered outside of Australia, you must arrange for original Certificates of Registration Status or Certificates of Good Standing to be forwarded directly from the registration authority to your AHPRA state office.
Refer to www.ahpra.gov.au/About-AHPRA/Contact-Us for your AHPRA state office address.
Full Practice History: You must attach to your application a signed and dated curriculum vitae that describes your full practice history and any clinical or procedural skills training relevant to the specialty you are applying for.
You must provide all the documents supporting your application for specialist registration listed in the checklist below. The documents must be submitted in the order as listed in the checklist below.
Separate all documents with a clearly labeled cover sheet and add an index at the front. Do not use plastic sleeves or staples. If you are unable to provide the required documents you must provide a written statement that explains why.
|
Documentation/Information |
Notes |
Attached |
Office use only (tick if complete) |
|
|
1 |
Certified copy of your academic transcript referring only to a single specialty |
If the certified copy of your academic transcript does not indicate the specialty you have completed, you must also provide a certified copy of a letter from the education provider confirming your specialty. |
||
|
2 |
Certified copy of your testamur (degree/award certificate) refer- ring to a single specialty |
If the certified copy of your testamur (degree/ award certificate) does not indicate the specialty you have completed, you must also provide a certified copy of a letter from the education provider confirming your specialty. |
||
|
3 |
Specialist program material such as curriculum, program overview, unit descriptors referring to:
|
Your evidence should refer to the specialist program at the time of your studies. Certified copy is required. If you provide documents available in the public domain with a source, normal copy is accepted. |
||
|
4 |
Evidence of the clinical experience gained during the program, generally in the form of a case log, that summarises the experience and indicates:
|
Certified copy is required. If you provide documents available in the public domain with a source, normal copy is accepted. Your evidence should be de-identified prior to submitting your application. |
||
|
5 |
Evidence of completion of a substantial research-based project, generally in the form of:
|
Your evidence should refer to the specialist program at the time of your studies. A certified copy is required. If you provide documents available in the public domain with a source, normal copy is accepted. |
Above is the summary of the some of the basic requirements to be submitted while applying for the form to register as a Dental Specialist.
Applying for the specialist registration for Public Health Dentistry
If you are from the stream of Public Health Dentistry, then you need to take the Assessment Pathway and also fill a separate form compared to other specialties.
There is no current approved program for these specialties in Australia. Under this pathway, an applicant’s qualification is assessed against specific criteria to determine whether this qualification is relevant to the specialty. The applicant is also required to successfully complete an assessment.
| Document name | Accessible format | Date of effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application for specialist registration – For a competence assessment – ASCA-20 | PDF (774KB) | 1 July 2016 | |
| Self-assessment form for public health (community dentistry) | PDF (280KB) | Word version (103KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
If you are having a Specialization Degree in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
If you have a qualification in oral and maxillofacial surgery, you must first apply for an assessment of your qualification with the Royal Australasian Dental College of Surgeons (the College).
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty recognized by both the Dental Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia.
You must hold qualifications in both medicine and dentistry. If you successfully complete the College’s assessment, you will need to complete and submit the application form ASOM-20.
Specialists Competencies
The Dental Board of Australia (DBA) in partnership with the Dental Council (New Zealand) (the Council) have developed Entry-level competencies for dental specialties. Please note down the basic competencies of your specialties. Go through them and prepare yourself wherever you feel you are lacking.
| Document name | Accessible format | Date of effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation report | PDF (265KB) | Word version (373KB,DOCX) |
June 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for all dental specialties | PDF (406KB) | Word version (604KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for dento-maxillofacial radiology | PDF (85.5KB) | Word version (333KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for endodontics | PDF (107KB) | Word version (356KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for oral and maxillofacial surgery | PDF (108KB) | Word version (347KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for oral medicine | PDF (106KB) | Word version (356KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for oral pathology | PDF (107KB) | Word version (357KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for oral surgery | PDF (106KB) | Word version (219KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for orthodontics | PDF (107KB) | Word version (350KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for paediatric dentistry | PDF (107KB) | Word version (353KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for periodontics | PDF (105KB) | Word version (355KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for prosthodontics | PDF (106KB) | Word version (356KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for public health dentistry (community dentistry) | PDF (108KB) | Word version (355KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for special needs dentistry | PDF (108KB) | Word version (350KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
| Entry level competencies for forensic odontology | PDF (86.1KB) | Word version (342KB,DOCX) |
1 July 2016 |
Possible results of Dental Specialization Assessment by DBA
Once your application and supporting documents are assessed, the Board can decide to:
- grant you specialist registration
- grant you specialist registration subject to condition(s), or
- refuse to grant you specialist registration.
Cost of Applying for Dental Specialist Registrartion
Possible VISA type for Dental Specialists
(Endodontist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral Pathologist, Orthodontist, Pedodontist, Periodontist, Prosthodontist)
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Visa | List | Assessing Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Specialist | 252311 |
|
STSOL |
In addition to all the VISA types available to general dentists, there is an additional VISA type available to Dental Specialists
This visa lets nominated skilled workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents.
With this visa, you can
- work and study anywhere in Australia
- sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
VISA 489
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa
(This VISA type is available to both General Dentists and Dental Specialists)
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
Under this VISA:
- For skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia
- You can bring your family
- If you are granted this visa, you might be able to apply for the Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa (subclass 887)
VISA Subclass 887
Skilled Regional visa
This visa is for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia on a previous, eligible visa.
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
With this VISA:
- stay permanently
- work and study anywhere in Australia
- sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
VISA regulations keep changing from time to time depending on various factors. The points mentioned here are as per the latest available information. The official links have also been shared for your reference. The information you read is just for the initial knowledge of the process. VISA is one of the most important aspects of your Australian journey. Hence, you must always refer the official sources and the Australian Embassy in your country for clearing any doubts or to know the latest and the most appropriate VISA for you.
Finding Job as a Dental Specialist
After the Dental Board of Australia grant you specialist registration, then the next stage is to find a Dental Specialist Job (Related to your specialization). Here it is similar to finding a job as a general dentist. You need to search for various job openings and apply for the specialist job in accordance with your specialization.
Dentist Jobs | ZEST Dental Recruitment
Average Dentist Salary Comparison By Education
The average salary for a Dental Specialist in Australia
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary and its no surprise when survey results show that the average salary of working Dental Specialists is higher than General Dentists.
As per the survey by Salary-Explorer.com,
- When the education level is Certificate or Diploma, the average salary of a Dentist is 12,697 AUD per month.
- While someone with a Bachelor’s Degree gets a salary of 16,413 AUD per month, 29% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma.
- A Master’s Degree gets its holder an average salary of 20,701 AUD per month, 26% more than someone with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Please note: The survey is just an average of the data. Individual salaries may vary. Salaries also depend on other variables such as years of experience, location, neighborhood, clinical and PR skills of the dentist etc.
With this, we have now completed 5 Slides of the article which is around 17,000+ words. We have covered every possible aspect related to starting a career as a dentist/dentist specialist in Australia as an overseas dentist. As mentioned before, it is wise to read the article more than 2 times to get a complete overview of the process.
As a recap, please check the video again. Now you will have a much better understanding of the video which you saw before.
Press next to go to the concluding slide, where you will find ADC Preparatory Question papers + Answers (6 Sets) for your Preparation. This set of Questions is completely Free and has been shared by Dr. Don Mendez for the benefit of students
General points to watch for all overseas candidates
We have covered almost every relevant point that will help you in having a better initial understanding of the process and journey of ADC. Before concluding the article, it makes sense to just have a quick discussion of the general points that every overseas candidate should keep a watch.
1. Source of Information
The first step to ADC is understanding the process and the correct information. The aim of this article is just to make that initial understanding of the long process, simple to follow. However, once you complete reading the article, the most important step is to recheck the official links. Through the article, you will find references to the official links. Read the article (more than once) and visit the official links.
2. VISA for giving exam and study in Australia
VISA is the most important aspect of the ADC process. In a regular way, first, you need a VISA to appear for the practical exam that takes place only in Australia. The second VISA you will require when you plan to apply for jobs and work in Australia as a general dentist/specialist (of course after passing ADC Exams). In the article, you will find official links to the relevant VISA and ICHC information with an explanation.
Caution: When it comes to VISA, never rely on or pay money to any unverified persons or agencies. Also, note that VISA regulations keep on changing from time to time. Hence, before starting any work on ADC, visit the Australian embassy in your region and get the latest information on the VISA regulation and also in particular, regarding the appropriate VISA for your ADC Exams and after ADC working VISA in Australia. If you plan to take the help of any professional VISA agencies, do a thorough review before paying any fees. Safeguard yourself from any VISA related fraud. You can also verify from the embassy regarding reputed and trustworthy VISA agencies.
3. ADC Preparatory courses by Private Coaching centers
If you do a random online search, then you will come across many private coaching centers (Both in Australia and other countries) that provide preparatory modules and materials for ADC Exams. Please note, ADC website clearly states that they do not endorse any private coaching center for ADC or the materials they provide. Also, the courses are extremely pricy.
Hence, if you do plan to enroll or purchase any course, please do not do so in a hurry. Do extensive research, check the reviews, online feedbacks, success ratio, ask previous students about the quality and if possible, directly visit the center during any ongoing session. All these will provide you with better information regarding the quality and content. Check the handbooks of ADC (Written and Practical) for subject/exam contents and ascertain that all are covered in the private coaching center.
Caution: Carefully check the refund policy for the private coaching centers.
(in case you do not like the course and want to discontinue)
4. Always download and fill the latest forms
Whenever applying for the ADC process, the first step is obviously filling up the Application form. It is very important that you download the latest application forms and fill those correctly as instructed. For each stage of ADC (Initial assessment, Written Exam, and Practical Exams) there are separate forms. All the forms have a detailed explanation regarding the requirements with a checklist. Download the forms, and read the forms multiple times. (2 readings minimum is required for understanding all the requirements in the application) Mark the points that you already fulfill, where you are lacking, having doubts or you require further clarifications. In case of any doubts, you can always contact the ADC or DBA helpline for suggestions.
The official link to download the latest ADC Application forms
Assessment forms
(Official Assessment Forms)
You can check for all the latest official handbooks for various stages of ADC Exams at the below official link
Assessment publications
Practical examination handbook for dentists Practical examination information package for dentists Practical examination information package for dental hygiene and dental therapy Practical examination handbook for dental hygiene and dental therapy Five tips for your upcoming practical examination fact sheet
ADC contact and helpline page
AHPRA (DBA) contact and helpline page
4. Do NOT forget to check the official FAQs
ADC Exams is a long journey spanning over months. During the process, there can be many trivial questions. For example, reaching the exam hall late or refund in case you discontinue the process after applying, etc. For such cases, please go through the official ADC FAQs page that covers all such questions.
Before the conclusion, please check the 6 sets of the question bank for a helpful revision of many topics. The questions are with explained answers. Please note: The below sets are contributed by Dr. Don from Singapore for your general revision. You are free to download them without any cost. The questions are based on the memory of students who have appeared for the ADC written exams. These materials are strictly for general revision. Please check the detailed syllabus for the written exam in the previous slides.
The article on ADC now concludes. We hope that you now have a strong initial understanding of the process of ADC and registering as a Dentist/Dental Specialist in Australia after completing your dental degree in an overseas country. As mentioned, reading the article more than 2 times, will make you more familiar with the process and steps, if you are appearing ADC exam for the 1st time.
Wishing you all the success – both financial success and fame in your journey to Australia as a Dentist.
Disclaimer:
- The information in this article is collected from the experiences of the past students and from online sources including the official website of ADC (Australian Dental Council). (This website/webpage is not directly related to ADC). The goal is just to provide information in a simplified and chronological manner with the help of flowcharts and videos.
- The article provides you the links from the official website of ADC for accurate understanding. The aim is to just explain to you the process and make it simple for you. All the links are directed to the official website of ADC.
- We do not provide any Visa or Registration Related Services. Nor we provide any physical assistance for getting certified as a Dentist in Australia. This article is only for the purpose of information.
- Check the official website of ADC for all the latest changes. In the case of any doubts always visit the Australian embassy in your country and get your doubts cleared directly. Never pay any unverified middle party that claims to help you get the registration by using shortcuts. No shortcut is available, and you must follow all the official steps mentioned on the ADC website.
- Use this article just as a rough tool to understand the process better. It is not a replacement for the official information and ADC (Australian Dental Council) website. After reading this article and watching the videos, visit the official website of ADC to check for all the latest changes.