General Dental Council confirms changes to make overseas registration more flexible
The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed changes to overseas registration for dental professionals to make the process easier and more flexible.
The reforms, which were unveiled on February 16th, will come into action immediately. The primary changes are designed to enable more dental professionals from abroad to sit the ORE (Overseas Registration Exam), give candidates wanting to do the assessment more time and allow more dental workers to apply for a position in the UK.
Dental workers who qualify outside of the UK make up a substantial proportion of the dental workforce in the UK and the demand for trained professionals is increasing. There is currently a national shortage of NHS dentists. Boosting overseas recruitment will enable practices to fill vacancies and increase capacity, reducing waiting times for patients.
The ORE was suspended during the pandemic. It has now restarted and the new guidelines confirmed by the GDC will enable more people to take the exam. There will be more flexibility in terms of who can apply and how long candidates have to take the test. According to the executive director of the GDC, Stefan Czerniawski, the changes allow for a more modern approach to overseas recruitment and international registration, which is better aligned with the system in the UK.
In the coming months, the GDC will consult on the Overseas Registration Exam with a view to implementing new rules, which reduce constraints and create a more efficient and effective process.
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