Skip to main content

Language proficiency

The Dental Council have implemented minimum language requirements under the provisions of Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC. This means that applicants, from 1 November 2018, for registration must be proficient in the English language to obtain registration.

Applicants that graduated from a Dental Council accredited course in the Republic of Ireland are not required to submit proof of proficiency in the English language.

You will be deemed proficient if;

  1. Your primary qualification, or a subsequent post-graduate* qualification in the field of Dentistry, was undertaken in English. or;
  2. You practiced as a fully registered dental professional in a member state, whose official language is listed as English, for 3 years out of the 5 years preceding the submission of your application. Countries outside of the EU that have English listed as an official language may be considered. or;
  3. You obtained an OET Certificate that meets the minimum scores set out below. This Certificate must have been obtained no more than 2 years prior to the submission of your application for registration. or;
  4. You obtained an Academic IELTS Certificate that meets the minimum scores set out below. This Certificate must have been obtained no more than 2 years prior to the submission of your application for registration.

*For the purpose of language requirements, a post graduate course must be 3 years in duration or more. If you are relying on 3 years cumulative training in more than one post-graduate programme, this must have been obtained within a 5 year period.

Acceptable proof of proficiency in the English language that must accompany your application;

  1. Obtained through qualification

a. Stated on your certificate, supplement or academic transcripts.or;
b. A letter from your University, with the following listed;
i. your full name,
ii. the duration of the training programme and
iii. confirmation that you completed the entire programme, to include examinations, in English.
You must submit an original letter on headed paper.

2. 3 years, out of the preceding 5 years, practise

Please note that the registration department will assess the information provided and make a judgement as to whether it is deemed satisfactory evidence of competency in the English language or whether you will be required to sit an English language test.

a. a certificate of full registration from a member state, where English is listed as an official language, and
b. a certificate from the relevant competent authority stating that you have been fully registered and engaged in full time practice for 3 years in the preceding 5 year period.
c. Where (b) is not obtainable you may submit employer’s references to confirm;
1. that you have been engaged in the relevant dental profession to which you are applying;
2. the duration of employment;
3. the location of employment;
4. the nature of employment (full or part-time post);
5. confirmation that the work undertaken by you was done so primarily in English.

3. English Language Test

1. OET (in dentistry) Certificate
2. Academic IELTS Certificate
We currently do not accept any proctored or online exam.

You must submit a single, original certificate with the minimum grades obtained in all four components and have obtained it no more than 2 years prior to the submission of your application for registration. If you are submitting an OET Certificate you must contact OET in order to authorise the verification of your results. Both IELTS and OET certificates will be verified by the registration department during the registration process. You must obtain the minimum scores set out below:

Modules OET (for Dentistry) IELTS (Academic)
Listening minimum score of B minimum score of 7.0
Reading minimum score of B minimum score of 7.0
Writing minimum score of B minimum score of 7.0
Speaking minimum score of B minimum score of 7.0

The Dental Council will consider any relevant other information an applicant may wish to submit to that they feel may demonstrate a proficiency in English equivalent to the above.