
The General Dental Council (GDC) this week published new guidance for education providers looking to establish new dental schools in the UK.
The move will assist education providers in applying for Dental Authority Status (DAS). This is a prerequisite for offering dental degree programmes that lead to a registrable degree in UK dentistry.
Developed with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the guidance document explains the timescales and requirements for applying. This includes the GDC’s submission process.
It aims to provide greater clarity for education providers, offering detailed, step-by-step guidance to navigating the submission process.
The document was also reviewed by the Privy Council and the Dental Schools Council.
Dental workforce challenges
The only way a UK dental graduate can register as a dentist with the GDC is for them to hold a bachelor’s degree in dental surgery from a programme awarded by an institution that holds DAS.
You can read the full guidance here.
Stefan Czerniawski is executive director of strategy at the GDC. He said: ‘With the current focus on addressing dental workforce challenges across the UK, we’re seeing increased interest from education providers wishing to establish new dental schools.
‘This guidance demonstrates our commitment to supporting potential providers through the process of obtaining Dental Authority Status. By providing clear information, we aim to help institutions to understand and navigate the requirements efficiently.’
The GDC has also launched a recruitment push for a new chair of council and two council member positions.
The regulator is working to identify a successor to Lord Toby Harris as its chair, who can be either lay or registrant, as well as two new lay council members. If a dental professional is appointed as chair, an additional lay council member position may become available.
Applications are now open until 24 February for candidates with an interest in dental regulation. Applicants should share the GDC’s vision for a system of regulation that supports the provision of safe, effective oral health care, the regulator says.
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