Up to five times more internationally qualified dentists could join the UK dental register from autumn 2026 under changes announced to the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE).
Around 354 dentists joined the register via the ORE in 2024 – the route overseas-qualified dentists must pass to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) and practise in the UK. The GDC claims new arrangements could allow as many as 1,500 candidates a year to qualify once the new ORE system reaches capacity.
The new arrangements for delivering the exam could significantly expand capacity, with the first sittings under the new system expected from September 2026.
Part 1 places are expected to increase from 1,800 in 2025 to 2,400 a year, while Part 2 places will rise from 720 to 944 in the first year of the new contract, increasing further to reach 1,500 by the third year.
Around a third of dentists on the UK register qualified overseas, making international recruitment a key part of the workforce pipeline.
A ‘consistent and predictable’ framework
According to the regulator, the changes – developed following the contract with UCL Consultants announced last year – will provide a ‘more consistent and predictable framework’ for clinicians planning to join the UK dental registers via the ORE.
Tom Whiting, chief executive and registrar at the GDC, said: ‘Our top priority has been to increase the capacity of the ORE, and I’m pleased that we can offer greater certainty and scale through this new contract. This is good news for candidates.
‘More ORE places, along with more students at dental schools, and the increase in capacity for the LDS, is great news for the dental workforce and, in turn, patients and the public.
‘Sustainable change requires a long-term plan, and working with others, we are committed to playing our part, to support any workforce strategy, including building a comprehensive framework to support international recruitment.’
Who will deliver the new ORE?
The GDC revealed UCL Consultants (UCLC) as the ‘preferred bidder’ for its plans to revamp the beleaguered Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) system last year.
UCL Consultants is a wholly-owned subsidiary of University College London, representing a consortium that includes:
- UCL Eastman Dental Institute
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Mary University of London
- AlphaPlus
- The Royal College of Surgeons of England
The contract between the GDC and UCLC includes flexibility to manage ORE capacity on an annual basis. This allows the exams to run at a larger and more planned scale, increasing capacity in a controlled way rather than reacting to pressure year on year.
A GDC statement said that it is ‘essential’ that exam sittings are set at a level that can be delivered safely and to the required standards. It added that it ‘will not compromise’ on patient safety or the candidate experience.
The GDC will work closely with UCLC to ensure a smooth transition for both parts of the examination and will provide regular updates to candidates and stakeholders throughout the implementation period.
