The General Dental Council (GDC) has responded to criticism of its decision to increase the price of sitting the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE).
Last week, the GDC confirmed that the fee for Part 2 of the ORE would be increasing by £2,732, bringing the total to £6,967.
The announcement met with significant backlash, with dental professionals questioning the affordability of the new fee and the impact deterring potential registrants would have on the wider profession. One ORE candidate said: ‘We would rather return to a war-torn country and risk our lives than continue on this path.’
The GDC has now responded to these concerns, acknowledging that the increased fee is ‘a burden for candidates to bear’.
It said: ‘The ORE has been a bottleneck for too long, with capacity falling far short of demand. At present, talented, internationally qualified dentists must compete in a scramble to secure a slot, with a financial cost also attached. This is not the experience we want for dental professionals seeking to contribute to UK dentistry.
‘Our aim was to increase the number of exam places available as far as possible so that we could reduce the time people wait to sit an exam. We have been successful in increasing capacity, but we are very aware that this comes at a cost. The ORE requires specialist clinical facilities, experienced examiners and rigorous quality assurance. Expanding the ORE requires additional investment in facilities and equipment and we now also need to pay VAT on the costs of operating the exam.
‘The new fee rates reflect the cost of the new contract, including the costs which come from expanding capacity. We expect them to remain broadly stable over the next five years.
‘The increase in exam spaces is a positive step forward, but we are very conscious that the increased cost is a burden for candidates to bear.
‘As long as the demand for dentists and internationally qualified dentists continues to grow, we would urge the sector to come together to find ways to support everyone who wants to be able to practise dentistry in the UK, delivering both NHS and private dentistry for the benefit of the public. The new ORE contract provides stability and certainty about the potential future dentist workforce. There is more to do on a sustainable workforce strategy that supports people through education, examination and employment.’
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