Dentistry in Australia

+  State Branches of the Australian Dental Association 

+  State Directors of Dental Services 

+  Dental Schools 

+  Dental Boards  

+  Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons 

+  Australian National Oral Health Plan 2004 - 2013  

For enquiries regarding practising as a dentist in Australia, the Australian Consulate or High Commission should be contacted for details of "working visas". 
 
In order to practise dentistry in Australia, you must be registered in the particular State in which you intend to practise. Registration requirements vary from State to State. Generally, the only persons immediately entitled to apply to be registered as dentists are persons holding the qualifications of Bachelor of Dental Surgery/B Dent or Bachelor of Dental Science from the Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom universities. Usually registration will not be granted to a foreign graduate until he or she is a resident in the State and is holding a visa approved for employment. Information on requirements for specialist registration can be obtained from the relevant Dental Board in each State. 
 
Dentists holding qualifications other than those above are required to undertake the examination conducted by the Australian Dental Council under the auspices of the

National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) in order to be eligible to apply for registration. The examination is held fifteen times each year.

A Public Sector Dental Workforce Scheme (PSDWS), has been introduced to help alleviate workforce shortages in the public sector, particularly in rural and remote areas. Under this scheme graduates from some dental programs in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the US are eligible to participate. Those eligible will be granted an exemption from the ADC Preliminary Examination and a form of restricted registration to enable them to practise in the public sector for a period up to 3 years during which time the ADC Final Examination must be undertaken.
 

Further enquiries may be directed to:

Executive Secretary
Australian Dental Council
Ground Floor
120 Jolimont Road
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
T: + 61 3 9657 1777
F: + 61 3 9657 1766
E: info@dentalcouncil.net.au
W: www.dentalcouncil.net.au

 
Membership of the Australian Dental Association is achieved through the State Branches of the Association, and it is a requirement for ADA membership that you must be registered to practise in the relevant State or Territory. In some States ADC candidates who have passed the Occupational English Test and the ADC’s Preliminary Examination are also eligible for ‘student’ membership.