Understanding the Pathways for Dentists with Masters Degree
Dentists who have qualification as a specialist have to first register with the Dental Board of Australia as a general dentist, and then apply to register as a specialist with the AHPRA.
To apply as the general dentist in Australia, dental specialists must clear the Australian Dental Council (ADC) Exam. The ADC exam is for international dentists to check whether they meet the Australian dental standards.
About ADC Exam
As mentioned earlier, the ADC Exam for international dentists is to assess whether international dentists meet Australian dental standards. It consists of three steps:
- Initial Assessment
- Written Exam (ADC 1)
- Practical Exam (ADC 2)
Initial Assessment
This is the first step where international dentists have to submit their qualifications for assessment to the Australian Dental Council (ADC). The ADC will determine whether overseas qualifications are equivalent to the Australian dental standards.
Written Exam
Once the ADC approves the qualifications, the next step is to take the written exam. This test evaluates your theoretical knowledge of dentistry. This exam is a multiple choice question exam held over two days. There will be a total of 280 questions across four sections.
Practical Exam
Following the written exam, a practical exam is conducted. This exam assesses your hands-on skills and ability to perform various dental procedures in line with Australian standards. The ADC Practical Examination also takes place for two days, each focusing on different skill sets in a simulated clinical environment. One is technical skills day and the other is clinical skills day.
Once the international dentists pass both the ADC Written and Practical exam with proper ADC exam preparation, then they have to apply for General Dentist Registration with the Dental Board of Australia (AHPRA).
Specialist Dentist Registration
If you are a dentist with a masters degree and want to practice as a specialist dentist in Australia, there is an additional step to follow after registering as a general dentist.
- You need to have at least two years of general dentist experience in Australia (or outside Australia) before you can apply to register as a specialist.
- You need to apply for a specialist assessment by the Australian Dental Council (ADC). If your qualifications are deemed equivalent, you may be granted a specialist registration with the Dental Board of Australia.
Recognised Dental Specialties in Australia
The Dental Board of Australia (DBA) recognises specialisations in the following fields:
- Dento-maxillofacial radiology
- Endodontics
- Forensic odontology
- Oral medicine
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology
- Oral surgery
- Orthodontics
- Paediatric dentistry
- Periodontics
- Public health dentistry (community dentistry)
- Prosthodontics
- Special needs dentistry
Note: If you have a qualification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, you must first apply for your qualification assessment with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS). This is because Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is recognised by both the Dental Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia.
Possible Outcomes of the Specialist Assessment
If your dental specialisation falls under the above mentioned DBA approved specialties, you will have to fill out the ASAQ (Applicants with an Approved Qualification) Form 20, which acknowledges your qualification and allows you to practice as a specialist in Australia.
If your qualifications do not meet the DBA approved specialty, you will need to fill out the ACEQ (An Equivalence Assessment of Qualifications) Form 20. They will check your qualification under equivalence criteria.
Final Thoughts
Dentists with masters degree can practice as specialists in Australia. But they must first complete the ADC Exam, register as a general dentist, and have two years of experience before applying for specialist registration.
The process might seem long, but it is not. You just need proper guidance from experts like Academically. At Academically you will get proper guidance to choose the best pathway for your career and a comprehensive ADC Preparation Course. In this course you will get live and recorded sessions, practice question papers, AI-based mock tests, personalised guidance till you become a registered dentists in Australia.
If you are a dentist with a masters degree looking to build a successful career in Australia, following the right pathway will help you achieve your goal of practising as a recognised specialist in the country.
For any questions or queries, you can fill out this form to get a free one-on-one counselling session with our expert.