Countries > Ireland for Dentists > Dental Council Exam
Ireland for Dentists
Dental Council Examination for Dentists (Non-EEA)
The Dental Council Examination for Dentists is the special examination for internationally trained dentists whose qualifications do not fall under the other recognised registration categories. It is administered by the Dental Council of Ireland. The exam has two parts: Part 1 (written papers and a bench test) and Part 2 (written papers, OSCE, and clinical vivas). Passing both parts confers eligibility to apply for full registration in the Irish Register of Dentists.
Pathway Snapshot
The pathway begins with a Dental Council application. Part 1 is held in Dublin and includes three written papers plus a bench test. Part 2 is held in Cork and includes three written papers, an OSCE, and clinical vivas. There is no remote examination option. Candidates must pass Part 1 before attempting Part 2.
Complete Journey: Overseas Dental Qualification → Dental Council Application → Part 1 (Dublin) → Part 2 (Cork) → Full Registration with Dental Council of Ireland → Practise in Ireland.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Dental Council Examination for Dentists, you must hold a dental qualification equivalent to at least five years of full-time theoretical and practical dental education at a university or similar institution. You must demonstrate three consecutive years of lawful dental practice within the previous five years, unless you graduated within the last three years, in which case you must have practised continuously since graduation.
A Certificate of Good Standing from the registration board in the jurisdiction where you last practised is required. Academic transcripts and certified copies of your degree are also required. No UK ENIC statement is required; the Dental Council assesses your educational background directly. No employer sponsorship is required for the exam or registration. Immigration/work authorisation is a separate matter.
Application & Allocation
The application window for each year's examination is usually announced in November–December of the prior year. For the 2026 sitting, applications were accepted 12–16 January 2026.
Places are allocated by random selection. 80% of available places are reserved for candidates already established in Ireland (Group A), and 20% are allocated to candidates applying from abroad (Group B). “Established in Ireland” is evidenced by a PPS number or evidence of engagement with GNIB leading to permission to remain in Ireland. This is a recent change from the earlier first-come, first-served system. Unsuccessful Group A candidates receive priority for the next sitting.
There is no remote examination option; travel to Ireland is required for both parts.
Part 1
Part 1 is held in Dublin. For 2026, the confirmed dates are 25–28 March 2026. Part 1 consists of three written papers and a bench test. All three written papers must be passed in the same sitting. The bench test can be carried over if passed previously.
Question count and duration are not currently published by the Dental Council. Historical candidate-shared copies of the April 2023 Part 1 papers reported 16 SAQs per paper, 3 hours per paper, and 10 marks per question. This is candidate-reported historical information, not an official DCI specification. DCI may revise the examination annually.
Pass mark: no fixed percentage is published. The Dental Council uses standard setting, and candidates should not assume 50% is the pass mark. Attempts: maximum 2 attempts at Part 1.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
|
Health (written paper) |
Short Answer Questions covering anatomy, dental anatomy, head and neck anatomy, oral anatomy, oral histology, oral physiology |
|
Disease (written paper) |
Short Answer Questions covering immunology, medicine, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, surgery |
|
Society (written paper) |
Short Answer Questions covering law and ethics, regulation of dentistry in Ireland, dental public health, critical evaluation of evidence |
|
Bench test |
Practical operative dentistry on manikin heads, conducted in a simulated clinical environment |
What we offer
Full Part 1 preparation, including SAQ practice mapped to the Health, Disease, and Society syllabus, bench test guidance, flashcards, and AI study companion.
Start Dental Council Exam Part 1 Prep →Part 2
Part 2 is held in Cork. For 2026, the confirmed dates are 15–18 June 2026. Part 2 consists of three written papers, an OSCE, and clinical vivas. Each component must be passed individually; there is no compensation between components.
Question count, OSCE station count, and viva duration are not currently published by the Dental Council. The Council confirms that vivas involve pairs of examiners and cover the three Part 2 clinical areas.
Pass mark: no fixed percentage is published. Each component is standard-set independently. Attempts: maximum 3 attempts at Part 2. If repeating Part 2, all components must be repeated, even if some were previously passed.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
|
Written papers |
Three papers: Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery / Oral Medicine, Child Dental Health. Typically Short Answer Questions. |
|
OSCE |
Clinical and rest stations assessing diagnosis, treatment planning, clinical decision-making, and basic clinical skills. |
|
Clinical vivas |
Face-to-face examinations with pairs of examiners using clinical scenarios in the three subject areas. |
What we offer
Full Part 2 preparation, including SAQ practice for the three written papers, OSCE station simulations, clinical viva scenarios, and AI study companion.
Start Dental Council Exam Part 2 Prep →English Language Requirement
You must provide evidence of English proficiency if your entire dental degree was not taught and examined in English. The test must have been taken within two years before your completed application is received by the Dental Council.
- IELTS Academic: minimum 7.0 in each of the four modules
- OET (Dentistry): minimum Grade B in each of the four modules
Fees
Fees are set by the Dental Council of Ireland and are subject to revision. The total minimum regulator cost for a first-time pass is approximately €2,350 (exam €1,500 + registration €400 + first year retention €450). This excludes English language test fees, document certification, travel to Dublin and Cork, accommodation, and visa/immigration costs.
All figures are approximate and based on 2026 public information. Always confirm exact fees on the official portals before payment.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Dental Council Examination (first attempt) |
€1,500 | Official fee |
Repeat exam fee |
€750 | Per part repeat |
Registration application fee |
€400 | Payable after passing both parts |
Annual retention fee (2026) |
€450 | For registered dentists |
Demand & Capacity
The Dental Council has stated that demand continues to exceed supply. For the 2024 sitting, more than 160 applications were received and only 55 new applicants were accepted. A large number of repeat candidates also competed for places. Capacity has been expanded in recent years, but the examination remains highly competitive.
How to Apply
Step 1: Check the Dental Council website for the next application window (usually announced November–December). Step 2: Prepare your documents: degree, transcripts, good standing certificate, English test, practice evidence. Step 3: Submit the application and pay the exam fee (€1,500). Step 4: Wait for allocation. If successful, you will be assigned to Part 1 (Dublin). Step 5: Pass Part 1, then register for Part 2 (Cork). Step 6: Pass Part 2, then apply for full registration (€400). Step 7: Pay the annual retention fee once registered.
Retake Rules
Part 1: maximum 2 attempts. If repeating, a previously passed bench test may be carried over; all three written papers must be passed in the same sitting.
Part 2: maximum 3 attempts. If repeating, all components must be repeated even if some were passed before. There is no published result validity period for Part 1 or Part 2; passing both parts confers eligibility for registration.