Countries > UK for Dentists > LDS
UK for Dentists — RCS England LDS
LDS — Licence in Dental Surgery
The Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) is an alternative route to full GDC registration for internationally trained general dentists. It is delivered by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. LDS has three parts: Part 1 is a fully remote written examination; Part 2 is an OSCE and Structured Clinical Reasoning examination in London; Part 3 is a practical manikin examination in London. No UK dental degree is required.
Pathway Snapshot
The LDS route is application-first, but Part 1 can be taken from home.
Complete Journey: Overseas Dental Qualification → RCS England Application → LDS Part 1 (remote) → LDS Part 2 (London) → LDS Part 3 (London) → GDC Registration → Practise in the UK.
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Eligibility
A recognised overseas primary dental qualification is required, with a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability for non-EEA graduates. At least 1,600 hours of clinical experience personally treating patients in the dental chair is required before Part 2. A Letter/Certificate of Good Standing is required, or a witnessed affidavit if it cannot be obtained. A character reference from a registered professional is also required. Employer sponsorship is not required to apply.
Application is made through RCS England, with documents submitted by email after booking.
English Language Requirement
RCS England accepts IELTS Academic with an overall score of 7.0 and no component below 6.5. TOEFL is also accepted. Exemptions may apply for EEA nationals, those with indefinite leave to remain, or those who completed a dental degree at a UK institution.
LDS Part 1
LDS Part 1 is a fully remote online examination. It can be taken from any quiet, private location with a computer, webcam, and a second camera/mobile phone.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
|
Format |
Two papers |
|
Paper A |
Clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease; 150 single best answer questions; 180 minutes |
|
Paper B |
Aspects of clinical dentistry, law and ethics, and health and safety; 150 single best answer questions; 180 minutes |
|
Total |
300 questions; 6 hours |
|
Pass mark |
Not published as a fixed percentage |
|
Attempts |
Maximum 4 attempts |
|
Result validity |
Parts 2 and 3 must be completed within 5 years of passing Part 1 |
|
Fee |
£900 for June 2026 sitting; £1,025 from October 2026 |
LDS Part 2
LDS Part 2 is held in person at RCS England, London. From June 2026, it consists of two components: an OSCE and a Structured Clinical Reasoning (SCR) examination. The SCR replaces the previous unseen-case format.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
|
OSCE |
12 stations, 7 minutes per station; communication and patient-facing clinical skills |
|
Structured Clinical Reasoning (SCR) |
6 cases, 20 minutes per case; structured examiner-candidate discussion covering diagnosis, management, and treatment planning |
|
Pass standard |
Uses standard setting; no fixed percentage pass mark is published |
|
Attempts |
Maximum 3 attempts |
|
Fee |
£1,575 for June–July 2026; £1,793 from September 2026 |
LDS Part 3
LDS Part 3 is the final practical examination, held in person at RCS England, London. It is a one-day operative assessment on a dental manikin.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
|
Format |
Three cases over 180 minutes |
|
Case A |
Adult scenario-based restorative procedure on a dental manikin; 40% weighting; 70 minutes |
|
Case B |
Adult/paediatric scenario-based procedure on a manikin; 40% weighting; 70 minutes |
|
Case C |
Allied dental/medical planning and management; 20% weighting; 40 minutes |
|
Pass mark |
Not published as a fixed percentage |
|
Attempts |
Maximum 3 attempts |
|
Fee |
£1,525 for June–August 2026; £1,736 from October 2026 |
|
Completion fee |
£230 reported, payable to GDC after passing Part 3 (candidate-reported; confirm with RCS England) |
Capacity & Fees
The UK Government has announced expansion of LDS Part 3 places from 180 to 1,800 by 2028, backed by a £420,000 grant. Exact current per-sitting capacity for LDS Part 1 and Part 2 is not published on the RCS England exam pages reviewed.
All figures are approximate and based on 2026 public information. Always confirm exact fees on the official portals before payment.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
LDS Part 1 fee |
£1,025 from October 2026 sitting | Official RCS England figure |
LDS Part 2 fee |
£1,793 from September 2026 sitting | Official RCS England figure |
LDS Part 3 fee |
£1,736 from October 2026 sitting | Official RCS England figure |
GDC registration application fee after LDS |
£117.23 | Separate from the exam |
GDC Annual Retention Fee |
£698 per year | Once registered |
UK ENIC Statement of Comparability |
£69.60 | For non-EEA graduates |
After LDS
After passing all three LDS parts, you must apply separately to the GDC for registration. You will need to sign a health declaration and provide Good Standing documentation. No employer sponsorship is required. No mandatory supervised practice is required. CPD obligations begin once registered.
What we offer
LDS Part 1 question bank mapped to the RCS England syllabus, with scenario-based clinical questions, flashcards, self-assessments, trained AI companion, mentorship, a dental library, study groups, and more.
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