To work as a dentist in Australia, you first need to be registered with the Dental Board of Australia. There are different options available for this:
1. Australian-trained dentists are required to complete academic training leading to a dental degree. This can take up to 5 years depending on the university.
2. If you are already a foreign-trained dentist, there are basically three ways to get registered with the Board:
A. Enroll in an Australian dental school and get credit for prior learning
b. In special circumstances, the title may be automatically recognized.
vs. Successfully complete the ADC exam.
Automatic recognition of a foreign title
If you obtained your degree in the UK, Canada or Ireland, you may be able to obtain registration in Australia. In that case, you should head to the official website of the Australian Dental Council for more information. There are certain paths you can take to speed up the process.
Dental degrees obtained in other countries
In this case you will have to take and pass the ADC exam. There are different stages for the exam:
1. First, you must apply to establish whether or not you are eligible to take the exam.
2. If the ADC considers that you are suitable, then you can proceed to the first stage: an English test.
3. The next step is the preliminary exam, which is a written exam.
4. Finally, as long as you have passed all the exams mentioned above, the final step to gain recognition in Australia is a practical exam.
Each stage of the exam is complex and foreign-trained dentists must work hard to get the best preparation possible. There are plenty of sample questions and guides, but honestly, there is no single website or well-structured source of information. Every time you try to get information from these sites, you end up more confused than when you started, so instead of concentrating on studying for the test, you waste time trying to figure out what the test is about.
What is ADC?
The Australian Dental Council is a professional body created in 1993 by the State and Territory Dental Boards and the Australian Dental Association. Its main functions are:
1. Advise and make recommendations in relation to the accreditation of courses leading to a dental qualification by Australian dental schools.
2. Assess the suitability to practice in Australia of individuals with overseas dental qualifications.
Structure of the ADC exam
preliminary examination
This is the next stage in your evaluation process. This exam is designed to test your knowledge of the science of dentistry. This, however, is designed by the ADC and is run by another professional body called the Australian Pharmacy Council. The relevant aspects of this test are:
1. This exam is only done twice a year. Tea first session It is usually in the first week of March and if you want to apply for the first session you have to submit your application before December 1st. Tea second semester It is usually in the first week of September and applications close on June 1. Like the OET, this exam is conducted at various locations around the world. Contact the ADC directly for this information.
2. This exam consists of two tests, one with multiple choice and one with short answer questions.
3. Usually it will take you two days to take the exam, yes two days and it is usually Thursday and Friday. On Thursday you will take the first part of the Multiple Choice Questions exam followed by the Short Answer Questions exam, this day is usually the most intense. On Friday you will only have to take the second part of the MCQ exam.
Clinical examination
This exam is only held in Australia twice a year, usually a July series and a November series. It really depends a lot on the number of applications and clinical places available.
To be eligible to take this exam, you must pass the preliminary exam and have a valid OET certificate (remember, this is only valid for two years). Once you are accepted to take the final exam, you will be assigned a test date and location.
This exam spans 6 days. There is a pre-exam schedule that allows you to become familiar with local dental procedures and equipment. The exam includes the following clinical topics:
1. Conservative dentistry, surgical and pediatric dentistry.
2. Treatment planning, including periodontics and prosthodontics.
3. Oral surgery, diagnosis and radiology.
There are many resources to help people succeed on this exam. I hope this article clarifies your doubts and motivates you to pass the degree evaluation.
greetings and good luck