eGDCTemporary registration
Temporary registration allows dentists who are not eligible for full registration to practise dentistry in the UK if they have had the offer of a supervised post for training, teaching, or research purposes only, for a limited period.
An overseas qualified dentist can apply for temporary registration in specific approved posts if they hold a dental qualification from a university which is recognised by ENIC for the purposes of temporary registration and the overseas registration examination (ORE).
Please note that your eligibility for certain training posts is dependent upon your UK Border Agency visa. If you require further information on the new immigration legislation, please visit the UK Visas and Immigration.
Find out more about the number of temporary registrations provided for approved posts, including the qualifications and experience used for temporary registration.
Directions
A direction is the post a dentist will work in whilst they have temporary registration. A dentist with temporary registration is registered under specific restrictions. These restrictions allow dentists to hold valid registration only for specific posts and in the hospital(s) or institution(s) listed in the direction and for a specified time. If a dentist would like to continue in a post after the end of a direction, they need to make an application to the GDC for renewal. Directions are granted on the basis of the following:
- confirmation by medical staffing certifying that the applicant is competent to practise in the specific approved post they have offered to employ them in during the relevant direction dates, and
- the confirmation by a supervising consultant certifying that there will be a registered dentist on the premises able to give adequate supervision in the hospital(s) or institution(s) at all times when the dentist is practising during the relevant direction dates.
As for all GDC registrants, temporary registration allows registrants to practise dentistry only. Regardless of the extent of their overseas training, temporary registrants must only practise dentistry in their scope of practice and in line with the specific restrictions in their direction. We remind temporary registrants and any person involved in arrangements for approved posts that in the UK, oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) is a medical specialty. While temporary registrants may take up approved posts in OMFS departments, any activity undertaken in such posts must be appropriate to the training and scope of an oral surgeon.
Supervision
Dentists with temporary registration can only practise under the supervision of a GDC registered consultant.
The designated supervising consultant has overarching supervisory responsibility for the temporary registrant. They are responsible for putting a training plan in place which includes details of who will be supervising the temporary registrant when they are working.
There must be a fully registered dentist on the premises whilst the temporary registrant is working, to assist in cases of patient difficulty or emergency. However, in certain circumstances, an exception may be made for temporary registrants working in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) departments.
For temporary registrants working in OMFS departments, we accept that:
Day to day clinical supervisors could be GMC registered OMFS doctors, where the designated supervising consultant considers them to be appropriate supervisors for the duties being undertaken by the temporary registrant. We note that the temporary registrant should only be operating within the training and scope of an oral surgeon.
There does not need to be a fully registered dentist on the premises whilst the temporary registrant is working, providing that the designated supervising consultant is assured that for the individual temporary registrant there are appropriate supervision arrangements and protocols in place to manage any sort of patient difficulty or emergency (for example: during clinics, the day to day GMC registered clinical supervisor is available in person and a fully registered dentist is available to provide remote advice where required; during on call duties, there are hospital protocols in place and an appropriate level of supervisory support from members of the on call team), and the temporary registrant is aware of these.
Location of posts
Temporary registration is granted for approved posts in NHS hospitals, dental schools and other approved institutions. It is not currently granted for work in general or private practice.
Duration of temporary registration
Temporary registration directions are granted for a minimum of 180 days and a maximum of 365 days at a time. Temporary registration may be renewed, by means of applying, for up to a maximum of 1826 days (five years)
Temporary registration is only granted for the purposes of supervised training, teaching or research purposes in the UK. Completion of the maximum period of temporary registration does not lead to full registration, which is necessary for the practice of dentistry in the UK. To obtain full registration you must either hold a recognised qualification from the UK, meet the criteria set down under EEA regulations or pass the ORE.
Fees
When you first apply for temporary registration there is an associated registration application fee.
Once your application has been processed and is considered complete, you will need to pay the temporary registration fee. This fee is the dentist annual retention fee (ARF) proportionate to the length of your direction. Therefore you pay for the days you hold temporary registration.
Standards Guidance
All registrants are expected to abide by our standards, Standards for the Dental Team.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Temporary registrants must undertake at least 20 hours of CPD during each CPD year. You will be asked to declare your CPD statement upon completion of a year's worth of direction. This will be required before the next direction is granted. You must meet all other requirements as outlined in our continuing professional development guidance.