Provider of overseas registration exam announced
Contract could more than double the number of dentists joining the register via ORE.
The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed UCL Consultants Ltd (UCLC) as the preferred bidder to provide both Part 1 and Part 2 of the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE).
The new arrangements will ensure the continued delivery of the ORE and strengthen the regulator’s ability to meet growing demand from internationally qualified dentists seeking to join the UK register. The GDC expects that the contract could more than double the number of dentists joining the register via the ORE route.
UCLC was selected as the preferred bidder following a competitive process that assessed against criteria such as delivery solution, mobilisation planning and cost effectiveness.
It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of University College London, representing in this instance a consortium led by the UCL Eastman Dental Institute and partners including University College London Hospitals, Queen Mary University London, AlphaPlus and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Under the new arrangements, it is intended that exam delivery will become more scalable, supporting the progression of overseas dentists through the ORE and towards registration in a safe and timely way.
The regulator is confident that it will be able to deliver increased capacity for both Part 1 and Part 2 exams and will provide further information once the contract is finalised. The first sittings under the new contract are expected to take place from mid-2026.
The number of dentists applying to take the overseas registration exam (ORE) increased by 53% in 2024, with 3,628 ORE applications received last year, up from 2,366 in 2023. Capacity for exam sittings also increased – Part 1 by 50% and Part 2 by 33%.
Following completion of the contract, the GDC will work closely with UCLC to ensure a smooth transition for both parts of the examination and will provide regular updates to candidates and stakeholders throughout the implementation period.
Approximately 30% of all dentists currently on the GDC register qualified outside the UK.
Theresa Thorp, Executive Director of Regulation at the GDC, said: “[This] marks a significant step forward in addressing the demand for ORE places and our commitment to supporting internationally qualified dentists who want to practise in the UK. These new arrangements will provide enhanced capacity to meet that demand.
“Dentists who have qualified overseas make an invaluable contribution to the UK dental workforce, and we want to ensure that the pathway to registration is as accessible as possible while maintaining the high standards that protect patients.”
Alongside the new ORE arrangements, the GDC is developing additional international registration pathways that ensure both fair access for overseas-qualified dental professionals and maintenance of high standards.
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