New dental examinations now open for applications
Exams will offer a joined-up approach to assessment and provide a clearer training pathway for all specialties.
Dentists can now apply for the first exams of the revised MFDS (Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery) and the 10 new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations, set to take place in October.
Developed by the Dental Examinations Executive, comprising representatives from the three UK Surgical Royal Colleges, the new and revised examinations will offer a joined-up approach to assessment and provide a clearer training pathway for all specialties.
The examinations form one key part of the UK dental career journey, providing independent evidence of progression, mapped to the General Dental Council (GDC) curricula, and used alongside other evidence, such as workplace-based assessments, in determining career progression.
MFDS is designed to assess the competence of a GDC-registered dentist practicing at the level of a Dental Core Trainee completing the third year of training, and provides a recognised gateway for entry into dental specialty training.
The new specialty examinations replace a historic patchwork of examinations delivered by individual Colleges. They will assess competence at the standard expected of a dental specialist seeking entry to the GDC Specialist List.
Both assessments lead to membership or fellowship of one or more Royal Colleges and provide robust evidence of the level of competence achieved at key stages of a dentist’s professional career.
Professor Sondos Albadri, Chair of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Board said: “We are excited to see the applications is now open for the new Dental Specialty Examination, these exams present a significant step toward a more consistent standard of assessment based on sound educational grounds for 10 dental specialties.
“It highlights our shared commitment to the betterment of our profession with a single high-quality examination experience for all candidates, irrespective of location, training pathway, or College of affiliation.”
The MFDS examinations will include a Part 1 written and a Part 2 Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Applications are open for the first Part 1 exam of the revised MFDS which will be held on 28 October 2026 at assessment centres in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester. Part 2, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), will take place in March 2027 and the application window will open later this year. Applications close Thursday 16 July 2026 or if capacity is reached before this date.
The new specialty examinations will also have two parts. Part 1 for all specialties, with the exception of Dental Public Health, will be a Single Best Answer (SBA) format. Dental Public Health Part 1 will assess a candidate’s critical appraisal skills. Part 2 will involve face-to-face Clinical Structured Orals (with assessment of a portfolio and management questions for Dental Public Health).
UK Royal Colleges will deliver their own last diets of the existing MFDS, specialty membership and specialty fellowship (ISFE) exams through 2026 and early 2027.
To find out more about the new examinations, eligibility criteria and to apply, candidates should visit the Dental Examinations Executive website: dentalexamexec.org.uk