Skill assessment - The Australian Dental Council

Dentist assessments

Skills assessment

Overview

You may need to apply for skills assessment if you are planning to migrate to Australia and require this as part of a specific Australian visa application.

Skills assessments fall into two categories:

  • Skills assessment only
  • Registration and skills assessment

Skills assessment only

If you meet any of the following, you only need to complete a skills assessment with the ADC.

  • You are registered to practise in New Zealand,
  • You have an eligible general dental qualification from UK, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand,
  • You have an eligible general dental qualification from Canada after March 2010 and are certified by the National Dental Examination Board of Canada, or
  • You have completed a general dental qualification in Australia.

More information about eligible dental qualifications is available on the Dental Board of Australia website.

Registration and skills assessment

If you are an overseas qualified dentist seeking registration in Australia and do not meet the requirements listed under skills assessment only, you must complete the dental practitioner assessment process. This is in addition to your skills assessment and includes the completion of the written and practical examinations.

Further information regarding pathways to registration is available on the Dental Board of Australia website.

We recommend you contact the Department of Home Affairs if you are intending to migrate to Australia and are unsure if a skills assessment is required as part of your application

Timeframe: 8 weeks (approximately)
Cost:
Current cost

$610 AUD

Cost for applications received
after 30 June 2023

$628 AUD

Validity: 3 years

Process

1.1 Create an ADC Connect account

New candidates must create a new ADC Connect account.

You can complete a skills assessment at any time via ADC Connect after you verify your account.

1.2 Identify your application type

You need to confirm your registration and application type at the start of your application.

Registration type is the general registration division you want to register with the Dental Board of Australia. We only conduct skills assessments for dentists and dental specialists.

Application type is the type of application you want to complete. For dentists there are three options: initial assessment for registration, skills assessment, or both.

Overseas qualified dentists not listed under points one to four in the ‘Overview’ section will need to complete the dental practitioner assessment process. If you fall under this category, you must select the ‘registration and skills assessment option.

1.3 Complete your initial assessment

Complete your skills application and make payment as instructed.

You must submit these documents with your application:

  • current passport
  • recent passport photo (that meets Australian passport photo guidelines)
  • evidence of change of name (if required)
  • dental qualification, official certificate, or testamur
  • academic transcript
  • internship certificate (if completed as part of your qualification)
  • evidence of registration or licence to practise dentistry
  • two written professional references
  • evidence of practice or work history as a registered or licensed dentist.

Passport photographs must be clear and uploaded as a .png file. All other documents must be clear and submitted in .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .docx, .doc, .tif, or .tiff format.

You must provide an official English translation for any documents issued in a language other than English.

If your supporting documents have different names, or different versions of your name, you will need to provide evidence. Evidence must be a legal change of name document, issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages, or an official change of name by deed poll. Where your educational institution or registering authority has abbreviated your name, they must provide an explanatory letter directly to the ADC. Newspaper or gazette articles, affidavits of statutory declarations are not considered legal evidence.

1.4 Arrange for your certificate/letter of good standing to be sent to the ADC

You must arrange for a certificate/letter of good standing to be sent to the ADC. This must be sent directly to us from the organisation responsible for regulating dental registration or dental licence in your country of practice. We accept certificated/letters of good standing in electronic and hard copy formats. Letters of good standing received before you submit your application submission are valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

1.5 Receive skills assessment outcome

You will receive an email from us advising of the outcome of your assessment once it is assessed.

We recommend you contact the Department of Home Affairs to find out the next steps in your visa process.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, your skills assessment is valid for three years from the date of issue. Contact us if your assessment lapses and you wish to have your letter reissued. An administrative fee will apply.