Irish Dental Council Exam 2027: Complete Guide for Overseas Dentists

The Irish Dental Council examination is the registration route for many dentists whose qualifications do not qualify for direct registration in Ireland. The examination has two parts. Candidates must pass Part 1 before moving to Part 2, and both parts must be passed before they can access the Register of Dentists. Official examination details

This guide explains the exam structure, who may need it, the current fee information, English-language requirements and how to plan your preparation.

Who needs the Irish Dental Council exam?

Dentists with qualifications from outside the EU who do not fall under an applicable recognition or assessment route will generally need to pass the Dental Council examination before applying for full registration. However, the correct route depends on your qualification, registration history and personal circumstances.

The Dental Council also lists routes for Irish graduates, certain EU qualifications and specific mutual-recognition arrangements. Dentists should confirm their route with the Council before paying for preparation or submitting an examination application. Dentist registration pathways

The Council has a separate pathway for qualified dentists with current refugee or temporary-protection status in Ireland. That route is different from the ordinary examination pathway and may involve a period of adaptation or other registration requirements. Refugee and temporary-protection pathway

What is in the exam?

Part 1 combines three written papers with a practical operative dentistry bench test. The written papers are called Health, Disease and Society. They are normally delivered in Short Answer Question format. For the detail, see our guide to the IDC Part 1 exam format.

Part 2 contains three written components, an OSCE and clinical vivas. Part 2 is not the focus of this page, but it is important to understand that passing Part 1 does not by itself grant registration.

The Dental Council normally holds the two parts at different times and locations in Ireland. Part 1 is usually held in March or April, while Part 2 is usually held in June or July. Exact dates and application arrangements must be checked on the official examination page for the relevant sitting.

How difficult is the IDC exam?

The examination is designed to assess the knowledge and skills expected of a safe dentist at the standard of final-year dental examinations in Ireland. It is not limited to memorising dental facts. Candidates must apply biomedical knowledge, understand disease and medication, demonstrate operative technique, and answer questions on Irish dental regulation, ethics, public health and evidence evaluation.

The pass mark should not automatically be assumed to be 50%. The Dental Council uses standard-setting to determine the level required for safe practice. Candidates must also pass each required Part 1 component rather than relying on a strong performance in one area to compensate for a weak performance in another.

How many attempts are allowed?

Candidates have a maximum of two opportunities to pass Part 1. If Part 1 must be repeated, the Council may exempt a candidate from repeating a component that was previously passed, such as the written component or the bench test. All three written papers must be passed in one sitting to count as passing the written component.

A candidate who registers for an examination but does not attend is treated as having an unsuccessful attempt. This makes document preparation, travel planning and examination readiness especially important.

What does the exam cost?

The Dental Council’s current fee page lists a fee of €1,500 for the dentists’ examination for non-EEA dentists and €750 as the repeat fee. The same page lists a €400 registration application fee for dentists and a €450 annual retention fee for dentists in 2026. Current Dental Council fees

Your total budget may also include English testing, document certification, translations, travel, accommodation, visa or immigration costs, instruments and preparation materials. Always check the official fee page before making payment.

What English score is required?

For registration, the Dental Council accepts several forms of evidence of English proficiency. Where an English test is required, the current published minimum is:

• OET Dentistry: at least B in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
• Academic IELTS: at least 7.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

The Council states that paper-based and computer-based tests are accepted, but OET@Home and IELTS Online are not currently accepted. Test certificates generally need to be no more than two years old when submitted for registration. Language proficiency requirements

There is more on documents and English evidence in our guide to IDC exam eligibility and English requirements.

How should you prepare?

Start by confirming that the IDC exam is the correct registration route. Then download and study the official examination details and learning outcomes. Create four separate preparation tracks: Health, Disease, Society and the bench test.

For the written papers, practise answering directly in SAQ format. For Society, use current Irish regulatory and ethical guidance rather than relying only on material from another country. For the bench test, complete repeated timed practice runs and obtain feedback on preparation design, restoration quality, contacts, occlusion, finishing, instrument control and clinical organisation.

A week-by-week plan is in our IDC Part 1 preparation plan.

Final checklist

Before applying, confirm your registration route, passport and qualification documents, professional-good-standing evidence, work-history information, English evidence and payment arrangements. Check the application window carefully because the Council does not consider applications received before the announced date and incomplete applications may be returned.

The official examination page should always be treated as the final source for dates, application arrangements, current content and candidate instructions.

Official sources

• Irish Dental Council: Examination Details
• Irish Dental Council: Dentists
• Irish Dental Council: Language Proficiency
• Irish Dental Council: Fees and Online Payments
• Irish Dental Council: Refugee or Temporary Protection Status