GDC increases Part 2 overseas registration exam fees

The General Dental Council (GDC) has approved a 65% increase in the fee for Part 2 of its overseas registration exam (ORE), raising the cost from £4,235 to £6,967 as the regulator prepares to expand exam capacity under a new delivery contract.

The rise follows a recent Government announcement confirming additional funding for ORE places. The GDC has now set out the changes it is making to support that expansion.

Alongside the Part 2 increase – which covers the practical clinical skills assessment – the regulator has raised the application processing fee from £96 to £115. In contrast, the fee for Part 1, which tests candidates’ application of knowledge to clinical practice, will fall from £584 to £485.

The British Dental Association (BDA) has questioned whether increasing ORE capacity alone will improve access to NHS dentistry without wider contract reform and additional investment.

The ORE remains the primary route for dentists qualified outside the UK or EU to join the GDC register. Demand for places has surged by 400% since 2022, and internationally qualified dentists made up 53% of new registrants in 2025, with one in five joining via the ORE.

Under a new contract with UCL Consultants, beginning this month, the GDC will offer 2,400 Part 1 places across four sittings in the first year and 944 Part 2 places. Part 2 capacity is expected to increase to 1,500 places a year by the third year of the contract.

The regulator said the higher Part 2 fee reflects the cost of delivering a large-scale clinical exam, including investment in specialist facilities, equipment and quality assurance, as well as the introduction of VAT.

For the first time, candidates will book exam sittings through their MyGDC account. The booking window for the August 2026 Part 1 sitting opens on 30 June 2026. Priority access will be given to candidates nearing the five‑year limit for completing Part 2 and those with refugee status.

Theresa Thorp, the GDC’s executive director of regulation, said the changes represent “real and significant progress”, adding that the new contract provides a more predictable framework and sustainable growth in exam numbers.

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