FAQ
If you can’t see an answer here to a question that you have, please get in touch at info@dsfe.org.uk.
General Queries
Who is involved in the new approach to dental assessment?
The UK’s three surgical Royal Colleges – Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow – are working together to administer the new tri-collegiate examinations, which will commence in October 2026. The examinations are being delivered by the Dental Examinations Executive, a collaboration between the three Royal Colleges.
When are the examination dates published?
All dates will be published at least nine months prior to their scheduled run date. All dates up to April 2027 have been published.
Are trainees eligible for consultant jobs after completing a Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination?
The essential requirement for appointment to a consultant post in the UK is to be on the GDC specialist list; successfully completing a Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination contributes to the award of a certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST) and entry onto the relevant specialty list. Requirements for consultant jobs outside of the UK may vary.
What is the fee for sitting an exam?
All fees are published on our Examinations Information page in advance of the booking window opening.
Do you have to be a paying member of one of the Royal Colleges to be able to book an examination?
No, there is no requirement to be a current member of a College to book an examination. You will be asked in your application if you are a member or are interested in joining a College and you will be required to join a College upon the successful completion of an examination in order to be able to use the relevant post-nominals.
Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations
What is the structure of the new examinations (excluding Dental Public Health)?
All guidance for specialities including the exam syllabus and assessment strategy are available here.
The examination for each specialty (with the exception of Dental Public Health) consists of two parts:
Part 1: Single Best Answer (SBA) Questions
SBAs are a selected response format with one single best answer, usually with four plausible distractors. Single Best Answer questions will be used to assess basic and clinical sciences pertinent to clinical decision making in the relevant specialty, particularly those that are not directly observable in the workplace. The questions may also assess knowledge that, whilst not strictly clinical, is relevant to clinical decision making and treatment planning.
Part 2: Clinical Structured Oral (cSO)
A cSO is a discussion between the candidate and one or more examiners. The cSO will be used to assess candidates’ clinical judgement and decision-making skills. This will include the assessment and interpretation of clinical information to reach appropriate diagnoses (including differential diagnoses) in line with relevant clinical guidelines, prognoses, patient management, treatment planning, and dealing with complications within the overall context of healthcare delivery relevant to the specialty. Clinical decision making may also include the recognition of medical emergencies and situations requiring urgent referral.
Part 1 will consist of two 90 question papers each examined over two hours. There will be an in-centre break with a short break after the first paper. The examination will be facilitated online in an examination centre.
Part 2 will consist of up to 10 case-based stations with up to 25 minutes per station including reading and examining time. Part 2 will take place face-to-face at an examination centre.
The assessment strategies for all specialties are available here.
What is the structure of the new Dental Public Health examination?
All guidance for Dental Public Health including the exam syllabus and assessment strategy is available here. The examination is made up of two Parts, the second of which has two components:
Part 1: Short Answer Questions (SAQ)
Short Answer questions will be used to assess skills in critical appraisal. SAQs are each based on stimulus materials, with a series of related questions attached. The questions require candidates to construct a concise and focussed response. The stimulus material accompanying the questions will be a set of published articles or reports, which may be redacted.
Part 2: Oral Examination
This part of the examination will have two component parts:
- Component 1 – Project based Structured Orals (pSO) and Unseen case Structured Orals (uSO) The pSO will require candidates to submit a range of project reports that will form the basis of the structured oral discussions. This approach will be used to assess candidates’ ability to design and deliver a project, identify suitable sources of information, synthesise information and communicate findings in addition to decision making, critical appraisal and problem solving. The uSO will be based on simulated scenarios and will focus on the assessment of data interpretation skills, information synthesis, decision making and problem-solving skills.
The pSO will consist of up to four stations, with up to 15 minutes per station including reading and examining time. The uSO will consist of up to six stations, with up to 25 minutes per station including reading and examining time.
- Component 2 – Management Structured Orals (mSO) The mSO will be based on simulated scenarios and will focus on assessment of clinical judgement and decision-making skills relating to the management of healthcare service delivery and will include application of knowledge of legislative and ethical frameworks, national and local healthcare systems and service planning.
mSO will consist of up to six stations, with up to 20 minutes per station including reading and examining time. Candidates will be required to pass Part 1 before progressing to Part 2.
Part 1 will consist of questions on three articles, examined over three hours. The exam will be facilitated online in an examination centre.
Part 2 will take place face-to-face at an examination centre.
At their first sitting of Part 2, candidates must attempt both components of the examination. Both must be passed to pass Part 2 overall. A component that is passed will not require to be retaken. At any subsequent sitting, the candidate will only be required to attempt the component not previously passed.
Do I need to pass Part 1 of a Dental Speciality Fellowship Examination in order to sit Part 2?
Yes, for all specialties candidates will be required to pass Part 1 before sitting Part 2.
What is being assessed in the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations?
The examination syllabus for every specialty is available here for review, along with the assessment strategies, and links to the relevant General Dental Council curriculum and training syllabus.
How many diets will there be of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations in the UK?
For each specialty, there will be a minimum of two diets for Part 1 and two diets for Part 2 each year in the UK.
Will you be running a post-CCST examination for Orthodontics?
We are developing the assessment strategy for an Advanced Fellowship in Orthodontics which will map to the ST4 and 5 curriculum as detailed in the revised Orthodontics curricula released in September 2024. The examination development will commence following the completion of the curriculum development by the Special Advisory Committee in Orthodontics.
There are currently no plans for an Advanced Fellowship in any other specialty. Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations are set at the level of a day one specialist with the length of training determined by the training syllabus. The Advanced Fellowship in Orthodontics will cover the post-specialist training.
I am considering or will be applying to train less than full time (LTFT) and will not have completed 48 months full-time equivalent training at the time of sitting the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations. What options do I have?
In line with section 4.1 of the eligibility criteria, as part of your application to sit the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations, your NTN Training Programme Director must certify that you have satisfactorily completed sufficient training by the time of the examination. It would be worthwhile discussing this with your NTN Training Programme Director, so you have all the information you require to meet this requirement to sit the examination.
I am in UK specialty training ST1/2/3 and started before September 2024. Will I be required to complete MFDS before sitting the existing specialty membership or fellowship examinations?
MFDS is a requirement for the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations. You will therefore not be required to complete MFDS if you complete your specialty membership or fellowship exams before the last diet available for the pre-September 2024 curriculum.
If you cannot complete your specialty membership or fellowship exams before the last diet, you will be required to do your MFDS unless you meet one of the exemption categories detailed in the Exam Delivery and Eligibility section. This includes candidates with additional attempts in hand, and any trainees in less than full time training.
The eligibility criteria for the new examinations and transitional considerations that apply for candidates during the period between exam systems are available here.
Will management/leadership still be examined in the new examinations?
Management will no longer be a component of Part 2 Clinical Structured Oral Examinations. Candidates should refer to the relevant exam syllabus and assessment strategy for their specialty here.
Is there a minimum period of training that must be met before someone can take an examination?
Readiness to sit any examination, whether Part 1 or 2, is self-certified and should be in discussion with your training provider or person(s) responsible for overseeing your training. There is no minimum training period that must be met, but candidates should review the assessment strategy and syllabus for their specialty to determine readiness.
Could a trainee sit multiple Specialty Fellowship Examinations?
As the examinations are open access, there is nothing to prevent a trainee from doing this in different examination diets if they can self-certify that they have covered the relevant syllabus and meet all the eligibility criteria.
How much preparation time for each station is there in Part 2 examinations?
Up to 10 minutes of reading time will be permitted, but this is dependent on the specialty and more information on this will be published in summer 2026.
Why has the management component of the existing examinations been removed from the new Part 2 examinations?
The examination is part of a programmatic approach to assessment. It was determined that the management component should no longer be included in the Fellowship examination, however it will still be assessed in other parts of an individual’s training.
Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS)
What is the structure of the new MFDS examination?
All guidance for MFDS including the exam syllabus and assessment strategy is available here.
MFDS has two parts (Part 1 and Part 2), which will each comprise a different examination format to assess the content of its syllabus:
Part 1: Single Best Answer (SBA) Questions
A total of 180 Single Best Answer questions will be used to assess basic and clinical sciences pertinent to clinical decision making and professional practice. They may also assess application of peripheral knowledge, that whilst not strictly clinical, is relevant to clinical decision making and treatment planning.
SBAs are a selected response format with one single best answer and 4 plausible distractors. They are particularly well suited to assessing higher-order thinking and usually contain a clinical vignette requiring the application of knowledge.
Part 1 will be delivered as two 2-hour papers each consisting of 90 SBA questions.
Examples of content covered: physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, application of guidance, diagnosis, treatment planning, interpretation of radiographic images.
Part 2: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
An OSCE format will be used to assess candidates in two broad content areas:
- Communication, and
- Decision making
Candidates must achieve a pass in both broad content areas to be successful in Part 2.
Part 2 will consist of a 14 station OSCE, each station being approximately 10 minutes duration. Candidates will rotate around the circuit of stations each of which will be overseen by one examiner. Some stations may have actors playing the role of patients or members of the dental team. Each station may assess one or both broad content areas across a range of different skill areas.
Examples of content covered: communication (peer and patient/career), history taking, diagnosis, treatment planning, clinical judgement, delivery of care and professional practice.
Do I need to pass Part 1 in order to sit Part 2?
Yes, candidates will be required to pass Part 1 before being eligible to sit Part 2.
What is being assessed in the new MFDS?
All guidance for MFDS including the exam syllabus and assessment strategy is available here.
The new MFDS exam is mapped to the learning outcomes of the Dental Core Training programme syllabus years 2/3. It covers general professional outcomes, general clinical outcomes, and specialty specific outcomes, focusing on assessing the candidate’s application of knowledge in the basic and clinical sciences, communication and interpersonal skills, clinical judgement and decision-making skills, and clinical and general professional practice.
How many diets will there be of MFDS?
There will be a minimum of two diets per year for MFDS Part 1 and two diets per year for MFDS Part 2 in the UK.
I have Part 1 of the existing MFDS, can I just complete Part 2 of the new version of MFDS to receive the qualification?
No. It is important to be aware that the new examination is set at a different level to the current one. This means that part-completion of the existing MFDS will not offer exemption from any part of the new MFDS.
For example, if you only complete Part 1 of the current MFDS and do not pass Part 2 before the examination ceases, you will be required to sit Part 1 of the new MFDS examination to be eligible to sit the new MFDS Part 2.
For this reason, it is important that you refer to each College’s information to find out more about the final dates of the current examinations. Your college can provide advice and support during the transition to help you to decide on your next steps.
If you are already part-way through your study for MFDS, or already hold Part 1 of the existing MFDS, you should refer to the information from the College(s) offering your current examination to understand how many more sittings of the examination are available to you.
Colleges will also be contacting candidates who have already enrolled for or sat part of their MFDS to provide information that will help you decide about the timing of your examinations.
I am an international candidate. Am I eligible to apply for MFDS?
Yes. If you are an international candidate who is not completing training in the UK, you can apply to sit the new MFDS if you meet all the eligibility criteria.
Please note that all 2026 and early 2027 examinations will take place in the UK only and cannot be completed remotely, so attendance is subject to candidate obtaining any required travel and visa documentation and subject to capacity to accept them onto the examination. Any travel or visa arrangements made prior to receipt of written confirmation that you have a place on an examination are solely made at the candidate’s risk.
As an international applicant, you would be required at application stage to self-certify that you can meet all the eligibility requirements to sit the examination.
Existing MFDS and Specialty Membership and Fellowship Examinations
Will the existing examinations keep running after the new ones start?
The individual UK and Ireland Royal Colleges will continue to deliver their own diets of the existing MFDS/MFD and specialty membership and fellowship (ISFE) exams through 2026 and early 2027. Each College will determine its own eligibility and plans for the delivery of those exams, including dates and times of examinations and resits.
When will the existing examinations run until?
The current examinations will conclude in Spring 2027, however it is important you contact the specific Colleges for any information on the current examinations, including available dates for any required resits.
Which version of the examination should I sit?
Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations
Candidates are encouraged to refer to their relevant specialty’s pathway guidance here.
It is expected that any UK candidate who began their specialty training on the pre-September 2024 curriculum will sit the existing specialty membership or fellowship examinations. Any variation to this should only be taken following discussion with your Training Programme Director or Postgraduate Programme Director.
Any candidate who began training on the new September 2024 onwards curriculum will sit the new fellowship examinations.
Candidates who have not completed their specialty training in the UK are encouraged to review the contents of the assessment strategy and syllabus and discuss with the person(s) responsible for overseeing their training to assess their readiness. All examinations are undertaken on a self-assessment basis, meaning that candidates are solely responsible for their readiness to sit the examination.
No appeals against examination results will be considered based on failure to meet the eligibility requirements or knowledge or clinical requirements to sit.
MFDS
Until Spring 2027, all candidates wishing to take MFDS will have the option to decide which version of the examination to take subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. Candidates should consider the number of diets remaining as the number of resits available to them, if necessary, will be determined by how many diets remain.
It is important to ensure you review the information from the College running the exam you wish to take who can advise on the diets remaining for the existing exams if you wish to take these.
All examinations are taken on a self-assessment basis meaning that any decision on which version of the exams to sit in 2026/2027 and when to sit will be at the candidate’s discretion, not that of the Dental Examinations Executive. Candidates are advised to discuss this with relevant person(s) overseeing their clinical practice.
No appeals against examination results will be considered based on failure to meet the eligibility requirements or knowledge or clinical requirements to sit.
The examination information regarding new examinations refers to the UK curriculum. I am not on a UK training programme. How will I know which exams to complete?
If you are an international candidate or are not training through either the UK National Training Programme or a UK or Ireland university postgraduate clinical programme, it is your choice as to how to complete your exams, as long as you can satisfy the eligibility requirements of each exam, which is provided in the exam regulations for Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations and MFDS.
You should be aware that all existing specialty membership and specialty fellowship exams will cease to run in Spring 2027.
Exam Delivery and Eligibility
Will the examinations be held online?
All 2026 and early 2027 examinations will take place at examination centres across UK cities. Candidates cannot take either Part 1 or Part 2 examinations from home and will be required to attend an examination centre in person.
Part 1 examinations will be facilitated online in an examination centre. Attendance at a centre is required to sit the examination.
Part 2 will take place face-to-face in an examination centre.
When will the new examinations start?
The first examinations for Part 1, the Single Best Answer (or Short Answer Questions for Dental Public Health) exam, for both the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations and MFDS will take place in October 2026 in locations across the UK with applications expected to open in April 2026.
Part 2 of the examinations are scheduled for Spring 2027. Dates for these have now been published and the application window will be published shortly.
I hold an existing specialty membership qualification (e.g. M(Orth), M(Paed Dent), FDS(OM). Am I eligible to sit the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations?
Yes, you are eligible and you can choose to sit this new examination if you wish and meet the eligibility requirements for the new examinations. However, the Colleges will also provide routes for existing candidates holding existing specialty membership or fellowship qualifications to apply directly to the College the member is affiliated to in order to convert their qualification to the new fellowship without the need to take this examination.
Do I need a certain level of English to sit the examinations?
Candidates should have a good command of the English language, akin to IELTS 7 or equivalent, to participate in the examinations which will be taken entirely in English. We will not be asking for any formal certificates to verify this level of English in the application process. Instead, the candidate will self-certify they can meet this eligibility requirement.
I want to sit the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations, will I be required to sit MFDS prior to doing so?
Yes. Candidates must hold an MFDS qualification (or qualification suitable for reciprocal acceptance as detailed in the section below) to sit the new Dental Specialty Fellowship exams. This will allow continuity of assessment of skills throughout the exam progression.
A small number of candidates may be exempted from the requirement to hold MFDS under certain circumstances as detailed in the transitional considerations. Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact info@dsfe.org.uk to clarify the requirements for their specific circumstances.
Which candidates are not required to hold MFDS prior to sitting a new Specialty Fellowship examination?
The eligibility requirements for all new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations require candidates to hold MFDS in advance of applying to sit an exam. There are a small number of categories of candidates who may be exempt from this requirement:
- Candidates on a UK National Training Programme who began specialty training before 1 Jan 2026.
- Candidates on a UK or Ireland university postgraduate clinical programme that mirrors the National Training Programme curriculum who began their course before 1 Jan 2026.
All other candidates must hold MFDS to meet the eligibility requirements of the new Specialty Fellowship examinations. All candidates are encouraged to review the eligibility criteria and transitional considerations in full.
I started my NTN Training programme before 1 January 2026. Will I be required to sit MFDS to be eligible to apply for the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations?
No, for candidates on the UK National Training Programme, the MFDS requirement is only applicable to who start specialty training after 1 January 2026 as detailed in clause 1 of the transitional considerations.
I am based outside the UK. Where can I sit the new examinations?
Candidates may travel to the UK to sit the examinations subject to obtaining any required travel and visa documentation and subject to capacity to accept them onto the examination. Any travel or visa arrangements made prior to receipt of written confirmation that you have a place on an examination are solely made at the candidate’s risk. You should only make travel arrangements once your place has been confirmed in writing and you have been advised to make your travel and visa arrangements.
Delivery of examinations outside of the UK is expected to begin in 2027; locations for delivery will be decided by the Royal Colleges who will be responsible for the delivery of the examinations internationally.
I will not be in the final year of my postgraduate programme. Can I sit an examination early?
Eligibility criteria for Specialty Fellowship Examinations can be found here. Readiness to sit the exam should be self-verified by the candidate using the appropriate exam syllabus and in discussion with their training provider.
Can you apply for a Part 2 examination before you have your results from Part 1?
The results publication date of the Part 1 diet will be taken into consideration when deciding the dates for the application window for Part 2 diets to allow passing candidates to apply. There are two chances to sit Part 1 and Part 2 per year.
How many attempts are permitted?
As standard, candidates are permitted four attempts to pass each part of an examination. This applies to both MFDS and a Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations and is detailed in the relevant examination regulations. Part 2 must be passed within four years of successfully passing Part 1.
Qualification Reciprocity
I have passed the knowledge/written component of a specialty membership examination, what does this mean for me?
Candidates who have passed the knowledge/written component of a specialty membership examination will only be required to pass the clinical section of the relevant Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination to receive the fellowship qualification. Candidates will receive reciprocity for the knowledge component for 2 years after the last diet of the existing membership specialty examinations.
There is guidance on which examinations are accepted for reciprocity in the transitional considerations.
Does the knowledge/critical appraisal reciprocity agreement apply to international candidates?
Yes, the reciprocity agreement applies to all candidates no matter where they are based or where they took the examination.
I have passed ISFE Part A in a specialty other than Dental Public Health, what does this mean for me?
Candidates who achieve a pass in Part A in any ISFE exam other than Dental Public Health but do not attain a pass in Part B by the time of discontinuation of the ISFE examinations will be required to undertake both parts of the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations.
No reciprocity for passes in either ISFE part is in place for any specialty other than Dental Public Health as per clause 5 of the transitional considerations.
I have passed ISFE Dental Public Health Part A, what does this mean for me?
Candidates who achieve a pass in Part A in Dental Public Health but do not attain a pass in Part B by the time of discontinuation of the ISFE examinations will be required to undertake Part B only of the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations as per clause 5 of the transitional considerations.
Candidates will be awarded a certificate of completion for Part A which may be submitted to receive an exemption from the Short Answer Questions (SAQ) element of the new examination.
This exemption will be valid for examinations held before May 2029, irrespective of when ISFE Part A was achieved. Candidates who have not achieved a pass at the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination before May 2029 will not be eligible for exemption and will require to take the new Short Answer Questions (SAQ) examination.
I started my UK or Ireland postgraduate clinical programme before 1 January 2026 (such as a clinical masters or clinical doctoral degree programme, which parallels the NTN Training Programme), will I be required to sit MFDS to be eligible to apply for the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations?
Yes, the MFDS requirement is applicable to those who start a UK or Ireland university postgraduate clinical degree programme which parallels the national training programme after 1 January 2026.
Can I use the existing version of MFDS to sit the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations?
You will retain your existing postnominals of MFDS if you have joined a College. Your existing MFDS provides eligibility to enter the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations for any application to sit Part 1 made on or before 1 May 2031.
Please be aware that if you decide to take the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations after that period, you will be required to hold the new MFDS.
What if I hold the existing version of MFDS but I am not ready to sit the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations before 2031?
Candidates not ready to apply for Part 1 of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations before 1 May 2031, and who have completed the old version of MFDS – or another qualification regarded as acceptable in line with the transition considerations – will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Executive Committee until 1 May 2040.
Guidance on applying for an extension to use their existing MFDS after 1 May 2031 is available here.
What if I hold an MFD qualification?
RCSI MFD will be considered an acceptable alternative to MFDS if the candidate has passed the examination before May 2027, at which point the new tri-collegiate MFDS examination arrangements will take effect.
The RCSI MFD, completed before May 2027 will be accepted for applications for the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Part 1 made before 1 May 2031 in line with transitional consideration clause 7.
I hold an MJDF qualification, what does this mean?
MJDF will be considered an acceptable alternative to MFDS to sit the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations. MJFD will be accepted for applications for the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Part 1 made before 1 May 2031 in line with transitional consideration clause 3.
I hold Part A of the ISFE in Dental Public Health but will not be ready to sit Part 2 of the Specialty Fellowship Examination before 1 May 2031, what are my options?
Candidates not ready to apply for Part 1 of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations before 1 May 2031, and who hold ISFE Part A in Dental Public Health will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Executive Committee until 1 May 2040.
Guidance on applying for an extension to use their existing MFDS after 1 May 2031 is available here.
Are there any fees waivers available for trainees who have passed Part A of an ISFE examination but have now had to transition to new exams?
There will be no refunds or fee waivers for these candidates. There is reciprocity in place for those that have passed Part A of ISFE in Dental Public Health. A statement on ISFE Part A passing candidates was published by each College and can be found on College websites.
Do attempts at ISFE examinations count towards Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination attempts?
No. Your attempt count will start again when you take your first Specialty Fellowship examination.
International Examinations
When will the new international examinations start?
International examination dates are expected to start in late 2027. Dates and locations for international examinations will be decided by the UK Royal Colleges who are responsible for delivering these on behalf of the Dental Examinations Executive in locations outside of the UK.
Examination Applications
When can I apply for an examination?
Application windows will be published for all examinations in advance here. All of our examinations have a limited number of places and you are advised to apply early to secure your place.
How do I apply for an examination?
All applications must be submitted via our online application portal. The link to this will be published in advance of the application window here. You will be required to upload relevant eligibility documents, including your Primary Dental Qualification and evidence of holding or exemption from MFDS or an alternative acceptable qualification where required for a Specialty Fellowship Examination. Candidates wishing to apply for Part 2 of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination in Dental Public Health who are exempt from sitting Part 1 will also be required to upload evidence of holding a pass in Part A of the ISFE examination. All evidence should be scanned or in a digital format where possible and preferably in PDF format.
What documentation do I need to apply for an examination?
There will be a requirement to upload evidence of certain aspects of the eligibility criteria detailed below. All other eligibility requirements, including clinical or professional readiness to sit the exam should be self-verified by the candidate using the appropriate exam syllabus and discussing with their training provider. An audit process will be applied to the examination application process to ensure application validity and candidates may be contacted by the Executive to request additional information.
- All candidates will be asked to provide evidence of their Primary Dental Qualification at registration and to confirm they have done so when they apply for an examination.
- Candidates applying for a Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination who are exempt from the requirement to hold MFDS or an alternative recognise qualification will be asked to provide evidence of this at application. Some candidates who are currently in specialty training in the UK may be exempt from holding MFDS in order to sit a Fellowship examination in line with the examinations Transitional Considerations. Evidence may be in the format of, for example, a dated student status letter demonstrating the course of study and date started, dated letter from their Programme Director or TPD, or contract of employment from their Trust or employer showing their start date.
How should I verify that I have the required level of dental education?
All candidates regardless of their training route will be asked to upload a scan of their Primary Dental Qualification with their application and provide information relevant to their training route. This will vary depending on a candidate’s route.
Other
Which College will I hold membership with?
Although the new examinations are being delivered tri-Collegiately, after you have gained your new qualification, you have the choice of which College you wish to affiliate to if indeed you wish or require to affiliate.
You may choose to become a member of all three Colleges or only one College. Each College has their own individual membership fees and eligibility.
The use of post-nominals following completion of your qualification requires holding membership of a College.
Can I convert my existing specialty membership qualification into a new specialty fellowship qualification?
Yes, if you passed your specialty membership examination after January 2020 you will be able to apply to the College that awarded your specialty membership qualification to convert this to the new fellowship qualification. The process for this is determined by the relevant College that you hold your qualification with.
I intend to convert my specialty membership to a specialty fellowship. What post-nominals can I use?
Those who convert their specialty membership to specialty fellowship with their College will be able to change their post-nominals accordingly once the conversion is successfully approved. The post-nominals are as follows:
- F(Orth) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(Endo) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(Perio) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(Pros) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(Paed Dent) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(SCD) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(OS) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(OM) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(RD) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
- F(DPH) RCSEd/RCS Eng/RCPSG
These post-nominals will be confirmed with the new certificate issued by the Colleges.
I’m not eligible to convert to fellowship following the above process because I sat the specialty membership exam before the January 2020 cut off. What options are available to me?
Each College has a process in place to apply for fellowship without examination. Please refer to the website of the College you are affiliated to or wish to affiliate to for this information.
I completed a specialty membership exam and specialty fellowship exam (e.g. M(Orth) and FDS(Orth)). Do the new examinations result in the same qualification?
Those who complete the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations will be distinguished by the new post nominals F(Specialty) instead of FDS(Specialty), which are the existing fellowship exam post nominals. Employers and Training Programme Directors in the UK will be aware of the differences between these post-nominals.
Will there be sample questions published?
Yes, there will be sample questions published. We expect to release a small number of Part 1 sample questions for each specialty and MFDS during the application window.
How long after the examination will results be released?
Results will be released 4-8 weeks after the examination takes place to allow for a comprehensive quality assurance process.
Can I claim back any of my examination costs, e.g. travel or accommodation?
No. No expenses claims are available to candidates.
How do I apply for access arrangements or reasonable adjustments for my examination?
Our Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments Policy and Procedure applies to all requests. You will be asked as part of your application if you wish you request arrangements or adjustments. If you do, you will be asked a short series of questions about this and will be able to submit any supporting documentation. The Dental Examinations Executive will be in touch regarding your request as soon as possible following this.