Frequently Asked Questions : DENTISTRY in AUSTRALIA (ADC)

FAQ's of Australian Dental Council Exam 

INITIAL ASSESSMENT & SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION

Q.

Can my husband/wife/relative/friend/migration agent act on my behalf to receive any information regarding my application, including over the phone, via email or by post?

A.

If you wish to nominate another party/person to act on your behalf, and receive information regarding your application for assessment, you and the person you are nominating to act on your behalf, will be required to complete and return an Authority to Act form.

This form must be sent to the ADC by post to retain all the original signatures.

An Authority to Act form must be submitted with each new application.

Q.

Can I provide any documents or my application by email or fax?.

A.

No. You are not permitted to submit any documents or application forms via email or fax. The ADC will only accept original certified copies of documents. This means that we must receive all documents by post to retain the original certification and signatures.

Q.

Who can certify my documents if I am not in Australia?.

A.

The ADC's Certification of Documents Guideline indicate the acceptable certifiers such as:

• Justice of the Peace
• Public Notary
• Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer
• Employee of the Commonwealth of Australia or the Australian Trade Commission.

Q.

How do I certify my passport sized photograph?.

A.

Please refer to the ADC 's Certification of Documents Guideline.

Photographs are to be certified on the back of the photograph. The recognised authorised certifying officer must state "this photograph is a true likeness of (applicant's name)" and the other requirements listed on the certification guidelines.

Q.

Will the ADC send the outcome of my assessment by email?.

A.

Yes. When your application has been assessed an outcome will be sent by email advising you that your application has been successful, or if it is incomplete that further information is required.

Successful applicants will receive the relevant paperwork by email to enable them to move to the next stage of their assessment, e.g. Eligibility letter to apply for the written examination. Therefore you must ensure that your contact details are current with the Australian Dental Council.

Please also allow four (4) to six (6) weeks for mail to travel between Australia and India, Africa or The Middle East.

Q.

How long will the initial assessment take?

A.

Please allow up to eight (8) weeks from the day the application is received for your application to be assessed.

If additional information or documentation is required from you, the initial assessment period may be delayed.

Q.

Can I apply for the Initial Assessment of Professional Qualification in General Dentistry, Dental Hygienist or Dental Therapist if I have not worked in the past five years?

A.

Yes. If you have not practiced as a Dentist or Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist in the past five years (or since graduation), you will be required to provide a signed written statement explaining the reasons why you have not worked in the past five years with your application.

Q.

I understand I need to arrange a Certificate/Letter of Good Standing regarding my registration. Can I provide a certified copy of this document?

A.

No. An original Certificate/Letter of Good Standing must be sent directly to the ADC from the registering authority, and not by via the applicant.

Q.

How do I apply for a Skills Assessment?

A.

You can apply for a Skills Assessment by completing an application for Initial Assessment of Professional Qualifications in General Dentistry form.

Please complete this form after carefully reading the Explanatory Notes and Checklist section of the application in full, providing all the required documentation, and paying the required fee.

Q.

Please advise me of the requirements for applying for a Skilled Migration Visa as a dental practitioner.

A.

Please contact the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) for information on requirements for visa applications. www.immi.gov.au

Q.

I am an Australian Qualified dentist who requires an Assessment for immigration. Do I need a Skills Assessment.

A.

Yes. If you have graduated from an Australian University, and wish to apply for a visa, you will be required to apply for a Skills Assessment with the ADC.

Q.

What do I need to provide to the ADC as a PSDWS candidate?

A.

You will need to submit an application for Initial Assessment of Professional Qualifications in General Dentistry and provide a letter from your Australian Public Sector employer, confirming you are currently employed in the PSDWS.

PSDWS applicants must also provide evidence of Limited Registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) clearly showing their registration is for the PSDWS.

Q.

How do I find a PSDWS job in Australia?

A.

For information on employment in the PSDWS please contact the State Government Health Department in the state you wish to obtain employment.

 

Documentation

Q. I need to send a document to the ADC. Which address should I use?

A.  This depends on whether you are using the postal service or a courier.

If you are posting a document, please address to:

PO Box 13278Law Courts  Vic  8010Australia

If you are using a local or international courier to deliver a document, please address to:

Level 299 King StreetMelbourne  Vic  3000 Australia

Applying for an Initial Assessment

Q. Do I need to provide details of my secondary education?

A.  You are only required to provide evidence of your secondary (high school) education if you undertook your secondary education in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, USA, Republic of Ireland or South Africa. If you did not undertake your secondary education in one of these countries then you are not required to provide this information and you do not need to complete questions 16-19 on the Initial Assessment Application form.

Q. When should I arrange for my Certificate of Good Standing to be sent to the ADC?

A.  You should arrange for your Certificate of Good Standing to be sent to the ADC when you are completing your application for Initial Assessment. When your Certificate of Good Standing is received by the ADC it will be held securely and then matched to your application.

Q. What is the closing date for Initial Assessment applications? I would like to sit the next Written Examination.

A.  Whilst there is no closing date for Initial Assessment applications we suggest that you submit your Initial Assessment application at least 12 weeks before the Written Examination closing date.

Applying for an examination

Q. How many attempts can be made at the Examination?

A. There are currently no restrictions on the number of attempts for either the Written Examination or the Practical Examination. However, you must pass the Practical Examination within 3 years of a successfully passing the Written Examination, otherwise you will need to re-sit the Written Examination.

Q. I have a place booked in an upcoming Written Examination but I have recently changed my contact details. What should I do?

A. You must arrange for redirection of mail (postal and/or email) if you change your address after the closing date for a Written Examination.

If the closing date has not passed, please submit a Change of Contact Details form to the ADC as soon as possible. If the form will not reach the ADC prior to the examination closing date, you must arrange for redirection of mail.

Withdrawing from an examination

Q. Can I withdraw from an examination?

A. Yes. A signed written letter must be sent directly to the Australian Dental Council by post advising us of your withdrawal.

Once received, your withdrawal will be processed and if applicable, a partial refund will be returned to you. Please allow up to seven (7) days for money to be refunded to your credit card.

For further information regarding withdrawal and examination fee refunds please refer to the Written Examination Handbook and the Practical Examination Handbook.

Q. If I withdraw from an examination can I transfer to a following examination?

A. No. You are NOT able to automatically transfer from one examination to another.

If you choose to withdraw from an examination, you are required to re-apply.

Examination fees and application forms are also NOT transferable between examinations.

You must complete a new examination application form, provide the required documentation and pay the required fee for each examination you apply to sit.

Q. Can I change my venue for the Written Examination?

A. Yes. You may change your venue at anytime up to the close of the examination booking period via the Pearson VUE website. You do not need to notify the ADC of a venue change.

Q. I have a place booked in the next Practical Examination, but I can’t get my visa for travel to Australia in time. Can I transfer to the next Practical Examination instead?

A. No. Failure to undertake an examination because of inability to obtain necessary visas will be treated as a withdrawal and fees will be forfeited.

Sitting the Written Examination

Q. What happens if I am late for my examination?

A. You should arrive at the examination 30 minutes prior to the arrival time stated on your advice letter. You will NOT be admitted to the examination if you arrive at the venue after the start time and you will automatically receive a FAIL grade for that paper regardless of the reason for your late arrival.

Sitting the Practical Examination

Q. Do I need to provide my own protective eyewear?

A. Yes. All candidates must bring suitable eye protection. We will not provide this for you. You may bring magnifying loupes if you wish. The venue will provide you with a protective gown and disposable masks and gloves.

Q. Can I bring my own instruments to the examination?

A. No. The venues will provide the necessary standard equipment needed. You may not bring instruments or handpieces. You must, however, bring your own burs.

Q. Do my burs need to be sterile?

A. All burs brought to the examination must be clean with NO visible soiling, but they do not have to be sterile.

Q. Can I bring my own materials to the examination?

A. The venue will provide the standard necessary materials needed to complete the examination. You may, however, bring your own materials. Please be aware that if your materials require specialised equipment for dispensing, mixing etc., that equipment may not be available at the venue and you may not bring that equipment with you.

Q. What is the difference between materials and equipment?

A. Materials are generally items that are consumables.

Items regarded as materials include:

  - Restorative materials (e.g. composite resins)
  - Impression materials
  - Rubber dam sheets
  - Polishing discs (but not mandrels)
  - Wedges
  - Face shields.

Items regarded as equipment included:

  - Handpieces
  - Hand instruments (e.g. probes, mirrors, enamel hatchets)
  - Matrix bands and holders
  - Rubber dam clamps and forceps
  - Rubber dam frames
  - X-ray film holders
  - Dispensing guns
  - Scalpels and blades
  - Amalgamators
  - Non-dental headlamps
  - Hand-held magnifying glasses.

Getting my results

Q. How long will it take to receive my results?

A. Examination results are usually issued 6 weeks after an examination.

Candidates should not contact the ADC before this time. All results for the Written Examination and Practical Examination will now be available to dentistry candidates online via the ADC Candidate Portal. Dental Hygiene and/or Dental Therapy candidates cannot access the Candidate Portal and will receive their results via email.

Q. I have just sat my first Written Examination. When I try to log onto the Candidate Portal I get a message saying that I have provided an invalid username. What should I do?

A. As a new user, the Candidate Portal won’t recognise your username until the Written Examination results have been released. Try again later. Remember that examination results are usually released 6 weeks after the Written Examination.

Q. I failed my recent examination. Can I get more feedback on my performance?

A. The ADC does provide feedback in the form of the candidate Results Profile which is given to you with your results. However, the ADC does not provide more detailed post-examination feedback to candidates.

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Application Process for Indian Dentists(B.D.S) to practice dentistry in Australia / New zealand

How to apply for dentistry in australia ?
How to practice in australia ?
How to practice Dentistry in australia after completing BDS/MDS in India?

An Indian registered dentists with full registration can apply for practicing dentistry in Australia by applying to Australian dental council using following 3 steps

The first step in the assessment (document verification) pathway is the initial assessment of your professional qualifications in General Dentistry or as a Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist.

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) assesses your professional qualifications as a General Dentist or Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist, work experience, registration history, good standing and other matters to establish your eligibility to proceed with the examinations. 

This assessment is based on the information you provide in your Application for Initial Assessment of Professional Qualifications in Dentistry, or Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist .

How long is the initial assessment valid?

The ADC has introduced a validity period for initial assessment applications for all dental professions. From 1 January 2020, successful initial assessment applications for all dental professions will have a validity period of seven years.
For more information regarding the validity period for successful initial assessment applications, click here.

1.1 Download and complete an application form

The Application for initial assessment of overseas qualified dental practitioner form should be downloaded and printed as a hard copy before it is completed.

Please make sure that you are using the current version of the application form.

Detailed guidelines, designed to help you complete the form, are included throughout the form. 

1.2 Submit application form

As well as a completed application form, you are required to submit a clear, certified copy of your:

• current passport (high quality colour copy)
• evidence of change of name (if applicable)
• dental qualification, official certificate or testamur
• academic transcript
• internship certificate 
• evidence of registration or license to practise dentistry 
• two written professional references
• evidence of practise or work history as a registered or licensed dentist.

Please do not send original documents as we cannot return these to you.
All supporting documentation must adhere to the ADC certification of document guidelines. The guidelines can be downloaded here. Incorrectly certified documents will result in delays, or in the application being declined.

Post your application and supporting documents to the address specified on the application form.

You are also responsible for arranging a certificate, or letter, of good standing. This must be sent directly to the ADC from the organisation responsible for regulating dental registration or dental license in your country of practise.

Once the application form and supporting documents have been received and payment taken, you will be assigned an ADC candidate reference number. This number should always be used when you contact the ADC. 

1.3 Receive an initial assessment outcome from the ADC

Once your application has been assessed, you will receive an email from the ADC advising of the outcome of your assessment.

There are three possible outcomes:

1. Your application was successful and you are now eligible to proceed to the written examination. A successful initial assessment does not expire.
2. Your application is incomplete and you are required to submit additional information for further assessment.
3. Your application was unsuccessful and you are ineligible to proceed with the ADC process.

As of 1 January 2020, the ADC will implement a new seven year validity period for initial assessment applications.

Once your initial assessment application is assessed as complete, it will be valid for seven years from the date of completion.

If you wish to appeal the outcome of an initial assessment, a written application for review, together with the nominated fee, is to be submitted to the ADC within 28 days of receipt of the notification of the assessment outcome.

The appeals policy for the assessment of qualifications contains further information on the appeals process. You can view the policy here.

It takes a minimum of eight weeks to conduct the initial assessment of qualifications. Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your initial assessment to be approved in order to meet the Written Examination closing date deadline.

English Language Test Requirement 

ADC applicants requiring a skills assessment for migration may be also required to provide evidence of competency in English as part of this assessment. English language proficiency requirements for migration are available on the DIBP website at http://www.border.gov.au/  

For info on OET ... follow link >>>>click here

The Australian Dental Council’s Written Examination

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) written examination for dentists is a computer delivered examination designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of the science and practise of dentistry. The examination also assesses the application of clinical judgement and reasoning skills relevant to dental practise in Australia.
The two-day examination is delivered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the ADC. Each computer-based examination consists of four papers each containing 80 scenario-based and single-best answer multiple choice questions. The examination is held in multiple locations in Australia and overseas.
You should carefully read the Written examination handbook for a comprehensive description of the format and requirements of the written examination. The handbook can be downloaded here.
Timeframe: Approximately five months
Cost: AUD $2,000
 

 

ACTIVITY	TIME FRAME
Written examination application period	Approximately 3 to 4 months before the examination
Authorisation to test emails sent	8 weeks before examination
Pearson VUE bookings open	8 weeks before examination
Pearson VUE bookings close	5 weeks before examination
Notification of examination results	6 weeks after examination
Application for verifications and appeals close	28 days from notification of results

 

Am I eligible to sit the written examination?

To be eligible to apply for a written examination you must have successfully completed the initial assessment process.

When can I apply for the written examination?

Two written examination sessions are scheduled each calendar year. These are usually held in March and September.
Written examination application periods are advertised on the ADC website and usually occur three to four months before the examination date.

What can I do to prepare for the written examination?

The ADC strongly advises candidates to use the information published by the ADC (e.g. handbooks and information packages) as their definitive source of examination preparation material. You can access these resources here.
The ADC does not recommend or endorse any proprietary or informal courses which advertise as preparation for the ADC written or practical examinations. Such courses are developed and run without input from the ADC. The ADC cannot be held responsible for the quality of training or advice provided at such courses.

Process

2.1 Submit an application 

Applications for the written examination can only be accepted during published written examination application periods.

To apply for a written examination, you must complete and submit a Written examination application form, along with the relevant supporting documentation and full payment.

The application should be downloaded and printed as a hard copy prior to completion. Please make sure that you are using the current version of the application form.

The application form contains detailed guidelines to assist you in completing the form.

All supporting documentation must adhere to the ADC certification of document guidelines. The guidelines can be downloaded here. Incorrectly certified documents will result in delays, or in the application being declined.

Post your application and supporting documents to the address specified on the application form. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received.

Once your application has been assessed, you will receive an email from the ADC advising of the outcome of your application.

There are three possible outcomes:

1. Your application was successful and you are authorised to sit the written examination.
2. Your application is incomplete and you are required to submit additional information or resubmit payment during the application period.
3. Your application was unsuccessful because either you are ineligible to sit this written examination or that a complete application was not received during the application period.

2.2 Book a written examination

If your application is successful, the ADC will issue you with a Written examination authorisation letter. This letter contains information on the opening of your booking period and instructions on how to book your examination venue through the Pearson VUE booking system.

At the beginning of the booking period Pearson VUE will email authorised candidates an Authorisation to test email. This email provides login details for the Pearson VUE system and describes the process for booking an examination venue. Examination dates and venues will be available via the booking system.

You must book your examination venue during the booking period.

Bookings are open for approximately three weeks from the date of the Authorisation to test email. Some examination venues have very limited capacity and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. You are required to select the same examination venue for both days of the examination.

An indicative list of venues for the dentist written examination can be found here. Available venues may be subject to change at short notice.

During the written examination, all candidates will be required to abide by the terms in the candidate rules agreement. A copy of the candidate rules agreement for the written examination can be found here.

Once a booking is completed, you will receive an email from Pearson VUE confirming the time, location and requirements for your examination. Pearson VUE will issue a reminder email seven days prior to the examination.

Practical Examination

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) practical examination is the platform for candidates to demonstrate that they are competent to practise safely as a dentist in Australia. The practical examination assesses candidates across the range of the Entry-level competencies of the newly qualified dentist. The competencies can be viewed here.

The examination is held over two days; a technical skills day and a clinical skills day. Examinations are held most weeks of the year at the ADC examination centre.

Upon successful completion of the practical examination, candidates are eligible to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA).

You should carefully read the Practical examination handbook for dentists for a comprehensive description of the format and requirements of the practical examination. The handbook can be downloaded here. 

Timeframe: Approximately six to nine months
 
Cost: AUD $4,500

Am I eligible to sit the practical examination?

You are eligible to sit the practical examination within three years of successful completion of the  ADC written examination. 

Process

When can I apply for the practical examination

The table below outlines the upcoming, open, and closed application periods for the practical examination.

	ELIGIBILITY	PRACTICAL EXAMINATION PERIOD*	APPLICATION PERIOD
Open application period
Upcoming application periods
Closed application period

*No general dentist examinations are scheduled for April 2020 or July 2020.
Please note. Examination dates and application periods are subject to change. 
Applications for practical examination places are only accepted during the application periods listed above. In fairness to all candidates, the ADC cannot consider applications received outside the listed periods, or from candidates who do not meet the eligibility criteria for that application period.
Additional information on practical examination dates and application periods will be available in via the ADC website.
If you have any questions regarding the application periods, contact the ADC via the contact us page.

How do I book a seat in the practical examination?

To apply for a practical examination, you must complete and submit a Practical examination application form, along with the relevant supporting documentation and full payment.
The application should be downloaded and printed as a hard copy prior to completion. Please make sure that you are using the current version of the application form. The application form contains detailed guidelines to assist you in completing the form.
All supporting documentation must adhere to the ADC certification of document guidelines. Incorrectly certified documents will result in delays, or in the application being declined.
Post your application and supporting documents to the address specified on the application form. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received.
Once your application has been assessed, you will receive an email from the ADC advising of the outcome of your application.
There are three possible outcomes:

1. Your application was successful and you are authorised to sit the practical examination.
2. Your application is incomplete and you are required to submit additional information or resubmit payment during the application period.
3. Your application was unsuccessful because either you are ineligible to sit this practical examination or that a complete application was not received during the application period.

If your application is successful you will receive confirmation of your allocated practical examination date approximately six weeks after the application period closes. 
The ADC will provide you with additional instructions and information relating to the practical examination in the lead up to the examination date.

Where can I find more information about sitting the practical examination?

The Practical examination handbook for dentists is available to help candidates prepare for the examination. If you are planning to sit the practical examination you should read the handbook carefully. You can download the handbook here.
The handbook contains information about:

• how to apply and withdraw from an examination
• the format of the examination
• what to expect on examination days
• what will be supplied at the examination
• what you need to bring to the examination
• the assessment process
• examination conduct and other policies
• the release of results. 

What can I do to prepare for the practical examination?

The ADC strongly advises candidates to use the information published by the ADC (e.g. handbooks and information packages) as their definitive source of examination preparation material. You can access these resources here.
The ADC does not recommend or endorse any proprietary or informal courses which advertise as preparation for the ADC written or practical examinations. Such courses are developed and run without input from the ADC. The ADC cannot be held responsible for the quality of training or advice provided at such courses.

How do I get my examination results?

Practical examination results will be released via the ADC candidate portal. Results are released approximately six weeks after the examination date. 

To be awarded a pass in the practical examination, candidates must pass both examination days in one examination session.

Successful candidates will be awarded an ADC certificate confirming their eligibility to apply for registration with the DBA. The certificate will be available for download via the candidate portal.

Successful candidates are eligible to apply for registration with the DBA. Candidates are advised to read the requirements for registration carefully. 

The ADC provides the DBA with a list of successful candidates following each examination.

Result verification

Candidates failing the practical examination may request that the ADC verifies the accuracy of recording of their results. For more information, visit the verifications, reviews and appeals page. 

Appeals process

The ADC has a Practical examination appeals policy.
To find out more about the ADC appeals process, visit the verifications, reviews and appeals page.

ACTIVITY	TIMEFRAME
Practical examination application period	Approximately 3 months prior to examination
Notification of application receipt	Within 2 weeks of receipt of application
Notification of allocated practical examination date	Within 6 weeks of practical examination application period
Notification of examination results	6 weeks after examination