UK exam could be scrapped for foreign dentists
The government is considering plans to allow dentists from abroad to work without taking an exam to check their education and skills.
The proposal, which is subject to a three-month consultation, aims to address the severe shortage of NHS dentists.
It is hoped a quicker process would attract more dentists.
The British Dental Association has accused the government of avoiding the issues "forcing" dentists to quit.
The proposal forms part of the government's £200 million NHS Dental Recovery Plan for England, announced earlier this month.
Under the plan, dentists could also be paid more for NHS work, while so-called "dental vans" would be rolled out to areas with low coverage, alongside an advice programme for new parents.
There is also a proposal of £20,000 bonuses for dentists working in under-served communities, as part of an effort to increase appointment capacity by 2.5 million next year.
At present, overseas dentists are required to pass an exam before they can start work in the UK - the new idea would see the General Dental Council (GDC) granted powers to provisionally register them without a test.
Stefan Czerniawski, executive director of strategy at the GDC said: "We need to move at pace, but we need to take the time to get this right - and we will work with stakeholders across the dental sector and four nations to do so."
Source: BBC News, 17 February 2024