Overseas qualified practitioners

This page contains information for Dental practitioners with overseas qualifications who want to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia.

Further information is also available on the International health practitioners page on the Ahpra website.

The following document provides broad information about which overseas qualified dental practitioners may apply for general registration:

• General Registration for Overseas-qualified Dental Practitioners Registration Standard (PDF 321KB)

• I am a dental practitioner with a qualification from outside of Australia
  A dental practitioner may be a dentist, dental specialist, dental prosthetist, dental hygienist, dental therapist, or oral health therapist.
  • I am a registered dental practitioner in New Zealand
  • Check if my qualification is recognised by the Dental Board of Australia
  • I am a dental specialist

• My qualification is NOT recognised by the Dental Board of Australia
  • You may wish to undertake the examination process conducted by the Australian Dental Council (ADC) to gain eligibility for registration as a dental practitioner in Australia. Read more about Dental practitioners with other qualifications
  • A dental practitioner who is not qualified for general registration may be eligible to apply for limited registration.

Dental practitioners from New Zealand

Dentists, dental specialists (in specialities that exist in Australia), dental prosthetists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, and oral health therapists who are registered to practice in New Zealand are eligible to apply for general registration under Trans-Tasman mutual recognition.

This is irrespective of where training was completed, and qualifications held. 

Download this form to apply for registration under the Trans-Tasman mutual recognition. 

Dental practitioners with other qualifications

If your qualifications do not meet requirements for registration to practise in Australia, there are two options available. The first is to complete an Australian qualification and a list of Board approved qualifications can be found on the Ahpra’s website. The second option is to undertake the examination procedure conducted by the Australian Dental Council (ADC).

The ADC is the accrediting organisation responsible for assessing overseas trained dentists, to ensure they meet the required standards for registration as a dental practitioner, with the Dental Board in Australia. Overseas trained dentists are eligible to undertake the ADC examination procedure if they have completed and passed a dental degree which included at least four years' full-time academic study at a university recognised by the ADC and are registered as a dentist in their country of training or practice.

More information about the ADC examination procedure can be found on the ADC’s website.