Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations

To take the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examination, you must:

• hold a primary dental qualification that is acceptable to the Colleges;
• have passed both parts of the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery exam;
• be registered with a recognised dental regulatory body in your country of practice;
• be in training or practising in the specialty in which you are applying;
• have a good command of English, equivalent to IELTS level 7.

You must also meet at least one of the following criteria to show that you have achieved the required curriculum outcomes:

• You have completed sufficient training, certified by your National Training Number training programme director, by the time of the exam
• You are in the final year of a UK or Ireland postgraduate programme that mirrors the National Training Number training pathway
• You have significant experience working in the relevant dental specialty and can demonstrate that you meet the General Dental Council specialty curriculum outcomes

You must submit all evidence by the stated deadline using the system listed in the application. Evidence will not be accepted after the submission period has closed.

You are responsible for making sure you meet the eligibility requirements and that all documents you submit are complete and valid. This is a self-declaration process.

If your evidence does not meet the requirements, application may not be accepted. If missing or incomplete evidence is identified after the exam, certification may be withdrawn.

You can take the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations in the following specialties:

• Dental public health
• Endodontics
• Oral medicine
• Oral surgery
• Orthodontics
• Paediatric dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Restorative dentistry
• Special care dentistry

The examination has two parts. You must pass Part 1 before you can sit Part 2.

Part 1: Single-best-answer questions

Part 1 uses single-best-answer questions. Each question has one correct answer and four plausible alternatives.

We use this format to assess your understanding of the basic and clinical sciences that support sound clinical decision-making in your specialty. This includes knowledge that may not be directly observed in the workplace but is still essential to safe and effective practice.

Part 1 consists of 180 questions. You will have four hours to complete the paper, with a short break after two hours. We deliver this part online at an exam centre.

Part 2: Clinical structured oral exam

Part 2 is a clinical structured oral exam. You will discuss a series of case-based scenarios with one or more examiners.

This part assesses how you apply your knowledge in practice. It focuses on clinical judgement and decision-making, including diagnosis, treatment planning, patient management, and managing complications. You may also be asked about medical emergencies and situations where urgent referral is required.

Part 2 consists of up to ten case-based stations. Each station lasts up to 25 minutes, including reading time. We deliver this part face to face at an exam centre.