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Licence in Dental Surgery Part 2

Exam overview

Following discussions with the General Dental Council it has been agreed that the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) will now be held in 3 parts, uncoupling the OSCE and USC components from the Dental Manikin component. This has been agreed in order to provide as fair and accessible assessment to candidates as possible.

Please read the LDS Structure Change formal document to find a full explanation and regulatory amendments of the examination structure change.

The Part 2 exam of the LDS will be held over a two day period and consists of two sections:

  • objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) consisting of 12 stations, each of 7 minute duration;
  • the ‘unseen case’ exam - (based on an objective structured long examination – OSLE model) which is designed to test candidates’ diagnosis treatment planning and clinical reasoning. Consisting of four cases, approximately 30 minutes each.

LDS Part 2 November 2024: Full payment of this exam is open only to candidates who have been invited via email to complete booking. Please check your emails for this confirmation and your window to complete payment.

Eligibility

An overview of LDS candidate eligibility is provided below. Read the LDS exam regulations and LDS Part 2 application guidance.

To be eligible to enter each part of the LDS exam all candidates must:

  • If registered on a course of study at a UK undergraduate dental school, produce evidence that they have satisfactorily completed a five-year curriculum as described and recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) and have passed the dental schools final exams, and are registered with the GDC.
  • If in possession of a qualification awarded by an EEA university or licensing body that is recognised by the GDC for purposes of full registration in the UK, produce evidence of qualification, certificates of the courses of study attended and exams passed for such a qualification.
  • If holding a qualification awarded by an overseas university or licensing body that is not recognised by the GDC for purposes of full registration in the UK, produce evidence of qualification and a NARIC certificate. In addition, it is necessary to provide certificates showing that the studies and courses undertaken were in line with the standards described in the First Five Years: a Framework for Undergraduate Dental Education 3rd edition (interim) (General Dental Council, 2008). A NARIC certificate is required unless temporary registration with the GDC is current and can be verified.
  • Produce evidence of having had no fewer than 1600 hours clinical experience where you have personally treated patients in the dental chair. The number of hours of this clinical experience will either be hours spent undertaking appropriate investigations and administering dental treatment during the dental degree, during post-qualification experience, or a combination of the two and must have occurred during the period immediately prior to sitting Part 2 of the exam.
  • Demonstrate linguistic competence by means of the Academic International English Language Testing System(IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Exemptions only apply to EEA nationals, those who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK or undertook their undergrad or postgrad dental degree in a UK institution. Original or certified copy of degree must be submitted to prove exemption.
  • Produce a certificate or letter of good standing.

Exam format

The Part 2 exam of the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) will be held over a two-day period and consists of two sections:

  • objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) consisting of 12 stations, each of 7 minute duration;
  • the ‘unseen case’ exam - (based on an objective structured long examination – OSLE model) which is designed to test candidates’ diagnosis treatment planning and clinical reasoning. Consisting of four cases, approximately 30 minutes each.

Syllabus

Below is an outline of the major competencies/learning outcomes that may be assessed. These represent broad categories of professional activity and concerns that occur in the general practice of dentistry and are interdisciplinary in orientation and must embrace an element of critical thinking.

They may apply in differing ways to patients of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.

Professionalism
a) Professional attitude and behaviour
b) Ethics and jurisprudence

Interpersonal, Communication and Social Skills
a) Communication

Knowledge Base, Information and Information literacy
a) Application of basic biological, medical, technical and clinical sciences
b) Acquiring and using information

Clinical Information Gathering
a) Obtaining and recording a comprehensive history of the patient’s medical, oral and dental state

Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
a) Decision-making, clinical reasoning and judgment
b) Education of patients and management of comprehensive primary care
c) Oral medicine management
d) Periodontal management
e) Caries and endodontic management
f) Surgical procedures
g) Pain and anxiety management
h) Restorative/prosthodontics management
i) Orthodontic management
j) Emergency treatment

Health Promotion
a) Improving the oral health of individuals, families and groups in the community

These major competencies are underpinned by sub-sets of more detailed supporting skills, understanding and professional values. The detail, along with associated assessment methods are set out in the Learning Outcomes and Examination Syllabus document.

Book Now

UK and Ireland Exams

UK and Ireland

Application Deadline
Exam date
Price
Available in
Fri
13
Sep
2024
Wed
20
Nov
2024
-
Fri
22
Nov
2024
£1575.00
LONDON, United Kingdom

Apply before: 13 Sep 2024

Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.

20 Nov 2024
-
22 Nov 2024

£1575.00

Price

£1575.00

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

Royal College of General Practitioners
30 Euston Square
LONDON
NW1 2FB
United Kingdom
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Upcoming Exam Dates


The LDS Part 2 exam will be delivered at London, UK. Address to be confirmed.

LDS Part 2 November 2024

Expression of interest opens: Closed  Expression of interest closes: Closed

Exam Date:
20-22 November 2024 | Exam Fee: £1575

Candidates who have passed their LDS Part 1 exam will receive a link to express their interest in taking the LDS Part 2 exam via email. 


Application process

LDS Part 2 November 2024: Full payment of this exam is open only to candidates who have been invited via email to complete booking. Please check your emails for this confirmation and your window to complete payment.

Registration of interest for the November LDS Part 2 exam is now closed.

Once registered, candidates will be selected to complete their exam booking based on the length of time since passing their LDS Part 1 exam. Priority will be given to candidates nearing the end of their five-year period for completing their Licence in Dental Surgery.

These candidates will have a 48-hour window to make full payment via the RCS England website and secure their place.

Please read our LDS Part 2 application guidance before applying.

We will only accept the following number of candidates: LDS Part 2 – 96 candidates

Candidates must pass Part 2 within five years of passing Part 1. Up to three attempts are allowed for the Part 2 exam. It is a candidate’s responsibility to apply for resits. Candidates who fail to apply for the earliest available resit opportunity will manage fewer attempts in the 5 years than candidates who re-apply promptly.

Contact the exams department

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For general exam queries please call 020 7405 3474 - Option 3

Our main switchboard is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.