Please enter both an email address and a password.

Account login
Need to reset your password?  Enter the email address which you used to register on this site (or your membership/contact number) and we'll email you a link to reset it. You must complete the process within 2hrs of receiving the link.

We've sent you an email

An email has been sent to Simply follow the link provided in the email to reset your password. If you can't find the email please check your junk or spam folder and add no-reply@rcseng.ac.uk to your address book.

Licence in Dental Surgery Part 1

Exam overview

Part 1 of the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) is comprised of two papers: single best answer (SBA) questions and extended matching (EMQ) questions. Both Part 1 papers must be passed at one sitting for candidates to progress to Part 2.

The Part 1 LDS exam is normally held at least once per year in the UK.

Licence in Dental Surgery Part 2
Apply for LDS Part 1

Eligibility

An overview of LDS candidate eligibility is provided below. Read the LDS exam regulations and LDS Part 1 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.

Licence in Dental Surgery LDS

Exam format

The LDS Part 1 exam is comprised of two papers, each of up to three hours duration. The format will be single best answer (SBA) and extended matching (EMQ) questions centred mainly on knowledge and its application to:

a) clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease

b) aspects of clinical dentistry, law and ethics, and health and safety

In order to progress to Part 2, both Part 1 papers will need to be passed at one sitting. If either paper is failed candidates will be required to re-sit all of Part 1.

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 document.


Apply for LDS Part 1

LDS Part 1 2022

The LDS Part 1 examination will be held remotely online, for more information of how to sit the examination remote, please vist our Dental Online Examinations Guidance page.

Title Application Closing Date
Fees Due By
Exam date Exam location
LDS Part 1
 Closed
 tbc March 2022
31 May 2022
 Online Examination

Application Process

Due to the techincal issues we are currently experiencing, places will now be granted via a random allocation ballot. Places will not be granted on a first come, first serve basis.

The application will now close at 5pm, 8th March. The random allocation ballot will be drawn after this time.

To apply candidates will need to have an RCS online account and know their contact/membership number. You do not need to log in to apply and no payment will be taken at this stage. Completing the application does not confirm your place on the exam.

Places will now be granted via a random allocation ballotand will be confirmed via email within 24 hours of the application closing date. Unsuccessful candidates will also be contacted with confirmation.

Successful candidates will be required to complete payment of the examination fee and provide the relevant documentation by the date confirmed in the confirmation email - information on how to do this will be provided in the confirmation email. If you are not able to provide your eligibility documents or complete payment by this date, please do not apply.

Please see the Part 1 application guidance for more information on what documentation is required - note that we will be accepting eligibility documents by email, do not post any documentation.

Candidates must have an RCS online account and know their contact/membership number before application to apply. If you do not already have an account or want to check your number, you can create one or log in here.

LDS Part 1 can accept up to 120 candidates.

Up to four attempts are allowed for each part of the exam.

Paper applications will not be accepted.

All guidance documents are being revised and the website pages will be updated to reflect this. Candidates are advised to regularly check these pages for updated application information. Candidates should note that the supporting documentation requirements for Part 1 will remain the same.

Please read our LDS Part 1 online application guidance before applying.  

Regulation and Guidance

Read next

Dental Courses
We offer a range of dental courses, from FDS exam preparation to diplomas, across all the dental specialties.
Exams FAQ
On this page we provide answers to frequently asked questions about RCS exams, such as how to apply, who to contact and when you will receive your certificate.
Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS)
The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) is a professional body committed to enabling dental surgeons to achieve and maintain excellence in practice and patient care.
Exams Guidance
General candidate guidance in relation to applying for surgical and dental exams administered by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Contact the exams department

Email

Telephone

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

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