To be eligible to enter the diploma exam, all candidates must fulfil one or more of the following criteria:

• have completed at least two and half years continuous full-time (or part-time equivalent i.e. not less than half time over a maximum of six consecutive years) of an SAC-approved training programme and possess a training number allocated by the regional postgraduate dental dean/director. Award of the Bi-Collegiate Membership in Orthodontics is dependent also on evidence that the successful candidate has completed a period of three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) recognised specialty training

• have completed two and a half years full-time (or part-time equivalent i.e. not less than half time over a maximum of six consecutive years) of the three-year training programme associated with a UK or Ireland university masters or doctorate degree course formally approved by the Faculties of Dental Surgery through the meeting of the specialty membership examinations executive. Candidates who have MJDF/MFDS/MFD or FDS will be exempt a part 1 Applied Basic Science examination where such an examination exists.

• be registered as a specialist in the UK, having been admitted to the specialist list i) through the transitional arrangements, ii) by the provisions which permit entry to the specialist list on the basis of specialist qualifications obtained in the EEA or overseas or iii) on the basis of academic achievement.

• in the case of dentists who have completed specialty training overseas or in the EEA and have MJDF/MFDS/MFD or FDS or a part 1 Applied Basic Science examination where it exists and have successfully completed a programme of specialist training formally approved by the Faculties of Dental Surgery through the Meeting of the Specialty Memberships Examinations Executive and have been awarded the appropriate specialist qualification or certificate by their university or licensing body.

• in the case of dentists who have completed at least two and a half years continuous full-time (or part-time equivalent i.e. not less than half time over a maximum of six consecutive years) of specialty training overseas or in the EEA in a programme of specialist training formally approved by the Faculties of Dental Surgery through the Meeting of the Specialty Memberships Examinations Executive award of the Bi-Collegiate Membership in Orthodontics is dependent also on evidence that the successful candidate has completed a period of three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) recognized specialty training.

• where a part 1 Applied Basic Science examination exists dentists who have been qualified and in clinical practice for a minimum of two years may enter this part alone separately from entering and sitting the rest of the membership examination.

Part 1 is a three-hour multiple choice/multiple short answer paper.

• Candidates who have successfully passed the MJDF/MFDS or FDS examination of one of the surgical royal colleges will be exempt from this section.
• Candidates who have successfully passed the Part 1 MOrth examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh will be exempt from this section.