Changes to the Dental Specialty Membership Examinations

Information for candidates

The dental specialty membership qualifications are changing over 2026 and 2027.

These changes affect exams for all dental specialities including the bi-collegiate exams we offer alongside RCPS Glasgow:

• Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth)
• Membership in Endodontics (MEndo)
• Membership in Periodontics (MPerio)
• Membership in Prosthodontics (MPros) 

Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations

In partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, we have developed a new generation of dental exams.

The Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations assess competence at the standard expected of a dental specialist entering the GDC Specialist List.

You must have passed the MFDS exam to take the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations. Dental trainees who started their training from September 2024 will be required to sit these new exams as part of their training pathway.

Read FAQs from the Dental Examinations Executive.

Unified tri-collegiate format

The dental specialty exams will now follow a unified format and approach, developed by the three UK royal surgical colleges. The only exception is dental public health, which follows a different assessment structure in Part 1.

The new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations are two-part exams. For nine of the ten specialties covered:

• Part 1 is a written, single-best-answer (SBA) exam.
• Part 2 is a face-to-face clinical structured oral exam.

For dental public health, Part 1 will assess a candidate’s critical appraisal skills and Part 2 involves the assessment of a portfolio and management questions.

Part 1 must be passed before moving to Part 2.

With this shared approach, we aim to provide greater clarity, equity and confidence within the postgraduate dental assessment landscape.

The new exams will also be available to those who are not completing a traditional training pathway, both in the UK and internationally, removing obstacles to career progression.

How do I apply for the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations?

Applications are now open for Part 1 of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations. The first Part 1 exams will be held in assessment centres in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester.

Book your exam through the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations booking portal. You can select RCS England as the college you would like to affiliate with as part of the booking form.

Find a link to the portal on the Dental Examinations Executive information page.

View guidance on how to use the portal.

Applications close on 16 July 2026, or earlier if the exam reaches capacity before then.

Part 2 of the new format will be held face-to-face in early 2027 and applications will open later this year.

Which specialty exams are included in the new approach?

Specialties included:

• Dental Public Health
• Endodontics
• Oral Medicine
• Oral Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Paediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Restorative Dentistry
• Special Care Dentistry

Specialties not included:

• Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral Microbiology

Should I sit the existing exams or the new exam?

If you have not yet taken a dental specialty exam, we recommend preparing for the new Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations.

If you choose to sit the final exams for legacy dental specialty exams, please note that the Spring 2027 exams are the last opportunity for re-sits. If you are not successful in these exams, you will need to take the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations for your specialty fellowship qualification.

You can find more information on the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations website to help with your decision.

When will the legacy exams managed by RCS England end?

Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth)

The MOrth exam is now closed for new applicants, except for the 7–11 September diet in Kuala Lumpur. 

The final MOrth exam, for re-sit candidates only, takes place in May 2027 in the UK. Please check the exam page for details.  

Membership in Endodontics (MEndo), Membership in Periodontics (MPerio) & Membership in Prosthodontics (MPros)

The last open sittings of the MEndo, MPerio and MPros exams are on 26-28 August 2026 in the UK.

The final MEndo, MPerio & MPros examinations will take place in April 2027 and will be for re-sit candidates only. Please check the exam page for details. 

Transitional arrangements

For one year after the last diet of the specialty membership exams, you do not need to take the knowledge component of the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations if you have already passed this in the specialty membership exams. You will only have to pass the clinical section of the Dental Specialty Examinations to receive the fellowship qualification.

• For MOrth, this is a pass in the SAQ component of the Speciality Membership Examination. You will receive an exemption from the knowledge section of the Dental Speciality Fellowship Examination until May 2028.
• For MEndo, MPerio and MPros, this is a pass in the General SAQ and relevant Speciality SAQ components of the Speciality Membership Examination. Candidates will receive an exemption from the knowledge section of the Speciality Fellowship Examination until April 2028.

Where can I find more information?

Check the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations website for information on the new exams or email dentalexams@rcseng.ac.uk.

For information about the new exam, visit the Dental Examinations Executive website.