The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed its preferred bidder for the overseas registration exam (ORE) contract, a change it says could ‘more than double’ exam capacity.
The GDC verified today (5 November) that UCL Consultants Ltd (UCLC) were the preferred bidder to provide both parts of the ORE. The regulator said this transition would strengthen its ability to meet growing demand for ORE places among international dentists wishing to join the UK register.
It said: ‘The GDC expects that the contract could more than double the number of dentists joining the register via the ORE route.’
This decision follows a ‘competitive’ bidding process which the GDC confirmed was in its final stages at the end of October. Bidders were assessed based on criteria such as proposed delivery solution, mobilisation planning and cost effectiveness.
Theresa Thorp, executive director of regulation at the GDC, said: ‘Today marks a significant step forward in addressing the demand for ORE places and our commitment to supporting internationally qualified dentists who want to practise in the UK. These new arrangements will provide enhanced capacity to meet that demand.
‘Dentists who have qualified overseas make an invaluable contribution to the UK dental workforce, and we want to ensure that the pathway to registration is as accessible as possible while maintaining the high standards that protect patients.’
How will this change improve the overseas registration exam?
The GDC said it hopes the change will make ORE delivery more scalable, supporting those who take the pathway in a ‘safe and timely way’. It said it was ‘confident’ that capacity for both Part 1 and Part 2 of the exam could be increased and promised further information once the contract is finalised.
The first ORE sittings under the new contract are expected to take place in mid-2026. Once completed, the GDC pledged to work closely with UCLC to provide a smooth transition and provide regular updates to candidates and other stakeholders.
UCLC is a subsidiary of University College London formed of a consortium led by UCL Eastman Dental Institute. Partners include University College London Hospitals, Queen Mary University London, Alphaplus, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
In addition to the contract transfer, the GDC said it was developing ‘additional international registration pathways that ensure both fair access for overseas-qualified dental professionals and maintenance of high standards’.
How could the ORE be made fairer?
Dentistry recently launched a petition calling for a priority booking system to be introduced for the ORE.
The current ORE booking system has been compared to buying Glastonbury tickets – whoever is fastest on the day wins a place. Those who have previously tried and failed to book an exam place are given no priority over somebody who is attempting to book for the first time.
Dentistry believes that a quick, short-term solution to getting enthusiastic and talented overseas dentists into the UK dental system is for the GDC to introduce a priority booking system for both Part 1 and Part 2 of the exams.
You can sign the petition below:
Make the ORE booking system fairer for dentists
1750
Signatures (88%)
2000
Goal
Make the overseas registration exam (ORE) booking system fairer for dentists
We call on the General Dental Council (GDC) to reform the booking system for the overseas registration exam (ORE) to make it fairer and more supportive of internationally-trained dentists.
Currently, securing a place for ORE Part 1 and Part 2 is like getting festival tickets — the system favours ‘fastest-finger first’, with how long a dentist has been trying to book a place carrying no weight. Dentists must repeatedly refresh the webpage and compete in a stressful, luck-based race to book an exam. We feel this approach:
- Penalises perseverance: Those who have already invested time, money and effort in previous attempts are not given priority
- Causes unnecessary stress: Candidates face months or years of uncertainty while waiting for an exam slot
- Wastes talent: Skilled overseas dentists are unable to practise – even as the UK faces critical dental workforce shortages.
We propose a fairer system where priority is given to candidates who have previously attempted to book the ORE – allowing the process to be truly first come, first served.
Reforming the booking system is an effective short-term step that can be implemented quickly to relieve pressure on candidates and the dental workforce.
We acknowledge that broader, complementary action is also necessary, including the continued growth of available ORE places, and investment in UK dental schools and training capacities.
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