The bidding process for the new overseas registration exam (ORE) contract has reached its final stage, according to the General Dental Council (GDC).
The regulator has confirmed that the latest stage of the procurement process to award the new contract for the ORE Part 1 and Part 2 has now concluded. This followed a ‘rigorous and competitive’ UK-wide bidding process that meets its high standards.
The GDC will now move into finalising contractual arrangements, which the regulator anticipates will be completed by the end of the year.
The new arrangements will increase capacity of the ORE, helping overseas dentists progress through the exams and onto the register in a timely way.
The GDC thanked candidates and stakeholders for their patience and continued engagement throughout this process. In the coming weeks, the regulator said it will share further information regarding the contract award, delivery plans and future exam capacity.
ORE petition
This comes as Dentistry launched a petition calling for a priority booking system to be introduced for the ORE.
A significantly in-demand exam, the ORE booking system currently works in a way similar to securing concert tickets – whoever is fastest on the day. As a result, those who have previously tried and failed to book an exam place will have just as much of a chance as somebody who is attempting to book for the first time.
As a result, we believe 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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