[SIZE=+1]ADC Examinations[/SIZE]
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) is the organization responsible for assessing overseas trained dentists to enable them to obtain registration in Australia. The ADC also accredits Australian Dental Schools courses leading to registrable qualifications. The dental boards, the dental schools, the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Australian Dental Association, the Australian Dental & Oral Health Therapists Association and the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia are represented on the ADC.
Eligibility criteria
Overseas trained dentists are eligible to undertake the ADC examination procedure if they have completed and passed a dental degree which included at least four years' full-time academic study at a university recognised by the ADC and are registered as a dentist in their country of training or practice.
Immune Status
Australian dental institutions are committed to, and have a responsibility to ensure that staff and patients are safeguarded.
Prior to giving an ADC candidate access to clinical facilities for examination purposes, dental hospitals may require a routine assessment of disease history and immune status. This is already in place in some States.
Immunization, immune response to immunization, and disease history for tuberculosis, rubella, measles, mumps, chickenpox, herpes simplex virus, and hepatitis B virus may need to be documented.
Some States require that health care workers should be immunized for Hepatitis B and have demonstrated levels of immunity. All operators who will treat patients will be expected to not pose a risk of Hep B transmission to patients or staff. In some States a copy of dates of records of completed Hep B immunizations and of serological screen, to confirm immunity, must be provided prior to an examination. All information provided to the dental hospital remains confidential.
Candidates should ensure that they know their status and advise the ADC if they anticipate that they may not be able to meet the hospitals requirements.
Examination Procedures
The ADC examination procedures have been developed specifically to assess the qualifications of overseas trained dentists whose qualifications are not accepted as a basis for registration by Australian Dental Boards.
The examination procedure consists of three parts an Occupational English Test (OET); a Preliminary Examination (Multiple Choice Questions and Short Answer questions); and a Final Examination(Clinical). These must be taken sequentially.
Occupational English Test (OET)
A comprehensive knowledge of English is essential to the practice of dentistry in Australia. All overseas trained dentists (regardless of country of training) are required to pass the Occupational English Test (OET) prior to acceptance into the Australian Dental Council examinations. Since 01 January 2006 exemptions are no longer granted.*
The purpose of the OET is to assess a candidates understanding and use of English in the professional workplace. The OET assesses both written and spoken English in four categories: reading, writing, listening and speaking. All four categories must be passed at an A or B level to achieve an overall satisfactory pass in the test.
No other English tests are accepted by the ADC. A pass in the OET is valid for two years. Candidates are required to hold a valid OET pass at the closing date of each exam stage applied for, ie at both Preliminary and Final Exam. No exemptions will be granted.*
* Candidates previously granted an exemption, or with OET results older than two years, will be required to provide a current satisfactory OET pass.
The OET is administered by the OET Centre. An application form and information on fees, venues and dates can be obtained from:
The OET Centre
Level 3, 7 Bowen Crescent
Melbourne, Vic 3004
Postal Address: GPO Box 372F, Melbourne Vic 3001
Tel + 61 3 9825 3800
Fax + 61 3 9825 3899
Web-site:
http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/
You must pass this test before you proceed to the Preliminary Examination. "A pass is valid for 2 years. Other English tests are not accepted."
Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination is a written examination in multiple choice and short written answer format. It is designed to test your knowledge of the practice of dentistry and of clinical and technical procedures as they are practised in Australia. Previous examination papers are not available, but sample multiple choice questions are made available to enrolled candidates.
Unlimited attempts are permitted for this examination. A pass is valid for three years. In order to be eligible to attempt the Preliminary Examination, at the closing date for the exam you must have a satisfactory pass in the OET (valid for two years).
Final Examination - Clinical
In order to be eligible to sit for the Final Examination, at the closing date for the exam you must have passed the Preliminary Examination (pass valid for 3 years) and have a satisfactory pass in the OET (valid for two years).
The Clinical examination is held over three to six days and includes the following three blocks:
- Conservative Dentistry - Operative Dentistry and Paediatric Dentistry;
- Treatment Planning -including consideration of Periodontics and Removable Prosthodontics;
- Oral Surgery, Oral Diagnosis and Radiology.
Aspects of all clinical disciplines such as Orthodontics, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Pharmacology will be included where appropriate (practical and/or theoretical and/or viva voce). You will be examined at a level no less than that reached by graduates from Australian universities.
Unlimited attempts are permitted for this examination but but you must satisfy the eligibility requirements (above) for each attempt.
In the event that applications exceed available places in this examination, a system of priority will be applied:
- first attempt candidates will have priority over repeat attempt candidates;
- the scheduling of first attempt candidates will take into consideration the time since they sat and qualified at the Preliminary Examinations (i.e. shorter time period)
- candidates will be ranked in merit order of their overall score achieved in the Preliminary Examination;
- candidates with fewer repeat attempts will have priority over candidates with a higher number of repeat attempts.
Candidates will be notified of acceptance, the venue and times at least one month before the examination date.
Examination Venues and Training
If you live overseas, you may take the OET and the ADC Preliminary Examination at an overseas venue. Availability of venues varies and some venues may not be available for a particular session. All visa and travel arrangements are the responsibility of the candidate. Candidates should ensure that they are able to travel to the nominated venue. If you are in Australia, you can sit both these examinations in any of the State capital cities and some larger provincial centres.
The Preliminary Examination is usually held in the first week of March and in the first week of September each year. You are allowed unlimited attempts at this examination, but a new fee must be paid for each attempt.
The Final Examination is held only in Australia. Candidates resident outside Australia may be able to obtain a temporary entry visa, at their own expense, to cover the trip to Australia to attend the examination. You are allowed unlimited attempts at this Examination, but a new fee must be paid for each attempt.
ADC Certificate
An ADC Certificate is issued upon successful completion of the ADC examination procedure. The ADC Certificate entitles you to apply for registration with any of the Australian Dental Boards.
How to Apply
To obtain an application form for assessment of your eligibility to complete the ADC examination process, please download it by clicking on the following link:
Application for Assessment
Send all Applications for Assessment's to: Australian Dental Council (ADC) Ground Floor, 120 Jolimont Road East Melbourne Vic 3002, Australia
For further enquiries please email:
[email protected]
[SIZE=+1]Fees[/SIZE]
All fees paid must be by bank cheque in Australian dollars made payable to The Australian Dental Council, Australian money order, or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).
For current information on fees for the Eligibility Assessment, Preliminary Examination or Final Examination, please
click here
For current information on the Occupational English Test (OET) fee, you should contact:
OET Level 3, 7 Bowen Crescent Melbourne, Vic 3004 Postal Address: GPO Box 372F, Melbourne 3001 Tel + 61 3 9825 3800 Fax + 61 3 9825 3899 Web-site:
http://www.oet.com.au Each fee for the OET, ADC Preliminary and ADC Final Examination allows only one attempt at the examination. Withdrawal from any examination may result in a cancellation fee being charged.
All visa and travel arrangements are the responsibility of the candidate. Candidates should ensure that they are able to travel to the nominated venues. Failure to undertake an examination because of an inability to obtain necessary visas or to arrange travel, etc will be considered a withdrawal and fees will apply.
Cheers !!
