ORE & GDC Registration
The Overseas
Registration Exam
explained.
The ORE is a two-part exam that overseas dentists must pass to register with the GDC and practise in the UK. Part 1 is written, Part 2 is clinical — both delivered in the UK. Here is everything you need to know about both parts in 2026.
What is the ORE?
A two-part exam — written first, then clinical.
The Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) is the General Dental Council's assessment that internationally qualified dentists must pass before joining the UK register. It has two parts, sat in sequence — Part 1 (written) must be passed before booking Part 2 (clinical).
Part 1 tests your underpinning clinical knowledge (sciences and clinical dentistry) and is held over two written papers — Paper A and Paper B. Part 2 tests your applied clinical and communication skills in a UK practice setting, with four distinct components delivered over three days at the Royal College of Surgeons.
Both parts must be passed within the same 4-attempt window. The exam reflects the standard of UK dental practice — you are expected to think and act as a UK-trained dentist would, using UK clinical guidelines, prescribing protocols, consent frameworks and GDC professional standards.
Part 1: Two written papers
Paper A (clinical sciences) and Paper B (clinical dentistry). Total written time approximately 6 hours over one or two days. Multiple-choice and extended matching questions only.
Part 2: Four practical components
OSCE, dental manikin tasks, treatment planning & diagnostics, and medical emergencies. Spread over 3 days at the RCS England Dental Skills and Innovation Centre in London.
UK clinical standards only
The ORE tests UK dentistry: BNF Dental prescribing, NICE guidelines, BSP periodontal classification, GDC Standards for the Dental Team, and UK consent and confidentiality law.
All 6 components
Every component of Part 1 and Part 2 — explained.
Each component has its own mark scheme and passing standard. You must pass every component of Part 2 to clear it — there is no compensation between OSCE, DMT, TPD and ME.
Part 1 — Written papers
Paper A — Clinical sciences
A 3-hour written paper with 200 best-of-five questions covering human disease, oral biology and pathology, dental materials, medicines and therapeutics, and the law and ethics underpinning UK dental practice.
Paper B — Clinical dentistry
A 3-hour written paper with 100 extended matching questions (EMQs) covering the full breadth of clinical dentistry: paediatric, orthodontic, restorative, periodontal, oral surgery, oral medicine and emergency dental treatment.
Part 2 — Clinical assessment
OSCE — Operative Structured Clinical Examination
A series of 12–18 OSCE stations across one day. Stations test history-taking, communication, consent, diagnostics, treatment planning, prescribing, and clinical reasoning. Each station is approximately 5–8 minutes.
Dental manikin tasks (DMT)
Hands-on tasks performed on a dental simulator (manikin). Tasks may include cavity preparation, crown preparations, root canal access, suturing, and impression taking. Marked on technical accuracy and clinical safety.
Treatment planning & diagnostics (TPD)
A case-based written and viva component where you receive patient records (history, examination findings, radiographs) and must produce a comprehensive treatment plan with reasoning, then defend it with an examiner.
Medical emergencies (ME)
A simulated medical emergency scenario (e.g. cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia, syncope, asthma attack). You must manage the casualty appropriately using UK Resuscitation Council guidelines, ABCDE approach and dental practice protocols.
Pass rate context
ORE pass rates vary significantly by sitting.
Recent ORE sittings show first-attempt pass rates of roughly 45–60% for Paper A, 55–65% for Paper B, and 50–65% overall for Part 2. Pass rates have edged upwards in recent years as overseas candidates have access to more UK-based preparation centres and standardised mock OSCEs.
The component with the lowest pass rate is the dental manikin task (DMT) — typically because candidates underestimate how much hands-on practice they need. Candidates who book at least 4–8 weeks of UK manikin sessions before Part 2 consistently outperform those who do not.
ORE pass rates — typical ranges
Estimates from recent GDC published data; pass rates vary per sitting.
Preparation plan
4-month preparation plans for each part.
Paper A foundation
Build a structured study calendar covering human disease, oral biology, dental materials and pharmacology. Use the BNF Dental and the GDC scope of practice. Aim for 2 hours per day Monday–Friday and 4 hours Saturday.
Paper B EMQ practice
Drill clinical dentistry topics with EMQ banks: restorative, paediatric, orthodontic, periodontal, oral surgery, oral medicine. Identify weak topics from question performance and target them in week 4.
Mock papers + UK protocol revision
Sit at least two full mock papers (Paper A and Paper B) under timed conditions. Revise NICE clinical guidelines, BDA guidance and the GDC standards. UK-specific protocol knowledge is heavily tested.
OSCE communication and consent
Practise OSCE scenarios with a study partner: history-taking, breaking bad news, obtaining consent, explaining treatment options, handling complaints. Use UK Mental Capacity Act and Gillick competence concepts.
Manikin technical skills
Book hands-on manikin practice at a UK ORE preparation centre. Drill cavity preparations (Class I to V), crown preparations (full and partial coverage), endodontic access cavities, and suturing techniques. Speed and accuracy improve only with repetition.
TPD and medical emergencies
Work through 20+ treatment planning cases with detailed written plans. Drill medical emergency simulations: cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia, syncope, asthma. Practise ABCDE and dental practice resuscitation protocols.
Key tips
What separates passes from fails.
Train on UK protocols — not your home country's
Local practice in India, Pakistan, Nigeria or Egypt often varies from UK standards. The ORE tests UK clinical reasoning: NICE guidelines, BNF Dental prescribing, BSP periodontal classification, and UK consent and Mental Capacity Act principles.
Book Part 2 hands-on practice early
Dental manikin tasks cannot be prepared from textbooks. Specialist UK ORE preparation centres (often based around London) offer manikin practice. Bookings for popular slots fill 4–8 months in advance.
Use the BNF Dental — not the full BNF
The BNF Dental Practitioners' Formulary is the prescribing reference UK dentists use. Drug names, indications and doses in this short reference are commonly tested in both Paper A and the OSCE. Carry a copy throughout your preparation.
Master the GDC Standards for the Dental Team
The GDC publishes a small "Standards" document that frames every part of UK dental practice. Communication, consent, complaints handling, confidentiality, raising concerns, and continuing professional development — all are mappable to specific GDC standards and assessed in the OSCE.
Practise medical emergencies physically
You cannot pass the medical emergencies station by reading. Practise ABCDE assessment, basic life support, and use of the dental practice emergency kit (adrenaline auto-injector, glucagon, salbutamol, glyceryl trinitrate, oxygen) with a mannequin or in a simulation centre.
Take both Part 1 papers at the same sitting
Many candidates take Paper A and Paper B in one sitting to consolidate UK clinical knowledge. Splitting across sittings can stretch the registration timeline by 12+ months and is rarely cheaper overall.
Also read
Full GDC registration guide
Everything from eligibility to GDC number — the complete 5-step overview including ORE, costs and timelines for overseas dentists.
Read guideHealth & Care Worker Visa
Once you have your GDC number and a UK job offer — apply for the Health & Care Worker Visa. No IHS, fees from £304, 5-year route to ILR.
Visa guideFAQ
Common questions about the ORE and GDC registration.
What is the difference between ORE Part 1 and Part 2?
ORE Part 1 is a written exam with two papers (Paper A on clinical sciences, Paper B on clinical dentistry). ORE Part 2 is a practical, three-day clinical assessment covering OSCE, dental manikin tasks, treatment planning and medical emergencies. You must pass Part 1 before you can sit Part 2.
How much does the ORE cost?
ORE Part 1 costs £806 per attempt (combined for Paper A and Paper B). ORE Part 2 costs £2,929 per attempt. Final GDC registration costs £886 plus a £730 annual retention fee. Total minimum cost from first GDC application to first year of registration is approximately £6,251 — assuming pass at first attempt for each stage.
What is the pass rate for the ORE?
Pass rates fluctuate by sitting. Typical ranges: Paper A ~45–60%, Paper B ~55–65%, Part 2 overall ~50–65%. The OSCE component within Part 2 tends to have the highest pass rate (~70%) for well-prepared candidates. The dental manikin tasks have the lowest, reflecting how much hands-on practice candidates need.
How many attempts do I get?
You have a maximum of 4 attempts at each part of the ORE. After exhausting your attempts you cannot register through the ORE pathway and must consider the LDS or completing a UK BDS degree. We strongly recommend high-quality preparation before each attempt — multiple resits become expensive and risk closing the pathway entirely.
Where do I sit the ORE in the UK?
ORE Part 1 (the written papers) is delivered at King's College London Guy's campus and a small number of other UK venues. ORE Part 2 is delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons of England Dental Skills and Innovation Centre in London. You travel to the UK for each sitting.
Can I sit the ORE without UK clinical experience?
Yes. You do not need UK clinical experience to sit the ORE. However, candidates with UK clinical exposure (observation visits, GDC-approved courses, or vocational shadowing) tend to perform better in Part 2 because the OSCE and treatment planning components reward familiarity with UK dental practice culture.
ORE preparation support
Get expert ORE coaching from Global Pathways.
Tell us your ORE sitting target, country and prior preparation. A Global Pathways advisor will design a tailored Part 1 or Part 2 preparation plan — completely free initial consultation.
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