What are the entry requirements for becoming a dentist?

What are the entry requirements for becoming a dentist?

So, you have decided that you want to become a dentist. What do you need in order to enter this profession? You probably won’t be surprised to read that very particular experience and qualifications are essential; below, we explain more about the precise entry requirements for budding dentists.

The road to undergraduate study

Perhaps the most vital requirement is an approved degree in dentistry – look for the courses tagged with BDS or BChD. A HND alone is not sufficient, so make sure that you have the high grades in A-level/Higher chemistry, biology, and either physics or mathematics typically necessary for taking the dentistry degree. However, if you lack science-based qualifications at this level, you might be able to take a pre-dental/foundation year course that could allow for entry to the undergraduate course.

Once you’re enrolled on this undergraduate course, you can expect to be educated on all aspects of dental practice, through both academic study and theoretical and practical training.

The next stage: dental school

Once you have scored at least 2:1 Class in a science-based undergraduate degree, you have overcome one big barrier to entering dental school… but there remain many other obstacles! A graduate-entry dental school course typically takes five years to complete, but you could opt for an accelerated four-year course if your First or 2.1 Class undergraduate degree has a strong focus on biology or chemistry.

Be warned that, despite recent rises in the number of dental school places, you will still likely face tough competition in landing a place. You might find that some considered dental schools list sitting the UK Clinical Aptitude Test, or UKCAT as it is otherwise known, among their entry requirements.

The right personality and skills for becoming a dentist

Are you sympathetic, self-disciplined, highly competent in your communication and interpersonal skills, good with information technology, and capable of building good relationships with work colleagues? These qualities and many more are vital for excelling in the dental profession and, for this reason, are usually crucial to demonstrate at least potential in during your admission interview at a dental school.

The journey towards becoming a dentist is undoubtedly long and frankly expensive – but, once you are finally busy tending to a variety of patients in your dental practice, you should find the work hugely rewarding. Oh, and please remember us at BF Mulholland Ltd for giving you advice right at the beginning!