You put a lot of effort into becoming a dentist, and you're now prepared to put that training to use. However, the path to becoming a doctor in a foreign nation like Australia might appear to be difficult and hazy. You must first complete a number of stages as an overseas dental graduate in order to obtain the required qualifications and register as a dentist in Australia. This article intends to give overseas dentists who are wishing to open up a practice in Australia or planning to move in through employment as a dentist, a useful overview of the procedure, regulations, and factors to take into account. You may overcome any challenges that stand in your way and establish a prosperous career as a dentist in your new location with the appropriate planning and tenacity. The benefits of working in a different culture and providing care for those in need will make the effort worthwhile. If you're prepared to take this next step in your career you should learn precisely what it takes to become a dentist in Australia,

Initial requirements needed for an international student to practice in Australia

The candidate must meet the following requirements that will enable them to practice dentistry in Australia;

Firstly, the candidate must hold a dental degree from an accredited institution named under the World Health Organization (WHO) or accredited by the Australian Dental Council (ADC). The degree must be similar to an Australian Bachelor of Dental Surgery or Bachelor of Data Science.

Secondly, the candidate must need proficiency in English. He/she needs to face the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and achieve a minimum score of 7.0 (No band less than 6.5 is accepted). Other tests like Occupational English Test (OET) are also accepted.

Thirdly, the candidate must follow an assessment and examination process. In generally, process involves document evaluation, a competency assessment and passing of ADC examination. Fees are applied for both the assessment and exam.

Lastly, when registering as a dentist, the candidate must need the professional indemnity insurance and must meet continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. The registering fee is also applied.

It’s essential for a graduate student to hold the above qualifications and follow the above process in order to practice dentistry in Australia.

It is important to note that no candidate can start practicing before registering with the Dental Board of Australia.

Practicing as an International Dentist in Australia

Australia is named as the largest nation in Oceania. It is the world’s sixth-largest country with a population of 26 million highly urbanized and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Canberra serves as Australia's capital, while Sydney is its largest city.

Relevant estimates indicate that a dentist in Australia may make up to $200,000 annually. It is also proved that dentists are among the highest-paid workers in Australia as a result.

Therefore, deciding to study dentistry in Australia seems to be an easy task. The hard part hits when it comes to the application process. Here are a few important things you need to know before stepping into the application process;

If the candidate is already a registered dentist from New Zealand, UK, Ireland or Canada, the candidate is then eligible to practice dentistry in Australia without having to complete the ADC Exams.

If the candidate has obtained the dental degree in another different country, the candidate will then have to pass a 3-stage qualification assessment from the Australian Dental Council (ADC) in order to start practicing dentistry in Australia.

ADC, or, in other words, Australian Dental Council is responsible in evaluating and assessing internationally trained dentists to obtain registration in Australia.

The three phases of ADC exams are;

Initial Assessment

Firstly, the Australian Dental Council (ADC) conduct a paper-based qualification and documentation assessment. If you have successfully completed at least four years of full-time education at an accredited university and have obtained dental registration in either your native country or the country where you studied, then you are qualified to sit for the examination. It approximately takes 8 weeks of time for the assessment and it roughly costs AUD $610.

Written Examination

Following the successful completion of the first assessment procedure, candidates are qualified to take the written test. The written exam is meant to examine candidates' understanding of the science and practice of dentistry as well as their ability to use clinical judgment and analytical abilities that are relevant to Australian dental practice. You have the option of taking the test in Australia or in your home country. The entire written test procedure takes around five months to complete and it roughly costs around AUD $2,000.

A general dental guidebook is available on the ADC website, and it lists the books and resources one should refer. According to the current guideline, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on scenarios make up a significant portion of written exams. The theoretical test is divided into 4 sections with a total of 280 questions in each, with 70 MCQs in each subject, and is spread out over 2 days. A candidate is said to have passed if they receive grades of A or B on all four exams.

Practical Examination

The purpose of the practical test is to assess the applicants' suitability for safe dental practice in Australia. The test takes up to 2 days: A technical skills day and a clinical skills day. Only at the ADC testing center in Australia are exams held most weeks of the year. The entire written test procedure takes four to seven months to complete. Further, the practical exam will cost $4,500 AUD. A candidate can attempt the practical exams up to 3 years after the completion of the theory exams. The Candidate is then qualified to submit an application for registration with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) after passing the practical test.

Moreover, a criminal background check and a proficiency in English language exam are additional requirement needed.  In order to complete the student's registration with the DBA, the candidate must get a minimum IELTS score of 7, a minimum OET score of B, a minimum PTE Academic score of 65, or a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 94 on the English proficiency exam.

After passing the ADC test, candidates can only register with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA), they cannot immigrate to or work in Australia. In order to migrate and work there, one has to hold a valid visa. Professionals can even register through the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa.

The entire procedure typically takes 1.5 to 2 years to complete and costs between INR 8 and 10 lakhs, including fees for the three exam assessments, DBA registration, the English Proficiency Test, living expenses, and meals.

Continuing Dental Education Requirements in Australia

Dental professionals retain, enhance, and widen their knowledge, skill, and competence via continuing professional development (CPD), as well as to build the personal and professional qualities that are required for success throughout their professional careers.

The standard is applicable to all dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, and also for dental prosthetists except for individuals who possess one of the following mentioned categories of registration;

Non practicing registration

Limited registration in the public interest

Limited registration to sit an examination

Student registration

A minimum of 60 hours of CPD activities must be completed by dental professionals throughout a three-year CPD cycle. There are three registration periods in each three-year CPD cycle. The three-year CPD cycle's beginning and ending dates have been adjusted as follows:

Current CPD cycle       – 01^st December 2022 to 30^th November 2025

Next CPD cycle            – 01^st December 2025 to 30^th November 2028

Basically, Australian dental jobs are open to foreign dentists, and there are a number of options to consider before making the first move. Here are some other factors to think about:

Visa process - Prior to looking into employment prospects in Australia, it's critical to conduct thorough research on the necessary documentation and apply for the proper visa application. The 482 temporary skilled shortage visa, which permits dentists to stay in Australia for up to 4 years, is the current visa for dentists.

Registration - The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) requires dentists to be registered with them or to be in the process of doing so. Internationally qualified candidates must adhere to the registration standards of their particular health profession.

Dental Recruitment Agencies - In Australia, there are some companies that specialize in placing dentists in different positions. Every year, these organizations actively hunt for thousands of dental vacancies around the country, and they have already developed strong bonds with hospitals and healthcare institutions.

Dental Practices - Australian dental practices frequently have job openings for foreign dentists. Solid examples of dental firms that provide opportunities to overseas candidates are Maven Dental and Pacific Smiles Group.

Online Job Platforms - There are job ads exclusively for dentists in Australia on websites like Indeed and Dentist Jobs Australia. Numerous work opportunities, including sponsorship opportunities, are available on these sites.

It is wise enough to know that the average salary of a Dentist in Australia is approximately $162,969 per year as at 2023. It is evident that dentists are paid highly in certain major cities, for example, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington.

Sponsorships available at Pacific Smiles Group

Over 120 locations in Australia are operated by Pacific Smiles Group, which also keeps expanding new dental clinic locations. They provide sponsorship to trained dentists from abroad because of the wide range of opportunities available within their network.

The Pacific Smiles Group employs and bases its sponsored dentists at one of its numerous dental clinics located throughout Australia.

Why practice with Pacific Smiles Group?

The applied candidate will be able to get a lucrative compensation package that includes relocation benefits and support.

Opportunities for ongoing professional development that are planned by their team for clinical excellence. This group consists of skilled dental practitioners who are aware of the ongoing demands of the field.

The candidate will be able to access peer support network from dentistry professionals.

As a member of Pacific Smiles Group, you will have access to assistance from a variety of teams operating in the background, including as our Clinical Excellence and Marketing departments.

The dental clinics at Pacific Smiles Group are outfitted with cutting-edge equipment, which enables you to efficiently improve patient outcomes.

What’s behind dentist sponsorship from Pacific Smiles Group?

You would work as a sponsored Dental Practitioner on a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (482 Visa), for a two-year initial period.

Pacific Smiles Group helps with the visa application process and makes sure that the application is submitted with all necessary documentation and supporting documents relating to the skill shortage requirements.

The Application process;

Registration – Register with Pacific Smiles - The Dental Practitioner engagement team will get in touch with you to explore opportunities after receiving your contact information.

Chat - You will receive a call from a member of their dental engagement team to further discuss your interest. The team will discuss your needs and the best way to help you if you decide to practice from a Pacific Smiles Group facility.

Visa application along with AHPRA Registration – Pacific Smiles has an extensive expertise helping foreign dentists apply for their visas and AHPRA. To facilitate your application, they will cooperate with the Migration Agent you have designated.

Finalizing - Once the visa application has been granted, it's time to go for Australia. Once you are here, get in touch with their staff so that they can help you with the following steps to complete your AHPRA registration and any other needs to make you ready to practice dentistry in Australia.

This is one convenient way where you can easily apply and start practicing in Australia under a clear procedure adhering to all their guidelines to get sponsorship through Pacific Smiles.

If you wish to know more information or attain jobs in dentistry field, reach out and visit our Medfuture website.