GDC to introduce changes to the International Qualifying Examination


The GDC is examining a record number of candidates for the International Qualifying Exam (IQE) - the three-part exam which tests the clinical skills and knowledge of dentists from overseas (non EEA) who wish to work in the UK. In 2006, 466 places for Part C (the third and final part of the exam) have been made available, compared to 109 in 2003.

Despite this, supply of exam places would still not meet demand in 2006, if such high numbers continue to join the exam list. This is largely due to the interest created by the active recruitment of dentists from overseas by the NHS over the last two years. To allow existing candidates reasonable opportunity to sit the exam, the GDC has agreed to stop accepting new applications from prospective IQE candidates for a limited time, and admissions to the IQE list will be suspended from 10 April 2006.

By law, the IQE must be run by UK dental authorities. The dental schools are already coping with increased undergraduate numbers and could not reasonably commit to holding more IQE sittings. The GDC will continue to work with the dental schools to increase the number of Part C places available. However, it is unlikely that significant numbers of additional places will become available this year.

The situation will be closely monitored over the next couple of months and will be reviewed by the Council in October 2006. The GDC will re-open the IQE list as soon as it is confident sufficient capacity exists. All prospective candidates for the IQE have been advised to submit their application by the 10 April deadline.

GDC President, Hew Mathewson said:

The temporary closure of the IQE list is a last resort for the GDC, but demand for the exam has grown to such an extent that we would be unable to match demand, in spite of our best efforts. It would be unfair to continue to accept applications from new candidates and raise their expectations of sitting the exam in the near future. This is a temporary measure and we hope we can re-open the IQE list as soon as possible.

To keep initial entry open would lead to an extended wait for the existing candidates who have already committed to trying to establish their career in the UK.


We are not reducing the number of exam places available, so closing the list to new applicants will not have any effect on the number of overseas dentists who could pass the exam and become eligible to apply for GDC registration this year. In fact, the increased number of Part C places means that more dentists than ever this year could qualify for registration this way.

We are in the process of reviewing the IQE system and are looking at a wide range of ways we could assess an overseas dentist’s competence in the future. We will take into account the heavy demand for the IQE and the strain it is currently under.

The GDC has also given the go-ahead to an increase in the fee for Part C of the exam. A subsidy expected from the Department of Health (England) for the IQE has not been granted for this financial year, which means a fee increase is essential if the GDC is to be able to run the large programme of exam sittings scheduled for 2006.

The fees paid to examination centres for Part C places are much higher than for either of the other Parts. With a large number of candidates waiting to sit Parts B and C already, it would not be acceptable to reduce Part C places simply to guard against financial loss.

The new fee for Part C, which is subject to Privy Council approval, will be £1550 (currently the fee for this part is £950) and is scheduled to come into effect for exams taking place from June 2006. The fees for Parts A and B will remain the same.

Hew Mathewson, said:
The IQE is self-funding. The GDC covers the costs of running the examination through candidates’ fees, rather than subsidising it through the annual fees paid by GDC registrants. Regrettably, an increase to the Part C fee is now needed to ensure the GDC covers its costs. The GDC is keen to ensure that IQE candidates already in the system continue to have an early opportunity to sit the exam. If we didnt increase the fee, we would need to reduce the number of sittings we hold this year, and candidates would be looking at extended waiting times before they had an opportunity to sit the exam.

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