Prescribed Qualification In New Zealand

Dental graduates belonging to following Universities or Dental Schools come under Prescribed Qualification for Dentists in New Zealand

1. New Zealand:

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago.
• Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours from the University of Otago.
• A 5-year undergraduate dental degree and a pass in the NZDREX.

2. Australia:

• Australian Dental Council (ADC) accredited undergraduate dental degree from an ADC approved dental college in Australia.
• A 5-year undergraduate dental degree and a pass in the ADC Registering Exam.

3. USA or Canada:

• Commission on Dental Accreditation or CDA approved undergraduate dental degree from a CDA-accredited dental college in the USA or Canada.
• A Five-year undergraduate dental degree and a pass in the USA registering examinations.

4. General Dental Council Approved Dental Colleges in UK and Commonwealth Countries:

Dental School	Dates of recognition
Western Cape	before 1 January 1998
Hong Kong	before 1 January 2001
Singapore	before 1 January 2001
Witwatersrand	before 1 January 2001
Pretoria	before 1 January 2001
Stellenbosch	before 1 January 2001
Medical University of South Africa	between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000
Malaysia	between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000

Please refer to official New Zealand Dental Council website for more accurate information

Requirements for fitness for registration in New Zealand

Section 16 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 provides that you may not be registered to practise in New Zealand if:

• you do not satisfy us that you can communicate effectively
• you do not satisfy us that you can speak and understand English well enough to protect the health and safety of the public
• you have been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of three months or longer, and that reflects adversely on your fitness to practise
• you have a mental or physical condition that prevents you from performing the functions required for the practice of your profession
• you face professional disciplinary proceedings that reflect adversely on your fitness to practise
• you are being investigated about a matter that may be the subject of professional disciplinary proceedings, and that investigation reflects adversely on your fitness to practise
• you are subject to an order of a professional disciplinary tribunal, an educational institution or of an authority or a similar body that reflects adversely on your fitness to practise
• we have reason to believe that you may endanger the health and safety of the public.

If we do not consider you are fit for registration, we will not register you, nor let you enter the New Zealand Registration Examinations.

English language requirements

The fitness for registration criteria of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 require that you must be able to demonstrate that you speak and understand English to a level sufficient to protect the health and safety of the public.

Effective English and communications skills are a prerequisite to practising as an oral health practitioner in New Zealand. Without such skills you cannot offer patients informed consent and ensure effective participation in treatment choices.

Requirements for fitness for registration in New Zealand

You satisfy the English language requirement if you meet one of the following:

• You have graduated from a programme accredited by the Dental Council (New Zealand) and the Australian Dental Council
• English is your first language and you have completed your undergraduate dental training in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Eire or Canada where English is the sole language of instruction and assessment
• You have passed a Dental Council-approved English test to the required level.

Dental Council-approved English tests

Council has approved the following two English tests:

• International English Language Testing (IELTS)
• Occupational English Test (OET)

Test levels and pass rates

IELTS – academic band
Dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, clinical dental technicians.	Average score of 7.5 or more and at least 7 in each band of the four individual components of listening, reading, writing and speaking
Dental technicians	Average score of 7.5 or more
Orthodontic auxiliaries	At least 7 in each band of the four individual components of listening, reading, writing and speaking
OET
Dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienist, dental therapist, clinical dental technicians, dental technicians and orthodontic auxiliaries	A pass with A or B grades in each of the four components

A pass in the English test is only valid for two years.

Required Documents

Fee Structure