Prescribed qualifications for dental specialists
Prescribed qualifications are the qualifications for a scope of practice under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
On this page
- Endodontic Specialists
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialists
- Oral Medicine Specialists
- Oral Pathology Specialists
- Oral Surgery Specialists
- Orthodontic Specialists
- Paediatric Dentistry Specialists
- Periodontic Specialists
- Prosthodontic Specialists
- Public Health Dentistry (or Community Dentistry) Specialists
- Restorative Dentistry Specialists
- Special Needs Dentistry Specialists
The Dental Council has defined the following list of prescribed qualifications for the dental specialist scopes of practice.
Prescribed qualifications for registration as a dental specialist
Endodontic Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Endodontics) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Endodontics) University of Otago.
1 Accreditation expired.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in endodontics2.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in endodontics in Australia3.
2 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
3 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
- two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate endodontics specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS/MBChB (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) University of Otago2,3.
- Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)4.
1 Accreditation expired.
2 Entry criteria require completed undergraduate dentistry and medical degrees.
3 Accreditation periods: 1 January 2012–31 December 2018, and 7 December 2020–31 December 2023. Graduates during the accredited periods are eligible for registration.
4 Accredited RACDS oral and maxillofacial surgery training programme conferred from 15 March 2012.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An Australian ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in oral and maxillofacial surgery5, and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools6.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Australia7, and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
5 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
6 WHO World Directory of Medical Schools replaced by Avicenna since August 2008, and the Faimer IMED Directory signed an agreement in March 2012 with WFME’s Avicenna Directory to collaborate in single directory – World Directory of Medical Schools.
7 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
United Kingdom
- Registration in oral and maxillofacial surgery with the General Medical Council, United Kingdom.
United States of America
- Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery in a United States of America state and possession of a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and dental degree.
Canada
- Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery in a Canadian province and possession of a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and dental degree.
Other
- Two years or more of full-equivalent oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Oral Medicine Specialists
New Zealand
- MDS/MBChB (Oral Medicine) University of Otago
- DClinDent (Oral Medicine) University of Otago and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools1,2.
1 Conferred from 2013. Accreditation ended 31 December 2023
2 WHO World Directory of Medical Schools replaced by Avicenna since August 2008, and the Faimer IMED Directory signed an agreement in March 2012 with WFME's Avicenna Directory to collaborate in single directory - World Directory of Medical Schools
Australia
- an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in oral medicine and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools3
- a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in oral medicine in Australia and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools4.
3 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia
4 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia
Other
- two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Oral Medicine Specialist Examination.
Oral Pathology Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Oral Pathology) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Oral Pathology) University of Otago.
- Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia2.
1 Accreditation expired.
2 Conferred from 2016. Accreditation ended 31 December 2023.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc programme in oral pathology3.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in oral pathology in Australia4.
3 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
4 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
- Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate oral pathology specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Oral Surgery Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- DClinDent (Oral Surgery) University of Otago 1.
1 Conferred from 2016.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in oral surgery in Australia2.
2 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
- Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate oral surgery specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Orthodontic Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Orthodontic) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Orthodontic) University of Otago.
1 Accreditation expired.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in orthodontics2.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in orthodontics in Australia3.
2 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
3 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
-
Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate orthodontic specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Paediatric Dentistry Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Paediatric Dentistry) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Paediatric Dentistry) University of Otago.
1 Accreditation expired.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in paediatric dentistry2.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in paediatric dentistry in Australia3.
2 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
3 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
- Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate paediatric dentistry specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Periodontic Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Periodontics) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Periodontics) University of Otago.
1 Accreditation expired.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in periodontics2.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in periodontics in Australia3.
2 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
3 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
-
Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate periodontic specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination
Prosthodontic Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Prosthodontics) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Prosthodontics) University of Otago.
1 Accreditation expired.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in prosthodontics2.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in prosthodontics in Australia3.
2 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
3 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
United States of America (USA)
- A USA educational institution specialist qualification in prosthodontics accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and evidence of research activity.
Canada
- A Canadian educational institution specialist qualification in prosthodontics accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada and evidence of research activity.
Other
-
Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate prosthodontic specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Public Health Dentistry (or Community Dentistry) Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programme
- MComDent University of Otago.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc programme in public health dentistry1.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in public health dentistry in Australia2.
1 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
2 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
- two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate public health dentistry specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Restorative Dentistry Specialists
New Zealand
- Specialist registration as a Restorative Dentist with the Dental Council New Zealand as at 18 September 2004.
Special Needs Dentistry Specialists
New Zealand Accredited Programmes
- MDS (Special Needs) University of Otago1.
- DClinDent (Special Needs) University of Otago 2.
1 Accreditation expired.
2 Accreditation ended 31 December 2023.
Competent Authority - Qualification
Australia
- An ADC accredited MDS or MDSc programme in special needs dentistry3.
- An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in special needs dentistry in Australia4.
3 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
4 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.
Other
- two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate special needs dentistry qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.
Is your qualification not on the list?
If your postgraduate qualification is not a prescribed qualification, use the online assessment tool to guide you on a possible registration pathway(s) for you.