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

• MDS (Endodontics) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Endodontics) University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in endodontics¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in endodontics 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 training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Endodontic Specialist Examination.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialists

New Zealand

• MDS/MBChB (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) University of Otago1,2.
  

1 Entry criteria require completed undergraduate dentistry and medical degrees

2 Accreditation periods: 1 January 2012 - 31 December 2018, and 7 December 2020 – 31 December 2023. Graduates during the accredited periods are eligible for registration

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in oral and maxillofacial surgery³, and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools4
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Australia⁵, and a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

3 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia

4 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

5 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia

Australasia

• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)6.

6 Conferred from 15 March 2012

United Kingdom

• registration in oral and maxillofacial surgery with the General Medical Council, United Kingdom.

USA and Canada

• Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery in a United States of America or Canadian state 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-time equivalent postgraduate training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist 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

• MDS (Oral Pathology) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Oral Pathology) University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in oral pathology¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in oral pathology 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

Australasia

• Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia3.

3 Conferred from 2016. Accreditation ended 31 December 2023

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 Pathology Specialist Examination.

Oral Surgery Specialists

New Zealand

• DClinDent (Oral Surgery) University of Otago1
• specialist registration as an oral surgeon with the Dental Council New Zealand as at 18 September 2004.

1 Conferred from 2016 

Australia

• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification 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 training in the speciality, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Oral Surgery Specialist Examination.

Orthodontic Specialists

New Zealand

• MDS (Orthodontics) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Orthodontics) University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in orthodontics¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in orthodontics 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 training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Orthodontic Specialist Examination.

Paediatric Dentistry Specialists

New Zealand

• MDS (Paediatric Dentistry) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Paediatric Dentistry) University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in paediatric dentistry¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in paediatric 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 training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Paediatric Dentistry Specialist Examination.

Periodontic Specialists

New Zealand

• MDS (Periodontics) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Periodontics) University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in periodontics¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in periodontics 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 training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Periodontic Specialist Examination.

Prosthodontic Specialists

New Zealand

• MDS (Prosthodontics) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Prosthodontics) University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc or DClinDent programme in prosthodontics¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in prosthodontics 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

USA and Canada

• certificate in prosthodontics from a three-year programme accredited dental school by the Commission on Dental Accreditation in the USA or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, and evidence of research activity.

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 Prosthodontic Specialist Examination.

Public Health Dentistry (or Community Dentistry) Specialists

New Zealand

• MComDent University of Otago.

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc programme in Public Health Dentistry¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in public health 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 training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Public Health Dentistry Specialist 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

• MDS (Special Needs) University of Otago
• DClinDent (Special Needs) University of Otago1.

1 Accreditation ended 31 December 2023

Australia

• an ADC accredited MDS or MDSc programme in Special Needs Dentistry¹
• a Dental Board of Australia approved programme of study providing a qualification for the purposes of specialist registration in special needs 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 training in the specialty, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Special Needs Dentistry Specialist 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.