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Oral Health practitioner register Practitioner portal
Oral Health practitioner register Practitioner portal

Registration examination

Approved registration examinations are designed so that you can demonstrate that your knowledge, skills and competence are equivalent to the standard required for registration in New Zealand. 

Examination options are available for dentists, dental specialists, oral health therapists, dental hygienists, clinical dental technicians and dental technicians. 

The Dental Council provides New Zealand registration examinations and selected overseas registration examinations as part of the prescribed qualification pathway for registration in some oral health professions. To qualify, applicants must also hold a formal qualification in the relevant profession.

If you are interested in completing the New Zealand registration examinations, we advise you to read the Examinations policy for detailed information such as criteria, pass rates or number of attempts allowed.

Candidates applying to sit overseas registration examinations, for example the New Zealand Dental Council Registration Examination run by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada, Australian Dental Council or USA licensing examinations, will need to contact those organisations directly to confirm eligibility requirements.

We strongly suggest you read our fitness for registration requirements and other detail on our Registration - what you need to know page before you start any examination process.

Contact our registration team for more information on the examination options available to you and the fitness for registration requirements.

Fees

Examination fees are separate to registration fees. Once you have passed your examination, you will need to apply for registration and pay the registration fee. If your registration application is successful, we will email you with an invoice to pay for your practising or non-practising fee.

If you decide to withdraw your application to sit a New Zealand based examination, an administration fee may be deducted.

Post-registration requirements

Once you start practising in New Zealand, you will need to complete an overseas registrants recertification programme, comprised of the Oral health practice in New Zealand course. This is a series of e-learning modules designed to help you understand New Zealand’s regulatory, professional, and practice requirements. 

Eligibility criteria

If you hold a dentist qualification and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Registration Examinations (NZDREX) you may meet the prescribed qualification requirements for registration as a dentist. 

New Zealand Dental Registration Examination (NZDREX)

NZDREX examination candidates must pass the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) Equivalency Process to be eligible for registration as a dentist in New Zealand.

You are considered to have passed NZDREX once you successfully complete the following NDEB equivalency exams:

  • assessment of fundamental knowledge (AFK) - can be done electronically via prometric
  • assessment of clinical judgment (ACJ) - can be done electronically via prometric
  • an assessment of your clinical competence and situational judgement (NDECC) - practical held in Ottawa

Dentists who have passed the NDEB equivalency process (after August 2015) are considered to have passed NZDREX.

To inquire about entrance into the NDEB equivalency examination, please contact the NDEB directly.

Australian Dental Council (ADC) examination

A pass in both the written and practical examination would allow you to apply for registration via the Competent authority - qualification pathway.

For information about the Australian Dental Council licensing examinations, please contact the Australian Dental Council.

USA licensing examinations

A pass in some US State Board licensing examinations accepted by a State Board for licensure of an overseas qualified practitioner, would allow you to apply for registration via the Competent authority - qualification pathway.  

The Dental Council only accepts USA licensing examinations that included a knowledge-based examination and a practical psychomotor skills clinical examination. 

For further information on the examinations required, please contact the relevant USA State Board or the examination provider.

Eligibility criteria

If you hold a postgraduate qualification in a dental specialty recognised by the Dental Council and a pass in the New Zealand Specialist Registration Examinations (NZDSREX) you will hold a prescribed dental specialist qualification.

Demand for dental specialist examinations are low, and these are set up on a needs basis. To apply, or discuss your options, please contact the registration team.

Examination format

The specialist examination consists of five components:

  • Written examination – assesses your understanding of the scientific foundations of your specialty and your ability to apply this knowledge in clinical practice.
  • Case presentations – submission of documentation for a specified number of cases relevant to your specialty.
  • Clinical examination – assesses your clinical competence and decision-making.
  • Oral examination – evaluates your knowledge, judgement, and professional reasoning.
  • Research assessment – evaluates your research knowledge and skills.

To pass the specialist examination, you must successfully complete all five components in one.

Eligibility criteria

If you hold a qualification in oral health therapy, dental hygiene, or dental therapy, and pass a Council-recognised registration examination in that profession, you will hold a prescribed qualification.

  • New Zealand Oral Health Therapy Registration Examination (NZOHTREX)
  • New Zealand Dental Therapy Registration Examination (NZDTREX)
  • New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination (NZDHREX)

Before you can sit the relevant New Zealand registration examination for your profession, we must assess your eligibility. To apply, or discuss your options, please contact the registration team.

Examination information

We accept applications from overseas qualified dental hygienists who have successfully completed:

  • USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a USA State Board regional dental hygiene clinical examination, or
  • the Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination, and a Canadian regional dental hygiene clinical examination.

Applicants that have passed the Canadian or US registration dental hygiene examinations can apply for registration via the Competent authority - qualification pathway.

Eligibility criteria

If you hold a qualification in clinical dental technology or dental technology, and pass a Council-recognised registration examination in that profession, you will hold a prescribed qualification. 

  • New Zealand Clinical Dental Technology Registration Examination (NZCDTechREX)
  • New Zealand Dental Technology Registration Examination (NZDTechREX)

The examinations assesses knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours expected of a dental technician or clinical dental technician graduating from a prescribed programme.

Demand for dental technology examinations are low, and these are set up on a needs basis. To apply, or discuss your options, please contact the registration team.

Self-assessment tool

Use the self-assessment tool to identify the pathway most appropriate for your qualifications and experience.

You can create a practitioner portal login and continue your application from the self-assessment tool.

Self-assessment tool