Consultation on accredited specialist qualifications and amendment to dental hygiene and dental therapy examinations

The Dental Council is currently consulting on three newly accredited specialist qualifications, as well as proposed amendments to dental hygiene and dental therapy examination prescribed qualifications.

In March 2026 the Council accredited three new dental specialist training programmes developed by the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS):

• oral medicine
•  paediatric dentistry
•  special needs dentistry.

Commencement of these programmes is dependent on the establishment of the specialist training registrar roles. 

The Council is consulting on the following proposed changes to prescribed qualifications:

• Recognising the three newly accredited RACDS dental specialist training programmes as prescribed qualifications for New Zealand registration in oral medicine, paediatric dentistry and special needs dentistry.
•  Removing the reference to a dentist qualification from the prescribed qualifications for dental hygiene and dental therapy registration examinations. This includes:
  • The New Zealand registration examinations for dental hygiene and dental therapy, and
  • For dental hygiene, the United States and Canadian national examinations.

We now invite all practitioners and stakeholders to share your views on these proposals.

• Consultation document, with draft gazette notices

Have your say

The consultation period is open until 5pm, 6 August 2026.

Submissions can be made via our online survey.

All responses will be carefully considered by the Council and submissions received will be published on our website.