Consultation on new registration pathways and prescribed qualifications launched
The Dental Council has launched a consultation on three new proposed registration pathways that will make it easier for suitably trained overseas oral health practitioners to join the register and practise in New Zealand. The proposed changes aim to enable skilled practitioners from overseas to join the workforce more quickly and efficiently, without compromising public safety.
The three new pathways proposed are:
- Competent Authority Pathway - Registration – for practitioners with recent clinical experience in a recognised competent authority, that we consider equivalent international regulators.
- Comparable Health Systems Pathway – opens registration to dentists with recent clinical experience from 21 countries with health systems and regulation assessed as comparable to New Zealand’s.
- Teaching and Research Pathway – for those employed in New Zealand tertiary or academic institutions to support clinical learning and research in our accredited programmes, who cannot use any of the registration pathways (not for independent clinical practice).
Additional proposals include recognising more international qualifications and introducing a Dental Practice in New Zealand module to support all new overseas registrants’ transition into the local workforce.
All pathways are designed using a risk-based approach, with tailored supervision and mentoring requirements to ensure public safety.
Have your say
The consultation is open until 29 January 2026. Submissions can be made via our online survey.
We’re also hosting two webinars as part of the consultation that we invite practitioners to attend:
Wednesday 26 November, 5.30 – 6.30pm
Monday 1 December, 5.30 – 6.30pm
To register for a webinar or submit a question, please email consultations@dcnz.org.nz.
