Eligibility, Booking & the MFDS Pathway
Key Takeaways
- Eligibility is a self-declaration process: a primary dental qualification acceptable to the three colleges' Councils, registration with a recognised dental regulatory body in your country of practice, and clinical experience sufficient to meet the COPDEND Dental Core Training learning outcomes
- Candidates must have a good command of English 'akin to IELTS 7'; the examination is conducted entirely in English
- Applications are made through the risr/apply portal in phased windows — Phase 1 is open to candidates with current active UK GDC or Dental Council of Ireland registration, Phase 2 to all candidates
- The Part 1 fee is £800 and Part 2 is £1,100; withdrawal before the application window closes attracts a refund less a 20% administrative charge
- Candidates have four attempts at Part 1 and four at Part 2, and Part 2 must be passed within four years of passing Part 1
Who Can Sit MFDS Part 1?
Eligibility is set out in the MFDS Examination Eligibility Criteria published by the Dental Examinations Executive. It is explicitly a self-declaration process: you certify that you meet the criteria and upload supporting evidence, and certification can be withdrawn if the evidence turns out to be incomplete.
| Requirement | What the published criteria say |
|---|---|
| Primary dental qualification | Certified evidence of a primary dental qualification acceptable to the Councils of RCS Edinburgh, RCS England and RCPS Glasgow |
| Clinical experience | Sufficient clinical experience to demonstrate competency against the learning outcomes of the COPDEND Dental Core Training curricula — the standard is a dentist completing DCT3, about four years of postgraduate training |
| Clinical registration | Registration with a recognised dental regulatory body in your country of practice that is recognised by the colleges. Note this is broader than UK GDC registration — GDC registration is not itself a precondition |
| English language | A good command of English akin to IELTS 7, because the examination is conducted entirely in English |
| Progression | You must pass Part 1 before applying for Part 2 |
Common misconception: the criteria do not require registration with the GDC or the Dental Council of Ireland. Holding one of those registrations matters for a different reason — it determines which application phase you can enter (see below).
How to Book
Applications are made through the risr/apply platform. You create an account at any time, but you can only apply during an open application window, and submitting an application does not guarantee a place.
Booking steps
- Create a risr/apply account and select the diet you want.
- Complete the application form in full, uploading the required documents and self-certifying your eligibility.
- Pay the fee — the application is only submitted once the fee is paid in full. MFDS Part 1 is £800 and Part 2 is £1,100. Fees are set by the Dental Assessment Planning and Review Group and reviewed annually.
- Wait for confirmation — successful applicants are notified of their place no later than one week after the application window closes.
- Attend the assessment centre. Centres are advertised by city, with the exact venue released after the window closes and final numbers are known. Bring your passport; exceptionally, another official photographic identity document with your name and signature is accepted.
Phased application windows
To stop UK trainees being displaced by international demand, applications open in phases:
| Phase | Who may apply |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Candidates with a current active UK General Dental Council or Dental Council of Ireland registration |
| Phase 2 | All other candidates, plus Phase 1 candidates |
Windows are published on the Dental Examinations Executive website and notified to bodies such as COPDEND and the Dental Schools Association.
Withdrawals, adjustments and visas
- Withdrawal before the application window closes attracts a refund of the fee less a 20% administrative charge. After the window closes, refer to the Extenuating Circumstances Policy; you cannot transfer to a later diet and must reapply.
- Reasonable adjustments for learning differences or disability are requested on the application form with supporting written evidence — a GP or specialist report, an educational psychologist's report, or an equivalent professional letter.
- Visas are the candidate's responsibility. The Executive will issue a visa support letter on request, but it does not guarantee a visa.
The MFDS Pathway: Part 1 → Part 2 → Membership
Primary dental qualification acceptable to the three Colleges
+ registration with a recognised dental regulatory body
+ English akin to IELTS 7
+ clinical experience meeting the COPDEND DCT outcomes
|
v
MFDS Part 1 - written paper
(2 x 90 SBA, 2 hours per paper, in an assessment centre)
|
v (must pass Part 1 first; up to 4 attempts)
MFDS Part 2 - 14-station OSCE
(communication/history taking AND clinical judgement/professional
practice; both areas must be passed; up to 4 attempts;
must be passed within 4 years of passing Part 1)
|
v
Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery
(join any UK surgical royal college; more than one is permitted)
|
v
Criterion for entry to the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations
Attempts and time limits
- Four attempts at Part 1 and four attempts at Part 2 under the current MFDS Regulations.
- Part 2 must be passed within four years of passing Part 1. (An earlier draft of the regulations required all parts within four years of the first attempt; version 1.1, effective 16 March 2026, replaced that wording — check the version you are reading.)
- Legacy candidates were allowed six attempts at the legacy Part 1, and legacy attempts do not transfer to the new examination.
What Is MFDS For?
MFDS is a membership diploma, not a licence to practise. Its published purposes are:
- Evidence of the end-of-core-training knowledge standard. The examination is explicitly benchmarked to a dentist completing DCT3.
- A criterion for entry to the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations, which is stated in both the syllabus and the assessment strategy.
- A factor in recruitment. The regulations note that successful completion is one factor the GDC and UK or international employers may consider in job application criteria.
- College membership, with the post-nominal MFDS and access to college activities, on payment of the relevant election fee and subscription.
MFDS and MJDF: the MJDF (Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties) has historically been offered by RCS England as a parallel membership. Arrangements are changing alongside the MFDS reform, so check the current position on the college website rather than relying on older guidance.
Before You Apply — Checklist
- Primary dental qualification acceptable to the three Colleges' Councils, with certified evidence ready to upload.
- Current registration with a recognised dental regulatory body in your country of practice.
- Honest self-assessment of your clinical experience against the COPDEND DCT learning outcomes.
- English akin to IELTS 7.
- The correct diet and phase identified, and the window open to you.
- £800 available at the point of application (the application is not submitted until the fee is paid).
- Passport valid and in your registered name; any name change evidenced.
- Reasonable adjustment evidence submitted with the application, not afterwards.
Which statement most accurately describes the clinical registration requirement in the published MFDS eligibility criteria?
A candidate passes MFDS Part 1 at the first attempt but then takes a career break. What time limit applies to Part 2?
A candidate withdraws their MFDS Part 1 application two days before the application window closes and asks about a refund. What applies?