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The ADC introduces validity period for initial assessments

February 10, 2020

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) has introduced a validity period for initial assessment applications for all dental professions.

From 1 January 2020, successful initial assessment applications for all dental professions will have a validity period of seven years. For current candidates, this validity period will be applied retrospectively to their existing completed initial assessment.

The role of the ADC is to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring dental practitioners meet the high standards required of the dental professions in Australia. The introduction of a seven year initial assessment validity period ensures that the ADC holds relevant and up-to-date information regarding registration, good standing, identification and contact details for all candidates completing the dental practitioner assessment process.

Candidates now have seven years to successfully complete the ADC dental practitioner assessment process (including the initial, written, and practical examination components). If a candidate does not successfully complete the process within seven years of the date of completion of their initial assessment, they will be required to renew their initial assessment in order to continue the process.

The initial assessment renewal process is a simplified version of the initial assessment and does not require the resubmission of education documents.

Transition period for existing candidates

The revised initial assessment validity rules will affect some candidates sooner than others. The ADC has identified 2020 as a transition period for the implantation of the new policy.

This transition period is designed to give all candidates the opportunity to become familiar with the changes and provide sufficient time to renew their initial assessments, if they choose to. Candidates will fall into one of two groups.

Candidates who completed an initial assessment prior to 1 January 2014

Candidates who completed their initial assessment prior to 1 January 2014, have an expired initial assessment, or an initial assessment expiring in 2020.

There is a transition process in place for these candidates. The candidates are still able to apply for relevant examinations in 2020, however, both the application for, and attendance at, those examinations (subject to approval to sit), must occur in 2020. Candidates already allocated a written or practical examination place in 2020 will not lose their place.

These candidates must act promptly if they wish to continue their involvement in the ADC dental practitioner assessment process beyond 2020, by renewing their initial assessment by 31 December 2020.

Candidates who completed an initial assessment from 1 January 2014 onwards

Candidates who completed their initial assessment on or after 1 January 2014 have initial assessments expiring from 2021 onward. The transitional period does apply to these candidates.

Candidates approaching their seven year initial assessment expiration will be notified by the email address held on file by the ADC prior to their expiration date. If a candidate wishes to continue the ADC dental practitioner assessment process, they must apply for renewal of their initial assessment before their initial assessment expires, or complete the assessment process.

A summary of the candidate groups is also available via the table below.

Applying for a renewal of your initial assessment

If a candidate is reaching the end of the seven year validity of their initial assessment (subject to transition period exceptions) and wishes to continue the ADC dental practitioner assessment process, they must apply for renewal of their initial assessment, and have their renewal approved before their initial assessment expires. This can be done via an ADC Connect account.

If a candidate does not successfully renew an initial assessment prior to the expiring date (subject to transition period exceptions), their initial assessment will expire and all records (both electronic and hard copy) relating to the candidate will be destroyed. Candidates cannot participate in the ADC dental practitioner assessment process with an expired initial assessment.

If a candidate with an expired initial assessment wishes to complete the dental practitioner assessment process at a later date, they will be required to submit a new Application for initial assessment of overseas qualified dental practitioner form, all supporting documentation, and the relevant application fee. These candidates will be issued with a new ADC reference number upon receipt of a new initial assessment application.

Candidates applying for written and practical examinations

Candidates wishing to apply for a written or practical examination must have a valid initial assessment at the time of the examination application period AND the examination date.

If a candidate has a renewal application in progress, the renewal must be assessed as complete prior to the application period for that examination.

Return of documents

Candidates who submitted original documents with their initial application may request to have their documents returned. The ADC will check to see if the candidate’s documents are still held on file. The ADC does not return certified copies of documents.

Candidates who completed an initial assessment prior to 1 January 2014 may apply for the return of their original documentation during 2020.

Candidates who completed an initial assessment from 1 January 2014 onwards may apply for the return of their original documents prior to the end of their seven-year initial assessment validity period.

Administrative and postage fees apply for the return of original documents.

The ADC cannot return documents from expired applications.

Our practitioner assessments page has more information regarding the initial assessment for dental practitioners.

The ADC is committed to keeping all candidates updated on important information relating to the assessment process. All candidates, regardless of their place in the assessment process, are strongly encouraged to monitor the ADC website for up-to-date information on examinations and assessments.

For any further enquiries, please contact us.