Contact information

Tel + 61 3 9657 1777 Fax + 61 3 9657 1766

Website: http://www.adc.org.au Email: info@adc.org.au
ABN 70 072 269 900 Address: Ground Floor, 120 Jolimont Road East Melbourne Vic 3002 Australia

Information about the Australian Dental Council’s

English language testing requirements

Overview
As from 02 April 2012, changes have been introduced to the Australian Dental Council’s (ADC’s) English
language testing requirements for overseas qualified dental practitioners undertaking the ADC’s
assessment and examination pathway. The changes mean that the ADC’s requirements are now fully
consistent with the registration requirements of the Australian national regulatory authority, the Dental
Board of Australia (DBA). The DBA’s requirements are published in its English language skills
registration standard (see http://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx).

The changes mean that the ADC now accepts either of the following English language tests:
• the International English Language Testing System Academic module (IELTS); or
• the Occupational English Test (OET).

Previously the OET was the only English language test that the ADC accepted and no exemptions from
completing it were granted.

With the changes, in a limited number of circumstances an exemption from completing an English
Language test may be granted if the applicant’s secondary and tertiary education was in English and
undertaken in one of seven specified countries (see below).

Introduction
Good communication skills are an essential attribute for dental practitioners working in the Australian
community. English language proficiency is one aspect of good communication in the clinical practice
context. All overseas qualified dental practitioners who are applicants for the ADC’s assessment and
examination pathway must demonstrate that they have a level of English language competency to
allow for good communication in the delivery of dental and oral health care.

The requirements
As part of the ADC’s assessment and examination pathway, overseas qualified dental practitioners must
successfully complete either of the following English language tests at the specified level:
• the IELTS academic module, with a minimum score of seven in each of the four components
(listening, reading, writing and speaking); or
• the OET, with grades of A or B in each of the four sub-tests (listening, reading, writing and
speaking).

All components or sub-tests of either test must be passed at the specified level in a single sitting.

A pass in the IELTS or OET (at the specified level) is valid for two years only.

April 2012 v1 Page: 1 of 2

 Contact information
Tel + 61 3 9657 1777 Fax + 61 3 9657 1766
Website: http://www.adc.org.au Email: info@adc.org.au
ABN 70 072 269 900 Address: Ground Floor, 120 Jolimont Road East Melbourne Vic 3002 Australia

Dentist candidates must provide evidence that they hold a valid pass at the specified level in the IELTS
or OET at the closing date for applications for the relevant examination, either the Preliminary (Written)
Examination or the Final (Clinical) Examination.

Dental hygienist or dental therapist candidates must provide evidence that they hold a valid pass at the
specified level in the IELTS or OET prior to undertaking the examining body’s clinical examination.

Exemptions
An exemption from these English language requirements may be granted where the candidate provides
satisfactory evidence that:
a) he/she undertook and completed secondary education that was taught and assessed in English in
one of the countries listed below; and
b) his/her tertiary qualifications in the relevant professional discipline were taught and assessed in
English in one of the seven countries listed below:
• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• United Kingdom
• United States of America.

The ADC reserves the right at any time to revoke an exemption and/or require an applicant to
undertake a specified English language test.

Further information
The IELTS and OET are administered independently of the ADC and further information can be found at:
• IELTS http://www.ielts.org/
• OET http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/

The Dental Board of Australia (DBA) is the regulatory authority for dental practitioners in Australia and
further information about registration to practise in Australia and the English Language registration
standard can be found at:
• DBA http://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx

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