Considerations for Dentists of Irish Nationality applying to Dental Core Training
Dental Core Training (DCT)
For Irish applicants, the process of applying for DCT doesn’t differ massively from UK applicants.
The main questions that usually arise are;
Nationality Status
Registration
Practical aspects of moving countries
Nationality Status
Once you’ve created your Oriel account, completing the application is generally quite straightforward. However, as an Irish National, you might find you have some questions about what your should put as your nationality status.
Being Irish, you do not require EU settled status, or any kind of visa in order to live or work in the UK. This is due to the Common Travel Area, established before the EU. Because of this, you should effectively be treated in the same way as UK citizens when it comes to applications. You do not need to apply for EU settled status – your Irish passport is sufficient proof of this.
On the Oriel application, Irish nationality is sometimes not offered as an option under the “Right to Live and Work in the UK” section. I sought advice from DCTNRO about this in 2020, and was advised to reply as per the screenshot below.
Although this suggests that you should have EU settled status, no issues arose beyond this in the application, and an Irish passport was accepted as proof of EU nationality.
Registration
In order to take up a DCT post, you must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). This can be a fairly lengthy and complicated process, so if you are considering applying to a DCT post, applying as early as possible to the GDC is helpful, and will definitely reduce your stress levels when it comes to starting work! However, it is possible to wait until you have received a DCT job offer before starting the application process, and if you are organised with what you need you will be registered in time to start work. The good news is that as with nationality, you don’t need to sit any further exams to practice in the UK – your degree is still transferable, even after Brexit.
For the DCT application and interviews, you do not have to be registered with the GDC – presenting your Irish Dental Council registration at the time of interview is accepted. Although you may not have it yet, you are eligible for full GDC registration, and for a performer number and so you should tick “yes” in this section of your application, or it may exclude you from applying to certain jobs. It can be quite tricky to get a performer number, so you should be aware of this if applying for any jobs that would require it.
The main pitfalls encountered when applying to the GDC include not having all of your documents appropriately notarised, discrepancies between the name on your degree parchment and the name on your passport, degree translation (if your parchment is in Latin – Trinity graduates, I’m looking at you!) and proof of English Language Competency. There are many places where the GDC can (and likely will!) question your application, so don’t worry if it isn’t all plain sailing – stick with it and you’ll get there.
Notarising your documents
There is no way around this; you need to have your documents notarised by a solicitor or your application will be rejected, and you’ll have to start your application again (which resets the timeline and causes a serious delay too). They will request proof that the solicitor who notarises your documents is who they say they are – so make sure the notarised documents are;
Stamped
Signed (with name printed clearly underneath)
Include contact details to verify who the solicitor is
State that your documents are “a true copy of the original document.”
Colour copies
It’s poorly advisable to send your original documents, as there’s a risk you won’t get your documents back, and the GDC will charge you to return them.
Discrepancies in your name on documents
The eternal problem of being Irish – multiple different identity documents with multiple different names. The GDC are quite particular about this and will question any discrepancies including a middle name on one document but not on another. In order to get around this, you will usually have to write a letter, confirming that all of the names on all of the documents are “one and the same individual.” For example, “I confirm that Jane Doe and Jane Mary Doe are one and the same individual.”
As with the notarised documents, this needs to be signed in the presence of a solicitor, so it’s easiest to get all of this done at once and get the letter signed and stamped at the same time as you get your documents notarised.
Degree Translation
This can pose quite a problem for Trinity Graduates, as the degree parchment is in Latin. You will have been provided with 3 original official translations of your parchment on graduation, however, it is not recommended that you send the original. Again, this is best to have copied and notarised with the degree and ID as above.
English Language Competency
This has proven quite an issue over the last number of years for Irish graduates applying for GDC registration. The Irish Dental Council are quite clear on this – it has been previously agreed between the IDC and the GDC that proof of English Language Competency is not required of Irish Graduates. If they ask for this, you should call them to discuss this and advise them that this is not required. If not, discussion with the Irish Dental Council/your dental school is advised.
It’s a slow process but the offices are generally quite helpful if you discuss any issues with your GDC case worker directly once they have been assigned. Ensuring you follow their instructions as closely as you possibly can is likely to minimise delays in getting registered. Be aware, it’s quite a bit more expensive than IDC registration.
Practicalities of moving countries
Though the prospect of moving to another country can seem quite daunting, it can also be a really rewarding and valuable experience. There are a few considerations that are worth knowing before hopping on the plane or the ferry! These include opening a bank account, finding a place to live and getting tax/social security accounts set up.
Opening a bank account, and finding accommodation can sometimes feel like a vicious circle! Many banks will not open an account without an address, and many landlords/letting agents will not accept a tenant who does not have a bank account. There are a few ways of achieving this that may save you reinventing the wheel in order to get set up. Firstly, if you have a friend or family member who already lives in the UK, it may be possible to gain proof of address by registering at a local library/sending GDC correspondence to this address. This then enables you to open a bank account, the details of which you can provide to a prospective landlord. If this is not an option (as it isn’t for many!), some banks will accept a lease agreement as proof of address. This does require you to have found an address prior to going to the bank, but many letting agents will facilitate this if you can initially provide a guarantor for the agreement. From experience, HSBC were the most accommodating bank with accepting a lease agreement in order to open an account.
Tax and social security are reasonably straightforward to organise, but do take a bit of time to get sorted! Firstly, a big pitfall to look out for is National Insurance (NI) number registration; this should be free – do not pay an online service for this!! Many online companies claim to offer “fast track” or “from abroad” services – however none of these are legitimate, faster or can be done from abroad. In order to get an NI number, you have to attend a social services centre in person, and you must be resident in the UK in order to make this appointment. Unfortunately, this does mean that for the first few months of work, the emergency tax hits hard. You will get this money back automatically from HMRC in a subsequent payslip but it may take a few calls to get the correct tax code.
In conclusion, a DCT job can be a brilliant experience, and a really worthwhile year (or more!) to spend gaining skills and knowledge in a structured training programme and system. Working in the NHS can be hugely rewarding too, and the number of hospital jobs available make this a great option for anyone considering gaining hospital experience. The OMFS posts on offer can be really varied depending on location, hospital and unit – but each brings its own exciting prospects, and the experiences you gain as an OMFS DCT are worthwhile no matter what your career plans (and you never know where it might take you!).
