Notes & updates
Working as a dentist in Ireland
Registration, permits, exams and the practical side of moving — written as the rules actually are, and updated when they change.
Does the English requirement actually apply to you?
English competence is required of every applicant, including EU citizens. But a test is not the only way to evidence it, and people pay for OET and IELTS they never needed.
What registering in Ireland actually costs in 2026
The Dental Council's 2026 fees, plus the costs that never appear in anyone's list — translations, travel to the exam, indemnity and the annual retention fee people forget to budget for.
Two documents, two institutions — and most guides name the wrong one
EU dentists need a letter of conformity and a certificate of current professional status. They come from different bodies, with different waiting times, and confusing them costs weeks.
The exam place lottery nobody mentions
Applications for the Dental Council Examination open for one week in January, and places are drawn at random — 80% to applicants already in Ireland, 20% to everyone else.
Not sure which route applies to you?
Two questions decide it — where you qualified and your nationality. A person answers, not a form.
Find my route