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ADC Skills Assessment for Dentists & Dental Professionals

Last updated: 19 March 2026 · Reviewed by: ABEE'S Consultancy Team

Need help with your skills assessment? Book a telephonic consultation with our MARA-registered agents (Reg# 2217775).

Who Needs an ADC Skills Assessment?

Dentist

General dental practitioners providing comprehensive oral health care to patients across Australia.

Dental Specialist

Specialists in orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, and other dental specialties.

Dental Hygienist

Professionals specialising in preventive oral health care and dental hygiene services.

Dental Therapist

Practitioners providing preventive and restorative dental care, primarily for children and young patients.

Oral Health Therapist

Combined dental hygienist and dental therapist practitioners serving patient populations across settings.

Dental Prosthetist

Specialists in designing, constructing, and fitting dental prostheses for patients.

ADC Assessment Pathways

Skills Assessment for Migration

For applicants applying for skilled visas (189, 190, 491). ADC evaluates qualification equivalence, professional eligibility, and English language ability where required.

This determines whether your dental qualification is comparable to Australian standards for migration purposes.

Competency-Based Assessment (Registration)

Separate from migration — required to actually practise dentistry in Australia. Includes:

  • Initial Assessment of Professional Qualification
  • Written Examination
  • Practical Examination

Key Requirements

Recognised Dental Qualification

  • From an ADC-recognised institution
  • Core subjects: operative dentistry, radiography, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, periodontology, paediatric dentistry
  • Sufficient clinical training included
  • Leads to professional registration in country of issue

Registration & Good Standing

  • Current or previous dental registration certificate
  • Certificate of Good Standing from dental authority
  • Eligibility to practise in the country of qualification

Clinical Experience & Internship

  • Internship completion certificate
  • Evidence of clinical case involvement and patient contact
  • Documents showing duration, supervision, and areas covered

English Language

  • IELTS, OET, PTE, or TOEFL results may be required
  • Dependent on your visa pathway and AHPRA registration requirements

Assessment Process – Step by Step

1

Confirm Qualification Recognition

ADC reviews whether your dental degree aligns with Australian accredited program standards in curriculum, duration, and clinical content.

2

Prepare Academic Documents

Gather degree certificate, transcripts, course syllabus, and clinical training documentation structured clearly for assessment.

3

Prepare Registration Documents

Collect registration certificates and good standing letters from all relevant dental licensing authorities.

4

Submit via ADC Portal

Complete the ADC online application and upload all required documentation through the official portal.

5

ADC Assessment & Verification

ADC reviews qualification equivalence, registration status, clinical education, internship, and English evidence where applicable.

6

Receive Outcome Letter

A positive outcome confirms your dental qualification meets Australian standards and you can nominate the occupation for skilled migration.

Documents Checklist

  • Passport and photograph
  • Dental degree certificate
  • Academic transcripts
  • Detailed course syllabus or handbook
  • Internship completion certificate and clinical training records
  • Registration certificate and certificate of good standing
  • Name change documents (if applicable)
  • English test results (IELTS/OET/PTE/TOEFL if required)
  • Employment references and clinical duty letters (if submitted)

Common Reasons for Refusal

Degree Not Equivalent to Australian Standards

Your qualification must be comparable in curriculum, duration, and clinical components to Australian dental education standards.

Insufficient Clinical Hours

Adequate clinical training with patient contact across multiple dental disciplines is essential.

Missing Internship Records

Complete documentation of internship duration, supervision, and areas of practice is required.

Core Dental Units Missing

All core subjects (operative dentistry, radiography, endodontics, oral surgery, etc.) must be evidenced in transcripts and syllabi.

No Registration or Good Standing Evidence

Current or past registration evidence and good standing certificates from all relevant authorities are mandatory.

English Requirement Not Met

Where required by the visa pathway, valid English language test results meeting specified standards must be provided.

How ABEE'S Consultancy Helps

1

Qualification Assessment Guidance

Explaining how your dental degree aligns with ADC standards and what documentation is required.

2

Document Preparation

Clarifying how to prepare transcripts, course descriptions, clinical records, and registration documents for ADC.

3

Reference Letter Support

Explaining how to structure reference letters that accurately reflect your clinical dental responsibilities.

4

Application Lodgement Support

Providing guidance on submitting a complete and correct application through the ADC online portal.

5

RFI Response Guidance

Explaining how to respond to ADC requests for further information to strengthen your submission.

6

Post-Assessment Visa Planning

Explaining skilled visa options (189, 190, 491) and next steps for AHPRA dental registration in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The ADC migration skills assessment only confirms your qualification is comparable for visa purposes. To actually practise dentistry in Australia, you must complete the separate ADC competency-based assessment pathway (written and practical exams) and obtain AHPRA registration.

For migration purposes, ADC is the assessing authority for dental specialists. However, specialist recognition for practice in Australia (e.g., orthodontics, periodontics) is managed through the relevant specialist dental college. The migration assessment and specialist registration are separate processes.

ADC assesses Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Oral Health Therapists, and Dental Prosthetists for skilled migration. Each occupation may have slightly different documentation requirements, so it's important to confirm the requirements for your specific nominated occupation.

Start Your Migration Journey Today

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