What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Dentist?

If you’re an adult wondering whether dentistry is still within reach, the good news is that there’s more than one way in. The qualifications for dentist training in the UK follow a fairly fixed pattern, but where you start depends on what you’ve already got: school results, a degree, or something else entirely. This guide takes you through the routes step by step, so you can compare them side by side and work out which one suits you.

At Courses and Exams, we know that planning a route as an adult can feel like a puzzle with half the pieces missing. Whichever path looks right for you, we’d always recommend checking each dental school’s own entry requirements before you commit time and money to a plan.

Step 1: Take Stock of What You Already Have

Before comparing routes, make a list of the qualifications you hold right now. Every route ends in the same place: a dental degree accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), followed by supervised training and GDC registration, which is a legal requirement before you can treat patients in the UK. What changes is how you reach the degree.

If you want the whole picture in one place, this breakdown of what education do you need to be a dentist walks through each stage, from GCSEs to foundation training. Broadly, you’ll fall into one of three groups: you have (or can get) strong GCSEs and A Levels, you already hold a science degree, or you have neither and need to build your qualifications first. The steps below look at each group in turn.

Step 2: Compare the Standard Undergraduate Route

The standard route is built around school leavers, but adults can follow it too. It starts with GCSEs, which are Level 2 qualifications. Most dental schools ask for six or more strong GCSEs, often at grade 7 or above, though requirements vary by university. English Language and Maths matter, and you’ll want strong science grades, ideally including biology and chemistry. If you’re not sure how your old results measure up, a guide that answers what GCSEs should I take for dentistry can help you decide whether a resit is worth it.

Next come A Levels, which sit at Level 3. The typical offer is AAA, with some schools asking for A*AA. Chemistry and Biology are usually expected, and many universities value Maths or Physics as a third subject. It’s worth reading up on the A Level subjects needed for dental school early, as requirements differ from one university to the next. A Levels are usually taken at 16 to 18, but adults can study them too.

This route leads to a five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS or BChD). The first two years focus on sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and oral biology. From around year three, you’ll be treating real patients under supervision in dental hospitals and community settings.

Step 3: Factor In the UCAT and Admissions Checks

On the standard route, grades alone won’t secure a place. Most UK dental schools ask for the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), a computer-based test you sit in the summer before your UCAS application. It covers verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning and situational judgement. Schools use the results differently: some set a cut-off score, some rank applicants, and others treat it as one factor among several.

You’ll also face a multiple mini interview (MMI), an enhanced DBS check and occupational health clearance. The National Careers Service notes that competition for places is high, so plan for every stage, not just exam grades.

Step 4: Weigh Up the Graduate-Entry Route

If you already have a degree, the graduate-entry route could save you a year. Accelerated four-year programmes are open to graduates of a relevant biomedical or science degree, usually one with strong biology or chemistry content. The National Careers Service gives biomedical science, human biology and biochemistry as examples. Most schools ask for at least a 2:1, and strong A Level grades are still expected.

Some programmes use the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) instead of, or alongside, the UCAT, so check which test each school wants. You finish with the same BDS or BChD qualification as undergraduate-entry students, and the whole route takes around five years including foundation training, compared with around six for school leavers.

Step 5: Look at Other Starting Points

What if you have neither A Levels nor a science degree? Access to Higher Education Diplomas are nationally recognised Level 3 qualifications for adults heading to university without A Levels. They’re an established route into related healthcare professions, and a small number of dental schools may consider them (or, in some cases, a BTEC). A Levels remain the usual route, though, so check with each school before you enrol on anything.

Some people study a related subject first and then apply for graduate entry. Others take a vocational path, such as dental nursing or a healthcare apprenticeship, to get closer to the profession. The National Careers Service currently lists no dentist apprenticeship vacancies in England. Related roles such as dental nurse, dental hygienist and dental therapist are careers in their own right, and the dentist job profile is a useful place to see what the work itself involves, from check-ups and X-rays to fillings and crowns.

If you need to fill gaps in your GCSEs or A Levels first, you can study online and book exams as a private candidate at a local exam centre. Pass Learn, for example, offers GCSE and A Level courses, Access to HE Diplomas and exam bookings, so it’s worth comparing what’s on offer before choosing qualifications with Pass Learn or another provider.

Step 6: Plan for Funding and Life After the Degree

Whatever your route, think about funding early. Student finance may help with study at university, and there are two main loans: a Tuition Fee Loan, paid straight to your university, and a Maintenance Loan for living costs, which depends on where you study and your household income. You only start repaying once you’ve left your course and are earning over a threshold, though interest is charged from the day you take the loan out. Applications take four weeks to process and you reapply each year. The rules also change for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, so read the GOV.UK student finance guidance carefully before you apply.

After graduating, you’ll complete at least a year of supervised foundation training. Pass Learn describes 12 months of Dental Foundation Training in an approved practice, which is required to work in NHS practice, while the National Careers Service mentions two years of supervised postgraduate training. From there, you could work in general practice or a hospital role, or go on to specialise in areas such as orthodontics, oral surgery or paediatric dentistry. The National Careers Service puts average pay at £55,000 a year for starters, rising to £117,000 for experienced dentists.

Final Thoughts

Comparing the routes side by side makes the choice much clearer. The standard route suits you if you have, or can gain, strong GCSEs and science A Levels. The graduate route suits you if you hold a related science degree, usually at 2:1 or above. Other starting points, such as an Access to HE Diploma, need careful checking with each school. Whatever your situation, start by listing what you already have, look up the entry requirements of the schools you like, and build your plan from there. It’s a long road, usually six years or more, but knowing which route fits you makes that first step far easier.

Written by

Courses and Exams Team

We help thousands of students each year with revision, courses and online exams.