IDC · Dental Council of Ireland · s.27(2)(d)

The complete guide to the IDC Ireland licensing exam

Everything a non-EEA dentist needs for the Dental Council of Ireland's registration examination — once a year, Part 1 in Dublin (three written papers plus a bench test) and Part 2 in Cork (written papers, an OSCE and clinical vivas). Places are drawn at random, with 80% going to applicants already living in Ireland and 20% to applicants abroad. Here's what the Council publishes, and how to prepare.

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At a glance

Checked 1 October 2026

Frequency
Once a year — 2026: Part 1 in Dublin 25-28 March, Part 2 in Cork 15-18 June
Seats
Random selection — 80% to applicants living in Ireland, 20% to applicants abroad
Fee
Exam €1,500 (repeat €750), paid in full when you apply
Eligibility
3 years of practice in the last 5, good standing, and OET B / IELTS 7.0 unless taught in English

Straight from the Dental Council

Part 1 + Part 2, as the Council describes them

From the Council's current Examination Details page and fees page.

3 + bench

Part 1: written + practical

Three short-answer papers — Health (anatomy, histology, physiology), Disease (immunology, medicine, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology) and Society (law, ethics, regulation, public health) — plus a bench test on manikin heads. Pass every component to go on to Part 2.

3-way

Part 2: no compensation

Written papers in Restorative, Oral Surgery/Oral Medicine and Child Dental Health, an OSCE, and clinical vivas. Each component must be passed on its own.

€1,500

Exam fee

Paid online when you apply; a repeat sitting is €750. No refund once you have confirmed attendance. Travel and accommodation are on top.

80 / 20

Seat split

Places are drawn at random: 80% for applicants already living in Ireland, 20% for applicants applying from abroad.

The pathway

The route to registration

Documents first, selection second, exam third. The application window is a single week in January, so have everything ready before it opens.

  1. Step 1: 1. Get your documents ready (autumn)

    Certified copies of your degree and transcripts (translated if needed), an original Certificate of Good Standing, two passport photos, proof of 3 consecutive years of lawful practice in the last 5, and an OET (Dentistry) grade B or IELTS Academic 7.0 in every module — unless your degree was taught entirely in English and you can prove it. Language results must be under 2 years old.

  2. Step 2: 2. Apply in the January week

    For 2026, applications were accepted any time in the week commencing 12 January, by post, courier or in person — and the €1,500 exam fee is paid online at the time of application.

  3. Step 3: 3. Random selection

    Places are allocated by random draw: 80% to applicants already established in Ireland (PPS number or GNIB evidence) and 20% to applicants abroad. If you are offered a place, accept it within 3 working days. There is also a reserve list.

  4. Step 4: 4. Prepare written + bench

    Written practice: one timed short answer a day — history, tests and radiograph justification, diagnosis, treatment plan, prevention and referral. Bench practice on a phantom head with daily timed reps. The Council describes the bench only as a manikin-head test, so practise the core restorative preparations broadly.

  5. Step 5: 5. Sit Part 1 in Dublin (March)

    2026: Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 March, in Dublin. Three written papers (Health, Disease, Society) plus the bench test. You arrange your own visa — the Council will give you a letter confirming the exam's purpose and dates on request.

  6. Step 6: 6. Sit Part 2 in Cork (June)

    2026: Monday 15 – Thursday 18 June, in Cork. Written papers in Restorative, Oral Surgery/Oral Medicine and Child Dental Health, an OSCE with clinical and rest stations, and clinical vivas with pairs of examiners. No compensation within or between components.

  7. Step 7: 7. Register and start work

    Pass both parts and you can apply for registration with the Dental Council (application fee €400; annual retention fee €450 in 2026). Your employer handles any employment permit — check current permit rules with Ireland's immigration authorities.

Read this before you apply

Selection, fees, attempts and visa rules

The fine print, from the Council's own Examination Details and fees pages.

Only 20% of places go to applicants abroad

The Council doesn't publish the number of places — only that they are limited by dental-school clinical capacity. Its 2024 Annual Report says it accepted 55 new applications from more than 160. Applying from abroad, you compete for the 20% share.

Once a year

Part 1 in March, Part 2 in June. Miss the January application week and you wait a full year. Dates for each year are published on the Examination Details page.

Random selection, not a queue

Under the current rules (updated November 2025), places are drawn at random within each group, so applying on day one doesn't help — a complete application does.

Attempts are limited

Part 1: a maximum of 2 attempts, and all three written papers must be passed in the same sitting. Part 2: a maximum of 3, and a resit means retaking every component. Not attending counts as a failed attempt.

€1,500, paid up front

The exam fee is paid in full when you apply (€750 for a repeat), and it is not refunded once you confirm attendance. Budget separately for flights and accommodation in Dublin and Cork.

Visa: you arrange it, the Council can help

You are responsible for any visa or permit you need to enter Ireland for the exam, but the Council will provide a letter on request confirming the exam's purpose and dates.

Experience and English are required

You need 3 consecutive years of lawful practice in the last 5 (recent graduates: continuous practice since graduating) and OET grade B or IELTS 7.0 in every module unless your degree was taught entirely in English. An MDS is not required.

A missed year isn't wasted preparation

Not selected? You can apply again the following January with most of your preparation already done. A Part 1 repeat may exempt you from a component you already passed (bench or written).

What the exam covers

Part 1 and Part 2 subjects

As listed on the Council's Examination Details page. The Council also publishes learning outcomes for the exam — see Official sources below.

  • Health — anatomy, histology, physiologyPart 1 written
  • Disease — immunology, medicine, microbiology, pathology, pharmacologyPart 1 written
  • Society — law, ethics, regulation, public healthPart 1 written
  • Bench test on manikin headsPart 1 practical
  • Restorative DentistryPart 2 written
  • Oral Surgery / Oral MedicinePart 2 written
  • Child Dental HealthPart 2 written
  • OSCE — clinical and rest stationsPart 2
  • Clinical vivas — pairs of examinersPart 2

Practise IDC-style questions

20 questions free, with dentist-written explanations. No card needed.

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IDC FAQ

Eligibility, selection, fees and prep — answered

Against the Council's current Examination Details and fees pages.

Is BDS enough, or do I need an MDS?

A dental degree is enough — no MDS. You also need 3 consecutive years of lawful practice in the last 5 (recent graduates: continuous practice since graduating), a Certificate of Good Standing, and OET grade B or IELTS 7.0 in every module unless your degree was taught entirely in English.

When are the exams?

Once a year. For 2026: applications in the week commencing 12 January; Part 1 in Dublin, 25-28 March; Part 2 in Cork, 15-18 June. Each year's dates are published on the Council's Examination Details page.

How much does it cost?

The exam fee is €1,500 (€750 for a repeat), paid online in full when you apply, and not refunded once you confirm attendance. Registration afterwards costs €400, and the annual retention fee is €450 (2026). Travel and accommodation in Dublin and Cork are extra. The Council doesn't say whether applicants who aren't selected are refunded — check before paying.

How does the selection work? Can I improve my odds?

Places are drawn at random within two groups: 80% for applicants already living in Ireland (PPS or GNIB evidence) and 20% for applicants abroad. Applying early doesn't help; a complete application does. If offered a place, accept it within 3 working days.

What is in Part 1 and Part 2?

Part 1: three short-answer papers — Health, Disease and Society — plus a bench test on manikin heads; all must be passed to enter Part 2. Part 2: written papers in Restorative, Oral Surgery/Oral Medicine and Child Dental Health, an OSCE with clinical and rest stations, and clinical vivas. No compensation between components.

How many attempts do I get?

Part 1: a maximum of 2 attempts, with all three written papers passed in one sitting (a repeat may exempt a component you already passed). Part 2: a maximum of 3, and a resit means retaking every component. Not attending counts as a failed attempt.

Which books should I actually read?

Four cover most of the clinical syllabus: the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry (the backbone), Pickard's Manual of Operative Dentistry (cavity and crown preparation), Harty's Endodontics in Clinical Practice (pulp diagnosis and RCT), and Scully's Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine plus Welbury's Paediatric Dentistry. For Part 1, revise the basic sciences, law, ethics and public health too. The Council's published learning outcomes are the best checklist.

The bench is the toughest part — how do I prepare from abroad?

Regular timed phantom-head sessions on core restorative preparations, photographed weekly to track progress. Simulation labs used for other exam boards work fine for building reps. The Council only describes the bench as a manikin-head test, so practise broadly rather than for one task.

Do I need a visa letter?

You're responsible for your own visa or entry permit, but the Council will provide a letter on request confirming the purpose and dates of the exam.

What happens after I pass?

You apply for registration with the Dental Council (€400). Employment permits for non-EEA dentists are arranged through your employer and Ireland's immigration authorities — check the current rules there, as they change.

Should I gain clinical experience elsewhere first?

You need 3 years of practice in the last 5 anyway, so many candidates keep working — at home or through a Gulf licence (DHA, MOH, HAAD or similar) — while waiting for a place. That keeps your income and clinical skills current if you aren't selected in a given year.

Is LicenseDent affiliated with the Dental Council?

No. LicenseDent is independent exam prep — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for the Dental Council of Ireland, DHA, MOH or any authority. Our questions are original Irish-pattern questions with dentist-verified answers.

Official sources

Checked 1 October 2026

The facts on this page come from these official pages. Rules change — confirm with the regulator before you book or apply.

Prepare the Irish way — written + bench + OSCE together

Restorative, Surgery and Child Dental Health practice, bench checklists, OSCE-style scenarios and timed mocks — every answer dentist-verified with why-correct, why-wrong, guideline and safety-net.

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