Students seeking registration invited to apply online now

11 Oct 2017

Final-year students who will soon complete an approved program of study can go online now to apply for registration before they graduate.

Graduates need to be registered as a dental practitioner with the Dental Board of Australia (the Board) before they start practising.

Graduates from one of the dental programs must make an application for general registration and meet the Board’s registration requirements to be a registered dental practitioner.

Registration standards that relate to the new graduate are:

• criminal history
• English language skills, and
• professional indemnity insurance arrangements.

The online graduate application service on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website helps to smooth the path from study to work by enabling final-year students to apply for registration with the Board four to six weeks before completing their course.

Applicants apply online by setting up an account with AHPRA with a unique and personal email address only they have access to. This allows for progress on the form to be saved and resumed as required.

Applicants then complete the application form, upload their supporting documents and pay the registration fee.

A short video overview of a registered dental practitioner’s obligations is published on the Board’s website. It outlines the standards that must be met to become registered and also the professional standards expected of the dental profession in order to stay registered. The Board will also be launching a new video just for graduates on its website soon.

Graduates are encouraged to find out how to use the online graduate application by accessing the information on the AHPRA website under Graduate applications.

How to apply for registration

There are three simple steps to registration for graduates:

1. Complete an online application for registration four to six weeks before completing their course.
2. Upload supporting documents when completing their online application.
3. Wait to be contacted by AHPRA.

What happens next?

AHPRA assesses the application which can only be finalised once the education provider provides advice that the student is eligible to graduate. AHPRA contacts the student if more information is needed and/or to confirm that registration has been granted.

New graduates registered with the Board are eligible to start work as soon as their name is published on the national register of practitioners.

For more information

• Go to Graduate applications on the AHPRA website to apply online and for links to FAQ
• For registration enquiries or difficulties in accessing the online application form: 1300 419 495 (within Australia)
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200