Specialist Registration

There are 13 dental specialties in Australia which are approved by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council (the Ministerial Council). These specialties are:

• dento-maxillofacial radiology
• endodontics
• forensic odontology
• oral and maxillofacial surgery
• oral medicine
• oral and maxillofacial pathology
• oral surgery
• orthodontics
• paediatric dentistry
• periodontics
• prosthodontics
• public health dentistry (community dentistry), and 
• special needs dentistry.

The definition and the specialist titles are listed in the Dental Board of Australia (the Board) list of specialties.

All applicants for specialist registration must be qualified and meet the requirements set out in the Board’s Specialist registration standard. These requirements include that applicants have:

• completed a minimum of two years general dental practice (this requirement may be achieved by experience outside Australia, subject to assessment and approval by the Board), and
• met all other requirements for general registration as a dentist.

Ahpra publishes an online Register of all dental practitioners that provides the profession and the public with up-to-date information about a dental practitioner’s registration status. This register also includes details of the specialty or specialties for dentists who hold specialist registration.

The Board in partnership with the Dental Council (New Zealand) have developed Entry-level competencies for dental specialties. One purpose of these competencies is to assist the Board in the assessment of overseas applications for specialist registration. For further information, see the Specialist competencies page. 

What do I need to apply for specialist registration?

All applicants for specialist registration must hold a qualification in the specialty and meet all the requirements for general registration as a dentist. For further information on these requirements, see the Registration standards page.

Qualification approved by the Board

If you have a qualification approved by the Board, you can apply for specialist registration by completing and submitting the application form (ASAQ-20). An online search for all Board-approved programs of study is available on the Ahpra website.

Qualification not approved by the Board

If you have a qualification not approved by the Board (e.g. a qualification obtained overseas) in one of the specialties listed below, see the Qualification equivalence pathway page:

• dento-maxillofacial radiology
• endodontics
• forensic odontology 
• oral medicine
• oral and maxillofacial pathology
• oral surgery 
• orthodontics
• paediatric dentistry
• periodontics
• public health dentistry (community dentistry)
• prosthodontics, and
• special needs dentistry.  

If you have a qualification in oral and maxillo-facial surgery, you must first apply for an assessment of your qualification with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (the College). Oral and maxillo-facial surgery is a specialty recognised by both the Dental Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia. You must hold qualifications in both medicine and dentistry. If you successfully complete the College’s assessment, you will need to complete and submit the application form ASOM-20.

New Zealand registrants

The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (‘the TTMR Act’) provides that a person who is registered in New Zealand for an occupation is entitled to be registered in the ‘equivalent occupation’ in Australia. This means that a practitioner who is registered with the Dental Council (New Zealand) as a dental specialist and holds a current annual practising certificate for this specialty is entitled to registration with the Board if that specialty exists in Australia.

To apply under the TTMR Act, make an online application.