Working in Singapore as a dentist has numerous benefits, including low tax rates, excellent infrastructure and a friendly environment. Prospective dentists simply have to undergo a registration process at the Singapore Dental Council.
Register as a dentist
The dental register is divided into a Full Registration, Conditional Registration and Temporary Registration.
Full Registration
Dentist under full registration ( holds a basic dental degree from Singapore / has worked in Singapore under conditional registration for more than 2 years)is allowed to practice independently anywhere in Singapore.
Conditional Registration
Dentist under conditional registration is required to adhere to conditions laid down by Council.
Council may specify :
- (a) that dentist registered under Conditional Registration to work for a specified period (usually 2 years) under the supervision of a fully registered dentist approved by the Council; and
- (b) the particular employment or the descriptions of employment for the purposes of which he is registered under this section.
The supervisor is required to submit a supervisory report to the Council once every 6 months.
Dentists under conditional registration may apply for conversion to Full Registration after 2 years but
this will be subjected to Council’s approval.
Criteria for Conditional Registration:
- (i) holds a degree from a university specified in the Schedule or any other degree which is, in the opinion of the Council, not lower in standing than a degree specified in the Schedule;
- (ii) graduates from recognised dental schools listed in the Schedule must pass the relevant State/Regional Board licensing examination in the country which they attained their basic dental degree. For any country that imposes such licensing conditions on its own dental graduates, the corresponding conditions will also be required for registration to practise in Singapore;
- (iii) has been selected for employment in Singapore as a dentist in any hospital or other institution or dental practice approved by the Council; and
- (iv)satisfies the Council that he has the knowledge and skill and has acquired the experience which is necessary for practice as a dentist.
- (v) has sat and passed qualifying examination (please refer to eligibility for application to sit for qualifying examination)
List of Dental Institutions approved by the Singapore Dental Council
Australia
| Body Granting Qualifications | Primary Qualiications |
| University of Sydney | B.D.S./BDent |
| University of Queensland | B.D.Sc. |
| University of Adelaide | B.D.S. |
| University of Melbourne | B.D.Sc. |
| University of Western Austratda | B.D.Sc. |
Canada
- Body Granting Qualifications
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia
- University of Manitoba
- Dalhousie University
- University of Toronto
- University of Western Ontario
- Laval University
- McGill University
- University of Montreal
- University of Saskatchewan
- Primary Qualifications
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
Hong Kong
- Body Granting Qualifications
- University of Hong Kong
- Primary Qualifications
- B.D.S.
New Zealand
- Body Granting Qualifications
- University of Otago
- Primary Qualifications
- B.D.S.
Republic of Ireland
- Body Granting Qualifications
- National University of Ireland
- University of Dublin
- Primary Qualifications
- B.D.S.
- B.Dent.Sc.
United Kingdom
- Body Granting Qualifications
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- University of London
- University of Manchester
- University of Newcastle upon Tyne
- University of Sheffield
- Queen’s University of Belfast
- University of Dundee
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- University of Wales
- Primary Qualifications
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.Ch.D.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
- B.D.S.
United States of America
- Body Granting
- Qualifications
- University of Alabama School of Dentistry at UAB
- A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health
- Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
- University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry
- University of California at San Francisco School of Dentistry
- University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
- University of Southern California School of Dentistry
- University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
- University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
- Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
- University of Florida College of Dentistry
- Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry
- Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine
- University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
- Northwestern University
- Northwestern University
- University of Iowa College of Dentistry
- University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
- University of Louisville School of Dentistry
- Louisiana State University School of Dentistry
- Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- Harvard University School of Dental Medicine
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
- University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
- University of Mississippi School of Dentistry
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry
- Creighton University School of Dentistry
- University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey New Jersey Dental School
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine
- Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
- New York University College of Dentistry
- State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
- State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine
- University of North Carolina School of Dentistry
- Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
- Ohio State University College of Dentistry
- University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
- Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry
- Temple University The Maurice H.Kornberg School of Dentistry
- University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
- University of Puerto Rico School of Dentistry
- Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine
- Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
- University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
- Baylor College of Dentistry Component of Texas A and M Health Science Centre
- University of Texas Health Science Centre-Houston Dental Branch
- University of Texas Health Science Centre-San Antonio Dental School
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
- Howard University College of Dentistry
- University of Washington-Health Sciences School of Dentistry
- West Virginia University School of Dentistry
- Marquette University School of Dentistry
- Primary Qualifications
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.M.D
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
- D.D.S
Qualifying Examination
The Council may require a person with a degree, other than a approved degrees, to undergo and pass an
examination.
To apply to sit for qualifying examination (QE), the applicant must meet the criteria laid down by the
Council.
Criteria for Qualifying Examination for foreign-trained dentists:
- (i) offer of employment, and
- (ii) Singaporean/PR, married to Singaporean/PR and children of PR’s, or
- (iii) possess a basic dental degree that is comparable to the local BDS, or
- (iv) possess recognised higher qualification.
That is, must attained criteria (i) and any of criteria from (ii) to (iv).
The examination will be conducted in English.
The examination fee for the is SGD $2000. An
applicant shall be entitled to only 2 attempts at
the examination and both attempts to be taken
within a period of 12 months of each other.
If you have sat and passed the Qualifying Examination, you may apply to be registered under Conditional Registration.
Information for Dental Specialist
With effect from 1st January 2008, the Dental Registration Act requires any person who wishes to practise as a dental specialist to register with the Singapore Dental Council.
Applicants should first obtain accreditation from the Dental Specialist Accreditation Board (DSAB).
Application for Dental Specialist Accreditation
Applicants should download the application form and send the completed hard copy with required hard copy submissions and the prescribed non-refundable application fee of $500 to the Dental Specialists Accreditation Board Secretariat.
Download Application Form for Dental Specialist Accreditation