Coming to Ireland from abroad, there are many benefits to working as a dentist in Ireland. You can look forward to strong job prospects with a competitive salary, access to cutting-edge facilities, and an organised professional network. And of course, Ireland’s economy is booming right now. Yet it is still possible to achieve a good work-life balance. Ireland has a lot to offer an ambitious dental professional who wants to pursue a fulfilling career abroad. If this is you, read on.

10 steps to becoming a dentist in Ireland

1. Get in touch with Dent Recruit.

Your first step should be to reach out to Ireland’s dental recruitment specialists - Dent Recruit. We are Ireland’s only recruitment service that caters specifically to non-Irish dentists making the move to Ireland. Whether you trained and qualified in the EU, UK, UAE, and outside of the EU, we can help smooth the way. We’lll look at your specific situation and advise you on work visas, language requirements, professional qualifications and all the steps below.

2. Register with the Irish Dental Council (IDC)

The IDC is the industry body that regulates dentists, so your next step will be to register with them. 

Dentists in the EU

If you studied and graduated from an EU member state, the process is quite simple. Your qualifications are automatically recognised by the EU.  You may have to prove your fluency in the English language however. We’ll deal with that in the point below. You’ll have to submit various documents such as:

• Application form 

• Photocopy of your ID

• Photocopy of the primary qualification

• Language proficiency 

• Registration fee (22 EURO).
  
  

Dentists from everywhere else (except UK)

It’s slightly more complicated if you studied outside of the EU. Before you can register with the IDC, you will have to sit and complete a two part exam. These exams only take place once a year on a specific date, so you need to keep an eye out for those updates. Before entering the examination, all your necessary documents should be submitted to the IDC in English. Some of these are referred to below. Check the IDC website for a more detailed list. You'll be assessed by clinical training and theoretical exams. Since there is a very short timeframe to apply to sit the exams, it’s advised that you have all your documentation ready to go before the deadline :

• Application form 

• Photocopy of your ID

• Photocopy of primary qualification

• Photocopy of any postgraduate degrees

• Original academic transcript from the degree

• Letter of good standing

• Language proficiency 

• Detailed work history

• Registration fee
  
  

Dentists from the UK

Since Brexit, there is no further mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the EU (including Ireland) and the UK. Qualifications from the UK were automatically recognised in Ireland during the transition period (from 1 February to 31 December 2020). If you have graduated from the UK since then, you should contact the General Dental Council in the UK for more information.

All dentists who intend to work in Ireland must apply for registration. This process might take up to 3 months, though could take longer.

3. Establish English language fluency 

From 1st November 2018, you will be required to be proficient in the English language. You may need to study and complete one of these two English language courses - Occupational English Test or International English Language Testing System. You will need to meet the minimum scores set out by the Dental Council. This must have been obtained no more than 2 years prior to the submission of your application for registration.The  score required to pass OET/IELTS exam is B/6.5 band in each section (covers reading, writing, listening, and speaking).

4. Start the job search

This is where Dent Recruit can help you find the best clinic for your needs. Once you’ve registered with us, we can start to prepare you for your job hunt. We’ll share your profile with a select panel of clinics, and help prepare you for a mock interview. We can help you negotiate your remuneration package while a third party lawyer will handle your contract for us, when you’re ready to accept a job offer.

5. Check out the job market

There are many opportunities for trained dentists in Ireland at the minute, and clinics are struggling to fill roles. Generally in Ireland, the opportunities fall into two employment pathways - public and private. A dentist in the public health system will be working in the HSE. 

We’ll cover working in private practices here, as this’ll be the easiest to access if you’re coming from abroad. Associates in private practice fall into two categories – employed and self-employed. As an employed dental associate, you’ll be contracted on a permanent or fixed-term basis. You’ll have agreed an annual salary from which income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge (USC) will be deducted. Another option may be the self-employed route, where you’ll require your own business bank account into which your fees will be paid directly.

6. Work permit

Once you have secured a role in a dental clinic, you will be sponsored by your employer for a work visa. We can assist you and your employer in applying for your work permit. There is a big shortage of dentists in Ireland, and as such, you’d qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. Holding a critical skills employment permit for 2 consecutive years enables you to apply for a Stamp 4. This will allow you to work without a sponsor in Ireland. You could even set up your own practice.

7. Tax

In order to start work, you’ll need to obtain a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). This is a number unique to you. You’ll need it to access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. For an employee, tax is paid through the Pay as You Earn (PAYE) system as mentioned above.

7. Professional Indemnity

Before you can start working in a dental clinic, you will need to have professional indemnity or insurance. As per the Dental code of practice, this is mandatory for all dentists. Dental Protection is currently the main provider of indemnity in Ireland and offers discounts for dentists who have Irish Dental Association membership. There are several insurance brokers in Ireland too. Before entering into a contract with any of these insurance providers, think about what type of service they can provide, cost and payment policy as well as reviews from previous dental customers. They also provide discretionary cover meaning members have a right to seek support with their indemnity for a claim. Indemnity insurance is compulsory for general practitioners participating in State Dental Schemes.

8. Immunisation

Dentistry is a very hands-on job. So before starting a job you’ll find that clinics will request a proof of vaccination, usually, Hepatitis B and the latest COVID19 vaccine. The latest immunisation guidance is available through the HSE. Even if the practice you are hired by doesn’t request certain vaccination, dentists outside of the EEA might consider familiarising themselves with these lists to be protected and safe.

9. Making the move

At this point, you’ll have registered with the IDC and had your qualifications recognised, or sat the IDC exams. At Dent Recruit, we’ve helped you the whole way - finding a job, helping you with your CV and organising your work permit. You’ve got your PRSI number from the tax office. Now you need to make sure you’ve opened a bank account, looked into health insurance, and found somewhere to live! And if your family is joining you, there’ll be schools to organise and lots more. But congratulations on getting this far. Ireland offers a welcoming and rewarding environment to thrive as a dentist, and you’ve now taken the first step.

[Imagery Source: Steven Hylands]