Dent Recruit Contributor
There are many reasons to consider working as a dental professional in Ireland. You can earn a good standard of living in Ireland’s booming economy. Ireland’s stable political system and low crime rate means it’s a very attractive prospect for families. And one of the biggest draws is that Ireland’s first language is English. Outside of the UK, Ireland is the main English speaking country in Europe. So if you’re coming from abroad and you already have English as a second language, then you’re already a step ahead on progressing towards a fulfilling career as a dentist in Ireland.
Do I have to have good English to work as a dentist in Ireland?
The short answer is that yes, you must have a good working knowledge of English. Many of the candidates that we work with at DentRecruit.ie have trained and qualified in the EU, UAE, and outside of the EU. We can help guide you through the Irish Dental Council registration and its English language requirements, and get you job-ready.
The longer answer is that, as of the 1st November 2018, the Irish Dental Council (IDC) (the regulatory body for dentists in Ireland) requires you to be proficient in the English language to be able to practise as a dentist. But there are several ways to prove your fluency in the language. You can also complete one of these two English language courses - Occupational English Test or International English Language Testing System.
Did you complete your Dentistry degree in English?
If your primary degree in dentistry, or a subsequent 3 year post-graduate qualification in the field of dentistry, was undertaken in English, then the IDC will regard you as proficient.
You will need to submit the following documents with your application, as acceptable proof of proficiency in English:
a. Your degree certificate, supplement or academic transcripts or
b. A letter from your university, with the following listed;
i. your full name,
ii. the duration of the training programme and
iii. confirmation that you completed the entire programme, to include examinations, in English.
An original letter on headed paper must also be submitted.
Did you work as a dentist in an English-speaking country?
If you practised as a fully registered dental professional in an EU member state, whose official language is listed as English, (for 3 years out of the 5 years) before you submitted your application, then this experience would be sufficient. Countries outside of the EU (Canada, US, Australia) that have English listed as an official language may be considered. At DentRecruit.ie we’ve helped candidates who attended high-school and graduated in an English speaking country, and this was sufficient to meet the IDC’s English language requirements.
If you practised in an English speaking country for 3 years, you will need to submit the following documents with your application, as acceptable proof of proficiency in English:
a. A certificate of full registration from an EU member state, where English is listed as an official language, and
b. a certificate from the relevant authority stating that you have been fully registered and worked in full time practice for 3 years in the preceding 5 year period.
c. Where (b) is not obtainable you may submit employer’s references to confirm;
that you have been working as a dentist;
how long you’ve been working;
where you’ve been working;
whether it was a full or part-time post;
and confirmation that the work was done so primarily in English.
The IDC will assess the information provided and decide whether it is satisfactory evidence of competency in the English language or whether you will be required to sit an English test.
English Test
If none of the above apply to you, then you will need to obtain either an Occupational English Test or International English testing system result. The IDC recognises both these two English language qualifications.
OET
If you obtained an OET Certificate it needs to meet the minimum scores set out below.
You cannot have received your OET certificate more than 2 years prior to your application for registration to the IDC.
IELT
If you obtained an Academic IELTS Certificate, it should meet the minimum scores set out below.
Module [Listening] - OET For Dentistry [minimum score of B] - [minimum score of 7.0]
Module [Reading] - OET For Dentistry [minimum score of B] - [minimum score of 7.0]
Module [Writing] - OET For Dentistry [minimum score of B] - [minimum score of 7.0]
Speaking [Speaking] - OET For Dentistry [minimum score of B] - [minimum score of 7.0]
The same applies here for the IELT certificate. More than two years cannot have passed since you earned your certificate and applied for IDC registration.
The IDC are quite strict about this and will not accept any proctored or online exam.
Once you’ve sat the test and passed, then you must submit a single, original certificate with the minimum grades obtained in all four modules. If you are submitting an OET Certificate you will need to get OET to verify your results. Both IELTS and OET certificates will then be verified by the IDC during the registration process.
English is the most common language spoken in the world. Since Ireland is an English speaking country, it means it’s relatively easy to move here. Unlike many other European countries, you won’t have to learn an additional language if you already have a good grasp of English. Just one more reason to pursue a fulfilling dental career in Ireland if you’re from abroad.
[Imagery Source: iam luisao]
