GDC to overhaul qualifications system

The General Dental Council (GDC) has announced it intends to abolish the system it currently uses to add further qualifications obtained by dental professionals to its registers.

It reported that it is now in consultation over how to move forwards, adding that professionals will be unable to add any further qualifications they obtain in the meantime.

However, GDC president Hew Mathewson said: “Dental professionals should not be discouraged from taking further additional qualifications to improve their practice, they can after all still use any skills learnt in these in their practice.”

The GDC has stated it is concerned that it has been offering “significant endorsement” of additional qualifications by recording them.

Earlier this year, the GDC revealed it is examining ways to assess the suitability of overseas dental professionals who wish to register in the UK.

It set up the Overseas Dental Care Professionals Registration Working Group to consult on the best way for workers such as hygienists, nurses and dental technicians to apply for registration.