New regulations

New regulations for the MFDS/MFD have been agreed by the General Dental Council and the Dental Faculties of the Surgical Royal Colleges of Edinburgh, England and in Ireland, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The examination is designed to assess basic knowledge and a broad understanding of dentistry at a level which could be expected of a dentist in training who has recently completed a minimum of two years general professional training. The training requirements are intended to ensure a wide experience in a number of disciplines of dentistry. The examination is in three parts as before. Parts A and B are intercollegiate and Part C is collegiate. Details of the curriculum for each part of the examination may be obtained from the regulations. For entry to Part A candidates must provide evidence of at least 12 months experience in any field of dentistry. For entry to Parts B and C candidates must provide evidence of at least 20 months satisfactory experience, of which 8 months must have been spent in approved training posts in hospital or community practice or within Dental Public Health. Approved training posts may be in the United Kingdom or Ireland or overseas, but must have been inspected and approved for that purpose by one of the Surgical Royal Colleges. Following the successful completion of all parts of the examination, and 24 months of experience including 12 months of approved training, the candidate may apply for the award of the Diploma from the College in which Part C was taken. It has been agreed by the General Dental Council that the MFDS/MFD or equivalent will be an essential entry requirement to SAC approved specialist training programmes leading to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) and entry to a Specialist List.

Reciprocity

Reciprocal arrangements, which have been agreed between the Dental Faculties and the FGDP (UK), allow flexibility in career pathways. The Faculties and the FGDP (UK) are committed to increasing convergence between the MFGDP and the MFDS.

Exemption

Candidates who have passed Part I of the MFGDP Examination since October 1998 are exempt from Part A of the MFDS.

Candidates who hold MRCS/AFRCS are exempt from MFDS Parts A and B.

Candidates who have been engaged in the full time practice of dentistry for a minimum of ten years, or part time equivalent, who hold the MFGDP diploma, and who can demonstrate that they have undertaken 250 hours continuing professional development (CPD) over the preceding 5 years, are exempt from MFDS/MFD Parts A and B and the requirement to complete one year in approved posts.

Candidates who have been engaged in the full time practice of dentistry for a minimum of ten years, or part time equivalent, who hold the MGDS or MCCD diploma, and who are in good standing with their Faculty, are exempt from MFDS/MFD Parts A and B and the requirement to complete one year in approved posts.

Timing

Under the new Regulations the examination will be held twice a year in early April and September in all four Colleges in the UK and Ireland.

Overseas dentists

It is planned to hold the MFDS examination overseas from 2001, commencing with Part A in Jordan, Egypt, India and Malaysia. There are currently no plans to take Part C overseas. Overseas examinations will be held simultaneously with UK and Ireland based examinations.

Courses

Individuals planning to enter MFDS/MFD examinations are encouraged to obtain the MFDS/MFD Structured Learning Programme (PASS) published jointly by the Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, or to enroll on the MFDS Distance Learning Course available from the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. These programmes provide guidance and insight into the extent and level of knowledge required in the examination.

FDS examination

The Primary/Part I FDS Examination is no longer held. Last sitting of the Final/Part II FDS Examination will be in 2002. There is no reciprocity between any part of the FDS examination and the MFDS examination.