MFDS/MFD

The following statement has been agreed by David Barnard, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Royal College of Surgeons of England; Professor Murray Meikle, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Mr Ray Reed, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; Professor John McGimpsey, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Mr Malcolm Pendlebury, Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners, The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

The MFDS/MFD is a new intercollegiate examination developed by the Faculties of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The examination is designed to assess basic knowledge and a broad understanding of dentistry at a level which could be expected from a dentist in training who has recently completed a minimum of two years general professional training. The training requirements are intended to provide a wide experience in a number of disciplines of dentistry. The examination is in three parts. Parts A and B are intercollegiate and Part C is collegiate. Details of the curriculum and content of the different parts of the examination may be obtained from the regulations. For entry to Part A candidates must have completed at least twelve months of general professional training and for Parts B and C, a minimum of twenty months. Following the successful completion of all parts of the examination and twenty-four months of training in approved posts, the candidate may apply for the award of the Diploma from the College at which Part C was taken. It has been agreed by the General Dental Council that the MFDS 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 on to a specialist list.

Reciprocity

It has been agreed that the MFGDP Part I will have reciprocity with MFDS Part A and the Dental Faculties and the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners are committed to increasing convergence between the two examination. This reciprocity does not apply retrospectively to holders of DGDP Part 1 taken prior to September 1998. This agreement was reached in order to provide maximum flexibility for the graduate who may be unsure in the first years after qualification whether to follow a career in specialist practice or general practice.

Exemption

Exemption from MFDS Parts A and B has been agreed for holders of MRCS.

Exemption from MFDS Parts A and B has been agreed for those who held an MGDS or MCCD before September 1998 for a two year period until September 2000.

Overseas Dentists

Part A of the MFDS may be taken by non UK candidates after not less than one year in unspecified dental appointments following qualification, subject to the agreement of the appropriate College. The training requirements for Parts B and C may be undertaken overseas but only in posts formally approved by the dental Faculties under the MFDS regulations. The Diploma cannot be awarded until the completion of a minimum of twelve months in approved posts. The MFDS examination Parts A and B will not be run overseas until September 2000 at the earliest. There are currently no plans to take Part C overseas.

Courses

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

'Old' FDS Examination

The last sitting of the primary FDS examination took place in October 1998. The last sitting of the Final FDS examination will be in 2002.