Professionals Complementary to Dentistry (PCDs) are likely to pay a GBP 68 registration fee when the PCD Register opens in 2006, according to the General Dental Council (GDC).

The GDC said the fee was an indication of the amount that PCDs should pay for initial registration and that it should be the same as the annual retention fee for dental hygienists and therapists.

The final decision on the fees cannot be made until the legislation introducing PCD registration is in place, it said.

When the new PCD Register opens there will be a two-year transition period after which all PCDs will need to be registered with the GDC or be on a recognised training course.

To encourage PCDs to register sooner rather than later, the initial registration fee will cover the two-year transition period and the first year of compulsory registration.

The Council hopes that this 'three for the price of one' offer will encourage more PCDs to register early.

The annual fees that PCDs will need to pay to remain on the register after this period will be agreed at a future GDC meeting.

Changes in the law are needed before the GDC can start registering the new groups of PCDs.

The new legislation, which has been subject to Government delay, is expected to be in place in the summer and the GDC expects to open the register within 12 months of this.

For more information on PCD registration visit www.gdc-uk.org