Mediated Entry

European Primary and Specialist Dental Qualifications Regulations 1998

GDC (specialist list) appeals regulations 2009

The routes for mediated entry for Oral Surgery are available on the GDC website in detail – here is a summary:-

• Route 1 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded by an EEA Member State which is listed in Annex 1 and where their training began on or after the reference date.
• Route 2a Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded by an EEA Member State: wh ere training began before the reference date (as listed in Annex 1 of this application form), and  this qualification satisfies the requirements laid out in Article 35 of the Directive 2005/36/EEC.
• Route 2b Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded by an EEA Member State: where training began before the reference date (as listed in Annex 1 of this application form), and this qualification does not satisfy the requirements laid out in Article 35 of the Directive 2005/36/EEC and  the applicant has been practising as a specialist in Oral Surgery in an EEA Member State for at least three consecutive years in the last five years
• Route 3 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded by an EEA Member State at any time which is not listed in Annex 1.
• Route 4 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded by the former German Democratic Republic.
• Route 5 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded by the former Soviet Union or the former Yugoslavia.
• Route 6 Specialist Oral Surgery qualification awarded from outside the UK.
• Route 7 Knowledge and experience in Oral Surgery derived from academic or research work.
• Route 8 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded from outside the EEA and has not been able to practise as a specialist in Oral Surgery in any EEA Member State as this qualification has not been recognised in another EEA Member State.
• Route 9 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral Surgery awarded from outside the EEA whose qualification has been recognized by an EEA Member State allowing them to practise as a specialist in Oral Surgery in that EEA State.
• Routes 10 and 11 ONLY applicable to those who hold a specialist qualification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Route 10 Exempt person with a specialist qualification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery awarded by an EEA Member State, where this specialist training was a minimum of three years in duration.
• Route 11 Registered as a specialist on the General Medical Council’s Register for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

For UK Graduates the only possible mediated entry route is route 7
NB experience  is not the deciding factor!!

What is the process?

• Apply to the GDC and specify which route applying under and submit evidence NB entry fee £345-00!!
• Initial application assessed by GDC-accepted-sent to SAC panel; rejected returned to applicant.
• SAC panel assesses the application and makes a recommendation to GDC
• GDC accepts recommendation and accepts or rejects applicant
• Appeal possible

The Assessment panel

• Comprised of three people (usually SAC Chair; past SAC Cahir and a third member)
• All panel members receive the paperwork
• Assess the applications independently
• Report the outcome to the Chair
• If any disagreements or concerns telephone discussions or face to face meeting.
• Panel Chair completes the GDC outcome form-Yes or No or further evidence required-form is very detailed and information sent back to the applicant.

What evidence is required?

• Equivalence of clinical training to the UK pre CCST NTN curriculum

This includes verified logbooks; WBAs; clinical timetables with designated supervisers for the appropriate duration of time e.g 3 years FTE

The range of cases treated must be equivalent to the curriculum for StRs and all treated cases must be assessed against the UK standards for completion of training e.g. capable of independent practice

• Equivalence of the “non-clinical” aspects to UK training

Audits; management and leadership training; CPD; understanding governance; NHS processes; safeguarding; probity; reflection and evidence of progressive PDPs; conference attendance; posters and presentations; relevant publications.

Route 7 Academic route evidence

• Applicants must again demonstrate the equivalence of training as before
• Experience of teaching is beneficial BUT does not preclude the demonstration of training.
• Further degrees and qualifications would be expected from a claim of academic excellence eg PhD; Masters etc
• Substantial peer reviewed publications on relevant topics
• Textbooks/textbook contributions

Publications

• Should be on a range of oral surgery topics eg 40 implant publications only demonstrate experience of one topic.
• Support demonstration of academic knowledge not necessarily clinical skills
• If few or no publications will not be accepted via an academic route!

Masters Degrees

• Very variable in the amount of clinical training eg 3 year programme but only two supervised clinical days per week is not equivalent
• Must include the syllabus and detailed time tables
• Must include verified clinical logbook
• Must include superviser details and verification of completion of the programme

Additional qualifications/examinations

• As the UK exit examinations generally do not allow “portfolio” entry-we cannot expect applicants to have completed them.
• Generalist qualifications eg MJDF;MFDS or equivalent carry little weight as they are desirable for entry onto a training programme not completion.
• Specialist oral surgery qualifications that are equivalent to the UK exit examination do count e.g FFD OS from Dublin; M Surg Dent
• FDS;FFD Oral surgery/oral medicine Dublin are not the equivalent and do not count in the assessment process

Supporting letters

• Actually guidance only requests names of trainers/programme directors
• Letters from Consultants stating experience again do not count
• Letters that support evidence of equivalence of training may count but require documentary proof.

To Summarise:-

Experience is not the same as training-you can have done over 500 surgicals all equally badly!  Training demonstrates skill improvement and competence.

• Check the clinical and non clinical curriculum of the specialty in detail
• Check the assessment strategy recommended
• Ensure that you can demonstrate complete equivalence in terms of training
• Provide comprehensive paperwork –this is about evidence
• Submit your full portfolio

Points to remember:-

• Mediated entry exists because of EU law
• It is not meant as a short cut to avoid completion of formal training
• It is a thorough and robust process
• If the evidence supplied demonstrates equivalence you will be recommended for entry on to the list
• Experience is not the same as training
• You do not need to be on a specialist list to practice in that specialty

Route remains open for EU colleagues (EU law)There are 11 different routes available.  Very specific requirements.  Appeal is possibleLegislation:-

Click on the links to go back to other options of being accepted onto the OS Specialist List:

Formal NTN Training

Grandfathering

Back to Training & Education Page