The College has launched fellowships for each role in the wider dental team.
Recognising professional accomplishment in clinical and other areas of practice, the new fellowships are:
- Fellowship in Dental Nursing – FDN (CGDent)
- Fellowship in Orthodontic Therapy – FOT (CGDent)
- Fellowship in Dental Hygiene – FDH (CGDent)
- Fellowship in Dental Therapy – FDTher (CGDent)
- Fellowship in Dental Technology – FDTech (CGDent)
- Fellowship in Clinical Dental Technology – FCDT (CGDent)
The launch of the new fellowships represents a significant advance in the professional recognition available to members of the wider dental team.
It is also the latest stage in the fulfilment of the College’s founding ambition to promote and develop the whole team, and follows the recent inauguration of Deans to lead its Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy, Faculty of Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy and Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology & Dental Technology.
Every registered Dental Care Professional is eligible to join the College as an Associate Member. Those holding a recognised and relevant Postgraduate Certificate may join as (or upgrade to become) a Full Member (MCGDent), and those satisfying any one of the College’s five fellowship domains (see below) can qualify as an Associate Fellow (AssocFCGDent).
The six new fellowships are open to dental professionals with at least ten years’ experience in practice who fulfil the requirements of any two of the College’s fellowship domains. Each domain has a range of possible routes to eligibility. Example routes are in the following table:
| Fellowship domain | Summary / example routes |
| Clinical & Technical | Recognised and relevant PgDip or Master’s degree |
| Teaching & Assessment | FHEA or FAcadMEd or |
| PgCert in Dental, Medical or Clinical Education plus 3 years’ service in a recognised role or | |
| 8 years’ service in a recognised role plus either 27 hours’ relevant and recent CPD or FDTFEd | |
| Leadership, Management & Clinical Governance | Diploma-level leadership qualification or |
| Certificate-level leadership qualification plus 3 years’ leadership experience or | |
| 3 years’ senior leadership experience plus 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD | |
| Research & Publications | PhD or |
| Master’s degree including a research dissertation worth 30+ credits or | |
| 5+ peer-reviewed articles published in MEDLINE-indexed publications or Dental Update | |
| Law & Ethics | PgCert or PgDip in a legally-related subject relevant to dentistry plus 1 year’s experience in a relevant role or |
| 5 years’ experience in a relevant role plus 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD |
A Fellow in Dental Nursing, Orthodontic Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Dental Therapy, Dental Technology or Clinical Dental Technology may also become a College Fellow (FCGDent) should they meet the requirements of a third fellowship domain. Fellowship for dentists is only available in the form of College Fellowship, requiring satisfaction of three domains.
Fellows are senior members of the College, with their Fellowship marking them out as ‘Accomplished Practitioners’ on the College’s Career Pathway. Providing leadership and support to the development of dentistry, they can attend the College’s biannual Fellows’ Receptions, and have the opportunity for ceremonial admission by the President.
In addition to enhanced professional standing, Fellows and Associate Fellows of the College receive a reduction in their dental indemnity fees with Dental Protection. They can also enrol on a one year, part-time, distance learning MSc in General Dental Practice (which in itself satisfies the Research & Publications domain of fellowship).
All College members receive quarterly print issues of the Primary Dental Journal, the only peer-reviewed professional development journal dedicated to general dental practice, as well as free or heavily discounted access to live CPD events, study days and networking opportunities.
Dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists all receive a one-third discount on the College’s standard membership fees. Dental nurses receive a two-thirds discount, as do retired members and overseas practitioners.
There is no fee for applying to become a Fellow, and existing members who successfully upgrade will only start paying the applicable higher membership fee from their next annual renewal.
Full details of the College’s fellowship domains, and a link to apply for the relevant Fellowship, are available via the button below: