Certified Practitioner
Nowadays, getting a qualification is not enough to show your capability at a more advanced level, and getting more qualifications is just not an appropriate step for many advanced practitioners in dentistry. We have the answer.
The College is working with stakeholders across the professional community to introduce a new system of credentialing – Certified Practitioner:
- specific to key areas of practice in primary care dentistry
- validating the skills that you have acquired
- demonstrating that you have acquired a wealth of experience in practice, over time
- showing that your experience is underpinned with sound foundations of knowledge
- re-certified every five years
- meeting a standard – there is not a competitive element to accreditation
Knowledge
Skills
Experience
For dentists
Our clinical credentialing is benchmarked against Level 2 complexity of treatment, and typically aligns with the capability demonstrated in an accredited, skills-based postgraduate diploma. The scheme in Endodontics will be launched in the next few weeks.
Certified Practitioner recognition will shortly be open to applications from both UK-based dentists and those practising elsewhere in the fields of practice below.
What evidence will be required for Certified Practitioner?
Criteria are being finalised, but are likely to be:
| Evidence | ||
| Logbook of cases | listing a minimum number of recent cases, citing clinical context & complexity, with reflection | Template logbook |
| Portfolio of cases | Assessed by case-based discussion | Template portfolio |
| Demonstration of practice suitability | Demonstrating practice in an appropriate environment | Clinical audit Multi-source feedback Patient survey |
| Training log and/or accredited qualification | Aligned to our syllabus specification | Certificates |
| Referees | Two Registrants confirming validity of the entire application | Letters of confirmation |
Sign in to your College Subscriber account to register your interest in applying when these schemes launch
College Members and College Subscribers can now register their interest in applying for each of the first three Certified Practitioner schemes for dentists. To be notified by email as soon as applications open, just sign into your account, click the relevant button(s) below, then click ‘register’.
Our credentialing in Endodontics will launch soon.
Our credentialing in Implant Dentistry will launch in 2026.
Our credentialing in Oral Surgery will launch in 2026.
Further credentials are also planned…
Other team roles
We are working to develop Certified Practitioner schemes of enhanced skills for all roles in the oral healthcare team, for roll-out from 2026.
