New Advice for International Dental Graduates (formerly known as Overseas Dentists) applying to work in NHS primary dental care services

As HEE and NHS England come together on 1 April 2023, agreement has been reached that all dental applications to join the NHS (England) (Dental) Performers List will be managed in accordance with the existing NHS England Policy for Managing Applications to join the England Performers Lists (published 11 February 2022). From this date all applicants who are not exempt from the requirement to undertake (dental) foundation training under Regulation 34 (4) (c) and who would previously have been assessed by the HEE Performers List Validation by Experience (PLVE) scheme will instead be invited to apply to the National Performers List (NPL) only. There will not be a separate ‘PLVE’ application form and no fee will be payable by any applicant to NHS England.

This process mirrors that already in place for EEA-qualified dentists and returners, and in addition to ensuring equitable treatment of all applicants, seeks to address perceived barriers to dentists from overseas joining the NHS primary care dental workforce.

If further training or extra support is identified during the process the NHS England Dental Advisor overseeing the application will seek advice from the Workforce Training & Education Directorate of NHSE (formerly HEE).

From 1^st April 2023 there will be a transitional phase to ensure that this streamlined process is managed effectively and safely until any amendment to the NHS Regulations is enacted.

The following principles will apply during the transition period:

• No fees will be payable to NHSE on or after 1st April 2023 regardless of where an applicant is in the process.
• There will be no reimbursement of fees paid prior to 1st April 2023.
• Applicants who have been included on the Performers List under the HEE PLVE route prior to 1st April 2023 will continue on that route and their portfolio will be assessed by former HEE colleagues.
• Applicants who have not been included by 1st April 2023 will be considered under the new route described above.

For applications to work as a dentist in England:

https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/services/performers-lists/dental-performers

For applications to work as a dentist in Wales:

Apply for Inclusion in the Dental Performers List – NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

For applications to work in Scotland:

https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/our-work/dental-vocational-training-number/