Are you planning to study dentistry in Australia? Dentistry has strong employment outcomes, with the 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey reporting that 93.3% of international undergraduate dentistry graduates and 85.6% of domestic undergraduate dentistry graduates were employed full time around 4 to 6 months after completing their course. Dental practitioners can also earn competitive salaries. Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 data lists median full-time earnings for dental practitioners at AUD 3,232 per week, or about AUD 168,000 per year before tax. Actual income depends on experience, location, hours worked, and practice type.
Aside from its high employability and good salary, dentistry is also a popular choice because it is a rewarding career that involves serving and treating people. It is a branch of medicine that focuses on maintaining oral health and treating mouth- and teeth-related problems. Dentists use their knowledge and skills to prevent, diagnose, and treat dental concerns, keeping people well and supporting an important part of daily life.
Dentistry can also be a challenging field because it requires technical competence and manual dexterity, which is the ability to use one’s hands and move precisely. Becoming a dentist and providing services is not easy. It requires lectures, training, clinical placements, and examinations, making it a competitive field. Finishing all these requirements can make dentistry both a rewarding and fulfilling career.
Here are some of the steps to become a dentist in Australia.
How to Become a Dentist in Australia
Step 1. Choose the Right University Pathway For You
There are two main directions that you can take at the beginning of your dentistry path. Option A is to pursue a combined pathway, such as the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine double degree at the University of Sydney. This is a seven-year full-time pathway for high-achieving school leavers and includes a three-year Bachelor of Science component followed by a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine component.
Option B is to complete an eligible bachelor’s degree and then apply for graduate-entry dentistry, such as a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Dental Surgery program, or to apply for an undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery at a university that accepts your academic background. Entry requirements vary by university and may include GPA requirements, prerequisite subjects, English language requirements, admissions tests such as GAMSAT or UCAT ANZ, written assessments, and interviews.
Step 2. Complete the Foundation Studies Course
Not every international student has to complete a Foundation Studies Program. Some international students who do not meet direct-entry requirements may use a foundation or preparation program before applying to their degree. These programs are designed to prepare students for university-level study and help them adjust to the Australian education system. At the University of Sydney, for example, preparation programs can be completed in 40 to 52 weeks. Students should confirm whether a foundation pathway is accepted for dentistry at their target university because dentistry courses often have limited places and additional selection criteria.
Step 3. Get Admitted to Your Dentistry Program
Admission to dentistry is competitive, and requirements differ by university. For example, Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery requires applicants to meet academic and prerequisite requirements, sit the UCAT ANZ, and attend an interview if invited. Final ranking includes UCAT, interview, and academic results. James Cook University also lists prerequisite subjects and special entry requirements for its Bachelor of Dental Surgery. If you do not gain admission on your first attempt, you may consider a related degree and reapply, but transfer or credit into dentistry is not guaranteed. Some programs require all students to start in Year 1.
Step 4. Complete and Excel in Your Dentistry Program
This is, of course, an essential step to becoming a dentist in Australia. The Bachelor of Dental Surgery program is commonly designed to be completed full time in five years. It combines theoretical and clinical learning to develop students’ dental knowledge and practical skills. One of the schools in Australia with this program is James Cook University. This school provides students with support from experienced dental professionals, a dental teaching complex, a clinical simulation laboratory, and extensive supervised clinical placements.
The University of Adelaide is also associated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery pathway, with current course information published by Adelaide University for new intakes. The degree is full-time only and is structured around a holistic, preventive-based approach. Students build clinical experience from the first year, use facilities such as the Dental Simulation Clinic, and complete placements in settings such as Adelaide Dental Hospital, metropolitan community clinics, and rural South Australia.
Step 5. Register with the Dental Board of Australia
Upon graduation from an approved dentistry program, students must register with the Dental Board of Australia before clinical practice. Ahpra is the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which works with the National Boards to regulate registered health practitioners in Australia. It is involved in practitioner registration, registration renewal, and public safety standards for health professions.
Overseas-qualified dentists who are not eligible for general registration may be eligible to apply for limited registration for postgraduate training, supervised practice, teaching, or research. Limited registration is not automatic, and applicants must follow Dental Board of Australia and Ahpra requirements.
Step 6. Re-register Annually to Continue Practicing
Renewal of registration with the Dental Board of Australia is required each year to continue practicing. Dental practitioners must complete at least 60 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) over a three-year cycle. Current CPD expectations include at least 48 hours of clinically or scientifically based activities, with up to 12 hours allowed for non-scientific activities. The objective of CPD activities is to maintain high-quality patient care in dentistry.
Dentists can work in various settings, including private practice, community health services, hospitals, education, research, the Australian Defence Force, and public health settings. Some dentists may also pursue international or humanitarian work, subject to local licensing and organizational requirements.
Step 7. Pursue Postgraduate Studies
A career in dentistry opens several opportunities even after graduation. Postgraduate dental courses are an optional additional step for dentists in Australia and can prepare graduates for more advanced training or specialization in a specific area of expertise.
Admission requirements vary depending on the program, but specialist pathways usually require a Dental Board-recognized dental qualification, registration or eligibility for registration, and at least two years of general dental practice. Areas can include oral medicine, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, special needs dentistry, dental public health, and implant-related study.
Overall, the university study component for general registration usually takes five to seven years after high school: five years for many Bachelor of Dental Surgery programs, or about seven years through a bachelor’s degree plus a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Dental Surgery, including integrated double-degree pathways. Specialist pathways may take longer because they commonly require at least two years of general dental practice followed by postgraduate clinical study. Tuition costs vary widely by university and year. Recent published international fee examples for dentistry are often in the high five figures to over AUD 100,000 per year, before living costs, health cover, and incidental fees, so students should check current fees directly with each university before applying.
We hope this article on the steps to becoming a dentist in Australia was informative and helpful. To learn more about studying abroad, check out the Study in Australia and Available Programs for International Students!
