Guidance for education providers seeking to establish new dental schools in the UK has been published by the General Dental Council (GDC).

This move will assist education providers in applying for Dental Authority Status (DAS), a prerequisite for offering dental degree programmes that lead to a registrable degree in dentistry in the UK.

Stefan Czerniawski, executive director of strategy at the GDC, said, "With the current focus on addressing dental workforce challenges across the UK, we're seeing increased interest from education providers wishing to establish new dental schools.

“This guidance demonstrates our commitment to supporting potential providers through the process of obtaining DAS. By providing clear information, we aim to help institutions to understand and navigate the requirements efficiently."

Developed in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and reviewed by the Privy Council and the Dental Schools Council, the guidance document explains the application timescales and requirements, including the submission process.

The document aims to provide greater clarity for education providers, offering detailed, step-by-step guidance to navigating the submission process.

For more information visit https://www.gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/dental-education/quality-assurance

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