How to become a dentist in Australia.
The full pathway to becoming a registered general dentist in Australia — undergraduate vs graduate-entry programs, ATAR / UCAT requirements, AHPRA registration, the PGY1 year, and how specialisation works for the dentists who stay in training another 3–5 years.
Step-by-step: how to become a dentist
- 1
Choose undergraduate or graduate-entry
Undergraduate: 5-year BDS / BDSc from Year 12 (UAdelaide, UQ, JCU, La Trobe, Charles Sturt). Graduate-entry: 4-year DDM / DMD after a bachelor's degree (USyd, UMelb, UWA, Griffith). Graduate-entry is more competitive but lets you complete a different undergrad first.
- 2
Meet entry test requirements
Undergraduate programs require UCAT (or ISAT for international applicants) plus strong ATAR (typically 95+). Graduate-entry programs require GAMSAT plus a competitive WAM in your prior degree. All programs add interviews.
- 3
Complete the dental degree
Heavy clinical placements from Year 2 or 3. Final year is essentially full-time supervised practice. Final exams are clinical, oral and written.
- 4
Register with AHPRA and complete PGY1
Most graduates spend Year 1 either in salaried public health (Dental Health Services Victoria, NSW Health, Queensland Health) or as a salaried associate in private practice. This builds clinical confidence and an indemnity track record before moving to commission.
- 5
Move to commission-based associate or pursue specialty
From Year 2 most dentists move to a commission split (typically 40–45% of net billings in 2026). Alternatively, apply for specialty training (3 years registrar): endodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, paediatrics, prosthodontics, public health. Specialty training is highly competitive.
- 6
Optional: principal / practice ownership
5–10 years in, many dentists buy into or build a practice. Ownership is the largest single income multiplier — but adds business, HR and compliance load.
Courses and qualifications
| Course | Provider | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS / BDSc) | UAdelaide, UQ, JCU, La Trobe, Charles Sturt | 5 years full-time | CSP ~$11,800/yr; full-fee international ~$70k–95k/yr |
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM / DMD) | USyd, UMelb, UWA, Griffith | 4 years full-time (graduate-entry) | Commonwealth Supported or full-fee; full-fee ~$80k–95k/yr |
Specialty training (DClinDent / DCD) Competitive entry; specialty income premiums are large (often 2–4× general). | UMelb, USyd, UAdelaide, UQ | 3 years full-time | $60,000 – $90,000+ total |
Course pricing reflects 2026 AU intake. Confirm fees directly with the provider before enrolment.
Day in the life
Most general dentists work 4–5 day weeks, 8 patients per session in 30–60 minute appointments, mixing exam / hygiene reviews, restorative work, extractions, endodontics, prosthodontics and treatment planning. The administrative overhead — notes, recalls, treatment plan discussions, insurance — is heavier than students expect.
It's a good fit if
- You want a clinical career with high autonomy and the option of business ownership
- You enjoy fine-motor / spatial-reasoning work and fast clinical decision-making
- You're prepared for 5+ years of study and lifelong CPD
- You can handle the financial risk of independent practice (most dentists end up here eventually)
The hard parts
- 5-year degree (or 4-year graduate-entry on top of an undergrad)
- AHPRA registration, indemnity and ongoing CPD
- Physical strain (neck, back, shoulders) is a major mid-career risk
- Income variability — commission roles depend on patient flow and case acceptance
Where the career goes from here
Common paths: associate → senior associate → principal / practice owner; specialty registrar (endo, ortho, OMS, perio, paeds, pros); academic / teaching roles; group dental ownership (DSO); international locum or military service.
Market outlook (2026)
General dentist supply tightened across regional AU in 2024–26, with rural locum day rates breaking $1,800/day in shortage-zone postcodes. Specialty supply remains structurally short of demand. Metro associate roles competitive but commission terms have softened.