Licence in Dental Surgery Part 2

Exam overview

The Licence in Dental Surgery Part 2 is the second part of a three-part exam for dentists who trained outside the UK and whose qualifications are not recognised for the purposes of UK registration. It will test your knowledge, skills and behaviours against the General Dental Council’s Safe Practitioner Framework. 

After you pass all three parts of the LDS, you can apply for registration with the GDC. You can also apply for enrolled membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS). This gives you professional recognition, access to useful resources, and opportunities to connect with other dental professionals. 

To sit the Part 2, you must have passed the LDS Part 1 within the past five years. 

Licence in Dental Surgery Part 1 Licence in Dental Surgery Part 2 Licence in Dental Surgery Part 3
  • £1,575.00
£1,575.00
Upcoming exam dates

Eligibility

All candidates must scan and email these documents to DentalEligibility@rcseng.ac.uk:

1. LDS Part 1:

  • Provide proof of your LDS Part 1 exam pass within the last five years.

2. Primary dental qualification:

  • Non-EEA university graduates: Provide proof of your dental qualification and a NARIC certificate. You must also send certificates showing that your studies meet the standards in the “Safe Practitioner Framework” (General Dental Council, 2023). A NARIC certificate is not needed if you already have valid temporary registration with the GDC.
  • EEA university graduates: Provide proof of your dental qualification. This should include certificates of courses you completed and exams you passed. Your qualification must be recognised by the GDC for full registration in the UK.
  • UK undergraduate dental students: Provide proof that you completed a five-year dental course recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) and passed your final exams. You must also be registered with the GDC.

3. Clinical experience

Provide a completed LDS Clinical Reference Form that shows you have at least 1,600 hours of clinical experience where you personally treated patients in a dental chair. This experience can come from your dental degree, work after qualification, or both. It must be from the period just before you take Part 2 of the exam.

4. English language requirements

Provide proof of your English language ability. We accept Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

You do not need to take these tests if you are an EEA national, have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or have completed your dental degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) at a UK institution. Provide proof that you are exempt with a scanned copy of your degree certificate.

5. Good standing

Send a Letter or Certificate of Good Standing from the dental authority where you last worked (and from where you qualified if different). If you cannot get this, you can send a witnessed affidavit or affirmation. It must explain why you cannot get the document and confirm that you are allowed to practise dentistry.

6. Character reference

Provide a completed LDS Character Reference Form. Your referee must sign the LDS application form after you have completed sections 1-4 and signed the form. The date the referee signs must not be earlier than the date you have signed. The referee must be a registered professional and must not be a relative.

7. Name change 

If the name on your application is different from the name on your documents, you must provide proof of your name change (for example, a marriage certificate).

Licence in Dental Surgery LDS

Exam format

The LDS Part 2 is a face-to-face exam, sat over two days, and is made up of two sections:

1. Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)

  • 12 stations, each lasting seven minutes
  • Assesses communication and clinical skills

2. Structured clinical reasoning examination (SCR)

  • Six 20-minute SCR cases
  • SCR replaces the “unseen case exam” from June 2026 and is delivered as structured discussions with examiners
  • Assesses diagnosis, management planning, and treatment planning 

All parts of the exam are in English.

For more information about the LDS Part 2 please read our Candidate Guidance.

Syllabus, registration process and results

Syllabus

The LDS exam assesses the outcomes in the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework. To pass the exam, you will need to demonstrate these outcomes at the level of a safe Day One BDS-qualified dentist. They include:

Clinical knowledge and skills

  • Clinical knowledge and its application to patient management
  • Clinical/Technical Skills

Interpersonal skills

  • Effective communication
  • Teamwork and wellbeing of others

Professionalism

  • Ethics and integrity
  • Leadership
  • Social accountability

Self-management

  • Insight
  • Reflection, continued and self-directed learning
  • Adaptability, well-being, and personal growth
  • Organisation and time management

The LDS syllabus shows exactly which outcomes are assessed in the LDS Part 2.

Registration process

Step 1: complete an online booking and payment

Eligible candidates can select an exam date from the list below. When booking opens, complete the online form and make payment on Eventbrite.

Places are limited and the booking window may close early once full.

Step 2: complete your eligibility checks

After you’ve booked your place, scan and email your eligibility documents.

You must send all required documents within two weeks after you book. If we do not receive them on time, you will be withdrawn from the exam and will not receive a refund. We do not accept documents by post.

Once you have sent all documents, you do not need to send a follow-up email.

Applying for reasonable adjustments

If you need reasonable adjustments for your exam (for example due to dyslexia, disability, or a health condition), select the reasonable adjustment option in the online application form.

You must also upload a supporting report or letter from an appropriate professional (for example a psychologist, psychiatrist, doctor, or specialist service).

If this is your first time applying for that adjustment, you must email your report after booking.

We can only provide adjustments that are clearly stated in your report.

For more information, read the Reasonable Adjustment Policy.

Next steps

We will send your admission letter via email at least six weeks before your exam. This letter will confirm the venue address, registration time, and exam date.

You must bring your admission letter email and proof of identity to the exam. Acceptable proof of identity must include your name, signature, and photograph, for example:

  • A current passport
  • A driver’s license

Results

You will receive your results by email around four weeks after your exam. This email will show your overall result, your unseen cases result, and your OSCE result.

A full breakdown of your results will then be available in your RCS England online account within two weeks of this first email. You will also receive a PDF by email at the same time.

You must pass both the OSCE and SCR components in the same sitting to pass the LDS Part 2 exam. If you are unsuccessful, you can re-sit the exam twice, up to a maximum of three attempts overall.

Withdrawal and refund policy

If you wish to withdraw from the exam, you may or may not be entitled to a full or partial refund according to the guidelines outlined in our refund policy.

Please familiarise yourself with this policy before applying for an exam seat to ensure a smooth and easy withdrawal process.

Upcoming exam dates

The LDS Part 2 exam is held in RCS England (London, UK) unless otherwise stated. Bookings will be taken via Eventbrite and more information will follow closer to the respective booking windows.

LDS Part 2 June 2026

Applications closed | Exam date: 10 and 12 June 2026 | Exam fee: £1575

LDS Part 2 July 2026

Applications closed | Exam date: 7 to 11 July 2026 | Exam fee: £1575

The LDS is undergoing a pricing restructure which is reflected in increased fees for examinations taking place from September 2026 onwards.

LDS Part 2 September 2026

Applications open: 18 May 2026 | Exam date: 22 to 26 September 2026 | Exam fee: £1793

Book your place through Eventbrite

LDS Part 2 November 2026

Applications open: 3 August 2026 | Exam date: 17 to 21 November 2026 | Exam fee: £1793

The Part 2 exam involves two components which must be sat on separate days and candidates will need to be available for two days in this range.

Dates and fees may be subject to change. Please check back regularly for updates.

Regulations

Candidates must read the exam regulations document before taking the exam. If a candidate breaks the rules or behaves in a way that affects the exam, they may be stopped from taking the exam or asked to leave.

No electronic devices, books, notes, or unauthorised writing tools are allowed in the exam room. If these rules are broken, the items will be taken away, the candidate will be removed from the exam, and the exam fee will not be refunded.

Any suspected plagiarism will be handled under the College’s suspected candidate misconduct procedure.

Regulations and guidance

Read next

Dental Courses
We offer a range of dental courses, from FDS exam preparation to diplomas, across all the dental specialties.
Surgical Exams FAQ
On this page we provide answers to frequently asked questions about RCS exams, such as how to apply, who to contact and when you will receive your certificate.
Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS)
The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) is a professional body committed to enabling dental surgeons to achieve and maintain excellence in practice and patient care.
Exams Guidance
General candidate guidance in relation to applying for surgical and dental exams administered by the Royal College of Surgeons.

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