To be eligible to enter the diploma exam, all candidates must fulfill one or more of the following criteria:

• have completed at least two and half years continuous full-time (or part-time equivalent i.e. not less than half time over a maximum of six consecutive years) of a SAC-approved training programme and possess a training number allocated by the regional postgraduate dental dean/director. Award of the Bi-Collegiate Membership in Orthodontics is dependent also on evidence that the successful candidate has completed a period of three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) recognised specialty training.
  
  
• have completed two and a half years full-time (or part-time equivalent i.e. not less than half time over a maximum of six consecutive years) of the three-year training programme associated with a UK or Ireland university masters or doctorate degree course formally approved by the Faculties of Dental Surgery through the meeting of the specialty membership examinations executive. Candidates who have MJDF/MFDS/MFD or FDS will be exempt from a part 1 Applied Basic Science examination where such an examination exists.
  
  
• be registered as a specialist in the UK, having been admitted to the specialist list i) through the transitional arrangements, ii) by the provisions which permit entry to the specialist list on the basis of specialist qualifications obtained in the EEA or overseas or iii) on the basis of academic achievement.
  
  
• in the case of dentists who have completed specialty training overseas or in the EEA and have MJDF/MFDS/MFD or FDS or a part 1 Applied Basic Science examination where it exists and have successfully completed a programme of specialist training formally approved by the Faculties of Dental Surgery through the Meeting of the Specialty Memberships Examinations Executive and have been awarded the appropriate specialist qualification or certificate by their university or licensing body.
  
  
• in the case of dentists who have completed at least two and a half years continuous full-time (or part-time equivalent i.e. not less than half time over a maximum of six consecutive years) of specialty training overseas or in the EEA in a programme of specialist training formally approved by the Faculties of Dental Surgery through the Meeting of the Specialty Memberships Examinations Executive award of the Bi-Collegiate Membership in Orthodontics is dependent also on evidence that the successful candidate has completed a period of three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) recognized specialty training.
  
  
• where a part 1 Applied Basic Science examination exists dentists who have been qualified and in clinical practice for a minimum of two years may enter this part alone separately from entering and sitting the rest of the membership examination.

A three-hour multiple choice/multiple short answer paper relating to any part of the syllabus

• Candidates who have successfully passed the part 1 MOrth examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh will be exempt from this section.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) section

This section of the exam will normally comprise a minimum of 13 OSCE stations with appropriate rest stations. The objectives are that successful candidates will possess the following attributes:         

1. good communication skills
2. ability to analyse and interpret diagnostic information and material
3. demonstrate practical skills normally undertaken as part of clinical practice
4. interpret and appraise data from publications
5. apply appropriate decision making in clinical situations           

Structured clinical reasoning section 

This section consists of two sessions of one hour’s duration. A total of four cases will be examined overall. In each session, candidates will be presented with the records of two cases for diagnosis and treatment planning. Clinical photographs, study models and radiographs will be provided. Candidates will be allocated fifteen minutes to examine the patient records followed by a fifteen minute oral examination on each case.

Case presentation section

Presentation of the case records of three cases treated personally by the candidate. This component of the exam is intended to illustrate the candidate’s ability to treat a range of orthodontic problems to a high standard and to demonstrate an understanding of the principles underlying the treatment. The three cases must have had the majority of treatment completed by the candidate. The candidate must be able to demonstrate that they have made a substantial contribution to the treatment of the cases and it must be made clear in the case records which elements, if any, have been undertaken by other clinicians. Two cases, selected by examiners, will be discussed in-depth and the duration of this part of the examination will be thirty minutes.