Dental Recruitment

Dental Foundation Training

Recruitment to Dental Foundation Training is undertaken nationally.

Please visit the NHS England website for further information to include timelines and eligibility information Applicant guide | Dental Hub.

For further information in relation to Dental Foundation Training please visit the COPDEND website, Home - COPDEND.

For more information on Dental Foundation Training within Northern Ireland please visit Dental Foundation Training.

The Dental Foundation Training Team can be contacted on dentalfoundation.nimdta@hscni.net

The Dental Core Training (DCT) national application process is now open. For enquiries in relation to this recruitment process please email DCTNRO@hee.nhs.uk

Applications for Dental Core Training posts should be made through Oriel - Home where you will also find post information.

For further information in relation to Dental Core recruitment please visit the NHS England website Dental Core Training (DCT) | Dental Hub

Further information regarding Dental Core Training can be found at Dental Core Training Recruitment - COPDEND

Further information for DCT Recruitment’

Further information for DCT Recruitment 26-27

Belfast Trust Restorative Paediatric DCT1 2026-27

Belfast Trust Paeds Ortho DCT2 2026-27

Belfast Trust Paeds Ortho DCT1 2026-27

Belfast Trust OS, OM DCT3 2026-27

Belfast Trust OS, OM DCT1 2026-27

Belfast Trust 2 year Longitudinal OS OM OMFS DCT1 & DCT2 2026-27

Western Trust OMFS Ortho DCT2 2026-27

Western Trust OMFS Ortho DCT1 2026-27

Western Trust OMFS DCT3 2026-27

Western Trust OMFS DCT2 2026-27

Western Trust 2 year longitudinal OMFS, OS & OM DCT1 & DCT2 2026-27

SE Trust OMFS DCT3 2026-27

SE Trust OMFS DCT2 2026-27

SE Trust OMFS DCT1 2026-27

SE Trust 2 years Longitudinal OMFS DCT1 & DCT2 2026-27

Belfast Trust Restorative Special Care DCT3 2026-27

Belfast Trust Restorative Special Care DCT2 2026-27

Why Choose Dental Core Training As A Career

For further information in relation to DCT recruitment please visit the following link: Dental Core Training (DCT) | dental.hee.nhs.uk.

The National Certification of Equivalence to Dental Core Training Year 2 Competencies

A process has been developed to facilitate applications to Specialty Training posts from individuals who have not followed a standard UK training pathway (Dental Foundation, Dental Core Training). The process can also be used by applicants for DCT3 posts if they have not already undertaken a DCT2 post.

For further information on this process please visit Dental DCT2 Equivalence | NHS Education for Scotland

Applications for Dental Specialty Training posts should be made through Oriel - Home where you will also find post information.

For further information in relation to Dental Specialty recruitment please visit the NHS England website, Dental Specialty Training (DST) | Dental Hub.

Further information regarding Dental Specialty Training can be found at Home - COPDEND.

The National Certification of Equivalence to Dental Core Training Year 2 Competencies

A process has been developed to facilitate applications to Specialty Training posts from individuals who have not followed a standard UK training pathway (Dental Foundation, Dental Core Training). The process can also be used by applicants for DCT3 posts if they have not already undertaken a DCT2 post.

For further information on this process please visit Dental DCT2 Equivalence | NHS Education for Scotland.

For further information in relation to national Specialty training posts, to include timelines and Person Specifications, please visit the Dental Specialty Training hub.

Applications Now Open

Applications for the post of Educational Supervisor in the Northern Ireland Dental Foundation Training (DFT) Scheme for the 2026-27 training year are now open and will close on Friday 16 January 2026 at 12:00.

Please note that the NIMDTA Educational Supervisor recruitment is a three-stage process. Applicants must successfully pass stages one and two to proceed to an interview at stage three. This means you will only be invited to attend interview if these aspects are deemed satisfactory.

Application Process for New Educational Supervisors

• Stage One: Completion and return of the online Application form available via HSC Jobs along with the associated Practice Profile & Practice Assessment Information Form available via Microsoft Forms.
• Stage Two: Involves the assessment of your practice as a suitable physical environment for a Foundation Dentist.  Assessments are carried out by a member of the NIMDTA dental team and a NIMDTA Dental Assessor.
• Stage Three: Invitation to formal online interview.

Application Process for Returning Educational Supervisors

• Stage One: Complete the Returning Educational Supervisor Form via Microsoft Forms (this will be emailed to you).
• Stage Two: Complete the Practice Profile & Practice Assessment Information Form available via Microsoft Forms.
• Stage Three: Practice assessment certificates are valid for three years.  A practice visit will therefore be arranged to take place in line with these criteria.

Applicants Guide & Practice Assessment

Please refer to the Applicants Guide and Practice Assessment Document available below, for further information:

Applicants Guide for Educational Supervisor Recruitment

Practice Assessment Document

Introduction to Dental Foundation Training Session

An Introduction to Dental Foundation Training session will be held via Microsoft Teams on Monday 15 December 2025 in the evening. The session offers new applicants a chance to acquire valuable insights and information about the Dental Foundation Training scheme. To secure a place please email dentalfoundation.nimdta@hscni.net.

Educational Supervisor Recruitment Timeline

• Applications Open: Monday 01 December 2025
• Introduction to Dental Foundation Training (Optional for New Applicants): Monday 15 December 2025
• Applications Close: Friday 16 January 2026
• Practice Assessments: Tuesday 03, Wednesday 04 and Thursday 05 February 2026, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 February 2026.
• Interview Preparation Course: Tuesday 10 March 2026 (Evening)
• Interviews: Tuesday 24 March 2026
• Appointment Panel: Tuesday 14 April 2026
• Appointment Outcomes Issued: Monday 20 April - Tuesday 21 April 2026 *Please note Educational Supervisors appointed to train will have 72hrs from notification of appointment to confirm acceptance.*
• New Educational Supervisor Induction (Compulsory): Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May 2026
• All Educational Supervisor Induction Day 1 (Compulsory): Friday 19 June 2026
• All Educational Supervisor Induction Day 2 (Compulsory): Tuesday 08 September 2026

Further Information

Please contact the Dental Foundation Team by email DentalFoundation.nimdta@hscni.net if you require any further information.

Applicants will be required to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work status and complete a right to work check. 

Further information about this requirement will be forwarded in due course by the Professional Support and Wellbeing team. 

All trainees requiring sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route must complete an ‘Application for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)’, which can be accessed at Immigration (nimdta.gov.uk. 

If you have any queries in relation to sponsorship, please contact immigration.nimdta@hscni.net