• Resize Text: decrease increase
  • Print

Registration of Displayable Qualifications

Display of qualifications/titles on clinical stationery

The purpose of registration of displayable additional qualifications is to indicate to the public and to other practitioners that, in addition to a primary qualification, a dental surgeon has acquired knowledge, skills or experience which is available for the benefit of patients.

Dental Surgeons should be encouraged to upgrade their knowledge, skills and experience, whether as General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) or after attaining specialist status. The qualification or title must indicate that the dental surgeon has achieved a genuine advancement in expertise and experience and provided the dental surgeon with a quantum leap in knowledge and expertise.  Acquired titles that are displayed should not be merely cosmetic.

As required under Section 31 of the Dental Registration Act, dental practitioners shall not use any qualification other than the qualifications which are entered in the Register of Dentists in respect of him, or which have been approved by the Council for his use. 

Recognised Displayable Qualifications (DQs)

Council has maintained a List of Displayable Qualifications (DQs) with abbreviations recognized to date. This list will be updated on regular basis.

Criteria for recognition

The criteria for recognition and registration of displayable qualifications (DQs) can be found in Revised Guidelines on the Display of Qualifications or Titles 2013.

To apply for registration of displayable qualifications

A dental surgeon seeking to display a qualification or title should apply in writing to the Singapore Dental Council. 

A criterion based application form is available to guide dental surgeons in the submission of qualifications or titles to SDC for display. The checklist should be completed and this should be accompanied by documentary verification.

Application for registration of displayable additional qualification can be made

(i)   

by mailing the completed APPLICATION FOR DISPLAY OF ADDITIONAL TITLES / QUALIFICATIONS and verified true copies of the higher degrees to the Singapore Dental Council. Verification of certificates can be done by the issuing institution or law firm or Council's officer (please bring along original certificate if request to be verified by Council's office)

Before you send in your application, kindly check if the additional qualification(s) is listed on the List of Displayable Qualifications with Abbreviations.

New qualifications

For qualifications that have not been previously accepted for registration by the Singapore Dental Council, the applicant is required to send in the completed Application for Approval for Display of Additional Titles together with verified true copy of your certificate(s). As the qualification has not been considered before, applicant will be required to provide additional  information:

(i)

Name of the conferring body for the additional postgraduate qualification;

(ii)

Is the conferring body recognized by the country's Dental Council, Accreditation Board or a relevant authority;

(iii)

The period of training required;

(iv)

The pre-requisites for admission to the course (e.g. does the conferring body / academy require a certain number of years of practice before the candidate is eligible);

(v)

A certified true copy of the certificate confirming the award of the qualification;

(vi)

Syllabus: subjects,  length of study, abstract of thesis (if relevant);

(vii)

Method of assessment (e.g. whether the candidate had to sit for a postgraduate specialty exam) and the criteria on which it is awarded;

(viii)

Proof of recognition of qualification in country of awarding body. Please state the name of the recognizing body;

(ix)

Can the qualification be displayed in the country of awarding body?

(x)

Is the qualification conferred eligible for specialist accreditation in the country of awarding body?

(xi)

Suggested abbreviation for additional qualification, if relevant (to provide evidence of the most widely recognized abbreviation for the qualification in the country of awarding body).
(xii) If the qualification involves a specialty recognised by the Dental Specialists Accreditation Board (DSAB), the applicant shall send the details of the qualification to the DSAB for certification that it fulfils the criteria for basic specialty training (BST). This certification from the DSAB must be submitted along with the application for registration of displayable qualification.

Fees for new qualifications

Qualifications that are not in the List of Displayable Qualifications must be submitted for assessment together with a non-refundable administrative fee of $50.

Once the new qualification is approved for entry into the List of Displayable Qualifications, a registration fee of $50 is payable before it is entered into the applicant's record.


Fees for qualifications on existing DQ listing

For qualifications that are on the List of Displayable Qualifications, a registration fee of $50 per qualification is payable on approval.

Additional qualifications not accepted for display

For additional qualifications that are not related to patient-care, Council recommends that they will not be accepted as displayable qualifications and should not be listed on their clinic stationery. Dentists, however, can include non-patient care qualifications or titles on their own business (not clinic) cards or stationery.

 
 
Last Updated :  15 May 2013 11:55