What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Dentist?
Enjoy a good number puzzle? You might be surprised how much problem-solving sits inside the qualifications for dentist training. Alongside top grades, most UK dental schools ask you to sit an aptitude test, and that’s usually where people’s questions start.
Below, we’ve answered the questions that come up most about the UCAT and the reasoning side of getting into dentistry. Requirements vary between dental schools, so always double-check the details with the universities you’re interested in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UCAT, and do I really need it?
The UCAT is the University Clinical Aptitude Test. It’s a computer-based test, and most UK dental schools ask applicants to take it. The National Careers Service puts it a little more cautiously, saying you may need to sit it, so check the entry pages for each school on your list.
If you’re asking yourself what qualifications do I need to be a dentist, it helps to see the UCAT as one piece of a longer route that also includes GCSEs, A Levels, a dental degree and supervised training.
What does the UCAT actually test?
It covers four areas: verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning and situational judgement. The National Careers Service describes it as assessing critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis and decision making, so the focus is firmly on how you reason.
At Pass Numerical Reasoning, we recommend getting to know the style of each section well before test day, so nothing about the format catches you off guard when it counts.
Where does numerical reasoning fit in?
Quantitative reasoning is the section most closely tied to working with numbers, and the National Careers Service’s mention of data analysis points the same way. Numbers matter, but they sit alongside verbal and judgement-based sections, so it’s worth preparing for all four.
If maths isn’t your favourite thing, give the quantitative section a bit of extra practice time rather than hoping it’ll sort itself out on the day. Little and often tends to feel far less daunting than one big cram.
When do I sit the UCAT?
You take it in the summer before you submit your UCAS application. That means it lands before your application goes in rather than after, so it needs to be part of your plans well ahead of time.
Do all dental schools use UCAT scores in the same way?
No. Some schools set cut-off scores, some rank candidates by their result, and others weigh the score up as one factor among several.
That’s why it pays to look at how each of your chosen schools uses the score before you decide where to apply. A result that suits one school’s approach might fit another’s less well.
Is the UCAT the only aptitude test I might face?
Not always. If you already have a relevant degree, some graduate-entry programmes use the GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) instead of, or alongside, the UCAT. This varies by school, so check before you start preparing.
Graduate-entry courses are accelerated four-year programmes for people with a relevant biomedical or science degree, and most schools ask for at least a 2:1 in that first degree.
Does school maths still matter if I’m good at aptitude tests?
It does. Most dental schools ask for six or more strong GCSEs, often at grade 7 or above, and one provider describes grade 6 in Maths as the minimum, with grade 7 preferred. For a breakdown of the GCSEs for aspiring dentists, including the sciences, a subject-by-subject guide is handy.
At A Level, Chemistry and Biology are usually expected, and Maths or Physics is valued by many universities as a third subject. If you’re still choosing, have a read about the best A Levels to become a dentist before you lock anything in.
Why do dental schools care so much about problem-solving?
Because it’s part of the job. The National Careers Service lists complex problem solving, logical reasoning and judgement, and thoroughness and attention to detail among the skills dentists need, along with computer skills. Universities also use A Levels to measure your problem-solving, especially in science.
Day to day, dentists plan treatment with patients, take X-rays and scans, and carry out work such as fillings, crowns and extractions. The National Careers Service dentist profile gives a fuller picture of the role.
What else is looked at besides tests and grades?
Applicants also face a multiple mini interview (MMI), and need an enhanced DBS check and occupational health clearance. A well-rounded CV and relevant work experience are recommended too. Competition for places is high, according to the National Careers Service, so every part of your application counts.
What if my grades need a boost before I reach the UCAT stage?
GCSE resits are presented as a credible way to strengthen an application, and adults can study A Levels too. If you’re weighing up courses from Pass Learn, the site offers online GCSE and A Level courses as well as private-candidate exam bookings.
It’s also worth thinking ahead to the cost of a five-year degree. GOV.UK has information on applying for student finance, including the Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan, and notes that applications take four weeks to process.
The UCAT can feel like the odd one out among the qualifications for dentist entry, but it’s really another chance to show how you think. Get to know each section, practise the numbers side regularly and keep your GCSE and A Level grades on track, and you’ll be giving your application a solid footing.
Pass Numerical Reasoning Team
We help thousands of students each year with revision, courses and online exams.
