Closing date approaches for primary care diploma
by Guy Hiscott
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has reminded dentists interested in its diploma of primary care dentistry about this year’s key dates.
Applications close on 2 August, while the first sitting of the diploma will be held at RCSI in Dublin on 7 October 2013. The exam fee is €750.
The diploma has been approved by the Dental Council and the examination has been developed by the Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in collaboration with the Irish Dental Association and the Irish Faculty of Primary Dental Care.
Any queries can be directed to Emma Scally at escally@rcsi.ie or phone +353 1 402 8617. Candidates are also free to apply at https://postgradexams.rcsi.ie.
The Faculty will run an intensive two-day revision course for the diploma on 6 and 7 September. The course will be examination focused and provide helpful information and guidance for the diploma examination. It will be free of charge but dentists must register their intention to attend with the Faculty office at facdentistry@rcsi.ie.
Following this revision course there will be another opportunity to register for the October diet of the examination.
Candidates for the diploma examination are required to have completed a minimum of 12 months clinical practice following graduation. In addition it will be necessary to provide evidence of 50 CPD points over the previous 12 months.
There will be a strong clinical emphasis within both components of this examination, consisting of a multiple choice question paper and a clinical reasoning assessment (a written paper). This is a one-day examination. Candidates who are successful in the Dip PCD RCSI may enter the MFD Part 2 directly (and are exempt from the MFD Part 1) provided they meet all the requirements as set out in the regulations.
The RCSI diploma of primary care dentistry is also a stand alone qualification that can be taken by any dentist who is at least 12 months qualified and has complied with the regulations.
