Membership (MRACDS) in General Dental Practice
The MRACDS(GDP) Program is a two year structured educational learning program for qualified General Dentists, that aims to provide an ongoing high standard of patient management, diagnosis and treatment for the benefit of the community.
The MRACDS(GDP) Program is structured to enhance and support the acquisition of knowledge and skills of GDPs and provide a structured approach to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
MRACDS(GDP) is an achievable step to RACDS Membership and an alternate pathway towards obtaining Fellowship. On its own it is not a registrable qualification to practice dentistry in Australia or New Zealand.
| How To Apply |
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You will first need to subscribe to the College. |
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Once subscribed to the College you will then enrol in the MRACDS(GDP) Program.
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Find out all you need to know about General Dental Practice pathways in the GDP Handbook, or by emailing ellen.dunphy@racds.org. |
Definition of RACDS Membership (GDP)
It is a requirement of the MRACDS(GDP) that you must have graduated at least 3 years prior to enrolling into the program (2020 intake).
Membership is the first level of achievement in the progression of professional development with the RACDS.
A Member of the College:
1. Maintains high ethical standards and is a role model for others in the profession.
2. Is a skilled and highly competent practitioner who has a broad base of experience in general dental practice.
3. Has breadth and depth of comprehensive scientific knowledge relevant to the practice of dentistry.
4. Through comprehensive study and assessment has shown that this knowledge can be applied in clinical problem solving scenarios with proven ability in treatment planning and risk management that promotes better treatment outcomes.
The MRACDS(GDP) Program
The MRACDS(GDP) Program is a modular educational program for general dental practitioners (who have graduated at least 3 years prior to the program commencing) which supports the ongoing acquisition of knowledge and skills relevant to practice and provides a systematic approach to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The program is intended to be flexible and can be tailored to a candidate’s interests and schedule. Assessments are completed at a candidate’s own pace over a two year period. The program has a limited intake of 30 candidates per calendar year with places allocated on a ‘first-come first served’ basis.
The program runs from February to November each year with assessment rounds taking place three times per year in March, June and October. The program is predominantly self-directed with the onus of responsibility resting with the candidate to complete assessments and submit case reports. By the end of the program, candidates will have completed 120 hours of Continued Professional Development (CPD).
MRACDS(GDP) is an achievable step to RACDS Membership and an alternate pathway towards obtaining Fellowship.
The program comprises of:
- core modules (six compulsory subjects) which are assessed via eight Short Answer Questions (SAQs) per subject
- 120 hours of Continued Professional Development (CPD) over the course of the two year program
- 3 viva voce examinations at the completion of the 3 above assessments
Modules
Membership with the RACDS is a two year program comprising six core and three elective modules which are underpinned by:
- The equivalent of 120 hours appropriate CPD courses to underpin core and elective modules
- Selected reading and self-paced education
- Assessment components (open book short answer questions, case reports and a viva voce examination)
Core modules
The College has six core modules that are compulsory for the candidate to complete during MRACDS(GDP) assessment rounds. Assessment rounds take place three times per year. Core modules include the following:
- Clinical Examination Technique and Dental Imaging
- Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
- Infection Control
- Medical Emergencies
- Practice Management, Law, Ethics and Risk Management
- Therapeutics in Dentistry, Pain and Pain Management
There are eight open-book Short Answer Questions( SAQs) for each of the core modules. These questions are designed to be clinically relevant and appropriate for competent general dental practitioners. The SAQ’s include case-based scenarios and are structured to enable candidates to demonstrate their broad understanding of underlying principles and clinical relevance using valid scientific and clinical evidence.
Elective modules
Candidates must complete THREE elective modules, which focus on specialty interest areas of clinical dentistry. Elective modules are assessed via submission of one case report per elective that covers the candidate’s personal treatment of cases representing the broad range of issues covered in the chosen elective. The aim of the case report is to enable candidates to present their own clinical work and to reflect on the treatment provided.
Elective Modules include the following;
- Endodontics
- Periodontics
- Dentoalveolar Surgery
- Operative Dentistry and Prosthodontics
- Combined Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Special Needs Dentistry
- Combined Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Examples case studies are available for Endodontics, Periodontics, and Operative Dentistry.
There are 8 open-book short answer questions (SAQs) for each of the six (6) core modules. These questions are designed to be clinically relevant and appropriate for competent general dental practitioners.
Assessment rounds take place three times per year and are run over a period of five consecutive weekends per round. Candidates may apply for a maximum of one module per weekend for each assessment round and must nominate the date/s and module/s they wish to apply for one month prior to the round.
Assessment rounds
Candidates must complete 3 elective modules which focus on speciality interest areas of clinical dentistry. The three chosen elective modules are assessed via submission of one case report per elective that covers the candidate’s personal treatment of cases representing the broad range of issues covered in the chosen elective. The aim of this assessment component is to enable candidates to present their own clinical work and also to reflect on the treatment provided. It enables discussion of possible alternatives, modifications of treatment or issues raised during treatment.
Mentoring Program
An experienced mentor is provided for each MRACDS(GDP) candidate. The mentor will assist their candidate with professional guidance, advice and general support related to the program.
The MRACDS(GDP) mentoring pathways
Stage One
All candidates in the MRACDS(GDP) Program will be assigned a mentor from Orientation Day until the second assessment round. In this time, candidates are encouraged to seek mentoring advice on the program expectations and requirements, support and advice in locating relevant and appropriate resources, support in reviewing pre-assessment material and advice and support during assessment resubmission.
Stage Two
At the end of the following assessment round of the year (three months into the program for new candidates), candidates will be asked to choose one of the following options:
Opt-In – Long Term Mentoring
Candidates who would like to retain their mentoring relationship will be required to opt-in to long term mentoring. In this instance, candidates will maintain contact with their mentor on a regular basis (once every four weeks), for the duration of their time in the program. Long term mentoring will include support in all assessment areas including assessment rounds, case report submissions and viva voce preparation.
Opt-Out – Access to Short term mentoring
Candidates who choose to opt-out will be removed from the mentoring arrangement but will have access to short term, specific mentoring on request. Candidates who have an issue with a particular subject or require assistance with one aspect of the program (such as viva voce preparation) will be able to write to the College to request a mentor to assist with that particular area. The arrangement will be agreed on by both mentor and mentee, and the relationship will cease on completion of the task (i.e. assessment/case submission or viva voce) as arranged.
Conjoint Examination with the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong
Candidates undertaking the Membership in General Dentistry program with the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong, can elect to undertake a conjoint examination leading to the MRACDS(GDP).
