Membership (MRACDS) in General Dental Practice

The MRACDS(GDP) Program is a two year structured educational learning program for qualified General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), 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

1. You will first need to subscribe to the College.

2. Once subscribed to the College you will then enrol in the MRACDS(GDP) Program.

3. Find out all you need to know about General Dental Practice pathways in the GDP Handbook, or by emailing ellen.dunphy@racds.org.

Fees

Membership - General Dental Practice (GDP) 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 Fees (in AUD)
Assessment & Examination	Overseas Resident	Australian Resident
Subscription (valid for 6 years)	661.82#	728.00*
Assessment fee (payable at start of year 1 and 2)	3,000.00#	3,000.00#
Viva voce examination Enrolment	713.00#	713.00#
Admission to Membership	320.91#	353.00*
Annual fee (FY 01/07/18 to 30/6/19)	624.55#	687.00*

Definition of RACDS Membership (GDP)

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.

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.

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).

Other Fees

Membership - General Dental Practice (GDP) 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 Fees (in AUD)
Assessment & Examination	Overseas Resident	Australian Resident
Subscription	661.82#	728.00*
Assessment fee (payable at start of year 1 and 2)	3,000.00#	3,000.00#
Program extension fee (for candidates commencing 2016 onward)	3,000.00#	3,000.00#
Repeat module fee	605.00#	605.00#
Viva voce examination Enrolment	713.00#	713.00#
Appeal fee	6,000.00*	6,000.00*
Admission to Membership	320.91#	353.00*
Annual fee (FY 01/07/17 to 30/6/18)	612.73#	674.00*
Annual fee (FY 01/07/18 to 30/6/19)	624.55#	687.00*
Notes Subscription is valid for a period of six (6) years and is not refundable. Fees marked with asterisk (*) denote GST inclusive. Fees marked with pound/hash (#) denote GST free. The annual fee is payable on the 1st day of July each year. All unpaid annual fees by the 31st of August each year will attract a monthly late payment surcharge. Members or Fellows who are elected to Membership or Fellowship during the year will pay a pro rata annual fee based on the whole months remaining in the financial year (FY). The MRACDS(GDP) Program is designed as a two-year program of self-directed learning and assessment. The Program Extension Fee applies to candidates who extend beyond the two years recommended program length. For more information, please refer to the RACDS General Dental Practice (GDP) Handbook and other relevant policies (including refunds) which are available on the website.
Disclaimer Whilst all due care is taken to ensure that all information contained herein is correct at the time of publication, the RACDS makes no warranties in respect of inadvertent errors or omissions. The RACDS reserves the right to revise these fees and other information from time to time, as well as amend the dates of examinations, courses and workshops whenever conditions warrant. Where these activities are cancelled or postponed, a full refund of the fee will be issued. The RACDS however takes no responsibility for any other costs incurred by the candidate in this regard.

FAQs - MRACDS Program

1. How do I enrol in the MRACDS(GDP) Program?

Subscription to the College is a prerequisite for enrolment. Enrolment for the following year’s intake open in September. Program enrolment forms are available for downloading.

2. How and when are MRACDS assessments conducted?

Assessments are conducted three times a year. They consist of open book short answer questions (SAQs) and case reports. SAQs are emailed each Friday evening during the assessment periods (February, May and September) and must be completed and returned via email 48 hours later. Case reports may be submitted at any time.

Three viva voce exams are conducted in March, July and November of each year. These currently take place in Sydney, although this may expand to more cities in the future.

3. Is there an orientation day for the MRACDS course?

An orientation day is held in late January or early February each year. The induction day covers essential elements of the program and gives candidates the opportunity to meet each other, and key RACDS representatives and mentors.

4. Is the MRACDS program open to dentists residing outside Australia?

Currently the MRACDS General Dental Practice Program is open to registrants residing in Australia and New Zealand only.

5. How many places are there in the MRACDS(GDP) program?

Each year there are up to 30 places available.