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Singapore Dental Council

Dentists on Inactive Practice

Information for dentists transitioning to inactive status. Learn about requirements, obligations, and procedures for maintaining registration while not actively practicing.

Last updated 19 May 2025

With effect from 1 June 2020, the administrative policy for Did-Not-Apply-Licence (DNAL) application has been rescinded by Council. Dentists on Full Registration who has no intention to engage in active practice of dentistry (for reasons such as pursuing higher education or accompanying spouses overseas, etc.), will not be required to apply for DNAL. Instead, they can decide not to renew their Practising Certificate (PC) and allow it to lapse after the expiry date.

Under section 20(2) of the Dental Registration Act, the Full Registration Dentist is allowed to stay "On" register for a period up to 5 years, after his/her expired PC has lapsed. If the dentist fails to renew his/her PC after 5 years, his/her name may be removed from the Register.

Who should apply

For Dentist on Full Registration who has no intention to engage in active practice of dentistry (for reasons such as pursuing higher education or accompanying spouses overseas etc), will not be required to apply for DNAL.

Under section 20(2) of Dental Registration Act, a dental professional is allowed to stay “On” register for up to 5 years before their names are removed from register.

Return to active practice

Dentist on Full Registration who wish to return to active practice are required to meet the following requirements:

(i) For dentist who have not renewed their Practising Certificate for less than 5 years

For Division I dentists

Minimum of 18 CPE points with 20% core requirement and at least 13 verifiable CPE points must be accumulated within the last 6 months before starting active practice.

For Division II dentists

Minimum of 9 CPE points with 20% core requirement and at least 7 verifiable CPE points must be accumulated within the last 6 months before starting active practice.

Dentists are required to submit their CPE verifications online before submitting Return from DNAL application [PDF, 454 KB] to the Singapore Dental Council to activate their practising certificates.

(ii) those who have not renewed their Practising Certificate for more than 5 years and their names have been removed from register, they are required to submit the CPE requisites as spelt out in (i) above via online system before applying for restoration via the online system.

Processing Time

The processing time will be 2 weeks.

Restoration

When a dental professional’s name is removed from the register, he/she is required to submit an Application for Restoration online to restore his/her name on the register.

For details on restoration, please refer to restoration procedures.