Criteria for QE

Eligibility Criteria for Qualifying Examination for foreign-trained dentists:

Category A

1. Offer of employment, and

2. Singaporean/PR, married to Singaporean/PR and children of PR's, or

3. possess recognised higher qualification.

Applicant should fulfil criteria 1 and any of criteria from 2 to 3.

Category B

1. Full-time MDS students in NUS.

The examination will be conducted in English.

Language Tests - For foreign-trained applications

Foreign-trained applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit examination results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Occupational English Test (OET), within the minimum score accepted by the SDC (below), subject to a 2-year validity period based on the date of the test. The scores must be obtained in a single sitting.

• IELTS : At least 7 for ALL components (Listening, Reading, Writing AND Speaking) in academic module.

• TOEFL (Test taken before 21 January 2026) : Only TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) will be accepted. TOEFL iBT score of at least 25 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking). The overall score must be at least 100.

• TOEFL (Test taken on and after 21 January 2026) : Only TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) will be accepted. TOEFL iBT score of at least 5.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking). The overall score must be at least 5.0.

• OET : At least Grade B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).