Regulations

The following information details the Regulations of the MJDF examination. The Regulations may also be downloaded as a pdf document:

MJDF Regulations as a pdf

Jump to section:

1. Introduction
   1. Aim of the assessment
   2. Further information
   3. General Dental Council policy on registering additional qualifications
2. Eligibility for the award of the Diploma
3. Assessment structure
   1. Portfolio of Evidence
   2. Part 1 examination
   3. Part 2 examination
4. Process for application
   1. Applications process
   1. Portfolio of Evidence
   2. Part 1 and Part 2 examination
   2. Examination fees
   3. Post-qualification experience
5. Time restrictions on completing the Diploma
6. Infringement of the regulations
7. Plagiarism
8. Appeals
9. Withdrawals from the examination
10. Transition arrangements
11. Exemptions
12. Appointment of examiners
13. Feedback to candidates
14. Procedure for successful candidates applying for membership of the faculties
15. Procedure for registration of Diploma with the General Dental Council (subject to GDC approval)
16. Disability and equal opportunities

1. Introduction

a. Aim of the assessment

The assessment is offered by the two faculties to assess the acquisition of competencies set out in the UK foundation training curriculum.

The assessment is not limited to recent graduates and is open to all practitioners.

In time, the faculties anticipate that foundation training schemes will be developed to encompass all new dental graduates. These will prepare the graduate for further career choices in terms of general dental practice (with the option of developing enhanced skills in areas of interest), and specialist training pathways. The faculties are anticipating this development by offering a single assessment to replace the MFDS (RCS Eng) and MFGDP(UK) examinations. This will ensure that career choices are held open in the important early years following graduation. The successful diplomate may then choose to follow the FGDP(UK)’s Career Pathway for general dental practitioners, or specialist training pathways offered by the Faculty of Dental Surgery and other dental faculties of the United Kingdom.

b. Further information

Further information is published by the two faculties to guide candidates through this assessment. See in particular the complete Information for candidates document, aspects of which are in the Information for candidates section of this site.

The Information for candidates section also includes MJDF application forms and examination dates.

An MJDF information pack containing the Regulations, application forms ,and examination and submission dates is also available by contacting the MJDF Examination Department at [email protected] or 020 7869 6762.

c. General Dental Council policy on registering additional qualifications

At the time of publication (April 2007), the General Dental Council is not accepting new applications for registrable qualifications pending a review of its policy for approving such applications. On completion, the faculties will apply to the GDC for recognition as a registrable qualification. Please check the Information for candidates section for details.

2. Eligibility for the award of the Diploma

The Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties at The Royal College of Surgeons of England may be granted to those who:

1. Possess a primary dental qualification acceptable to the Boards of the dental faculties at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, and should normally be registered to practise dentistry in their country of residence;
2. Have completed 24 months’ full-time postgraduate experience in dentistry. Normally, equivalent part-time experience will be acceptable if gained over a period of four years;
3. Have passed Parts 1 and 2 of the examination and have satisfactorily completed a portfolio of workplace-based evidence in accordance with the requirements set out in section 3 of these regulations;
4. Have complied with all the regulations.

3. Assessment structure

a. Portfolio of Evidence

The Portfolio of Evidence consists of five parts:

1. A practice portfolio providing evidence of core clinical and professional skills drawn from the candidate’s foundation training environment.
2. Evidence of participation in audit or research through an appropriate project.
3. Evidence of clinical management through presentation of a clinical case, case-based discussion or equivalent.
4. A curriculum vitae.
5. A record of continuing professional development activity and a personal development plan.

Further information on the preparation and assessment of the Portfolio of Evidence is contained in the Information for candidates document, and in the Portfolio guidance section of the MJDF website.

The Portfolio of Evidence is designed to assess components of the UK foundation training curriculum. Where a candidate’s training pathway or experience has differed from the UK foundation programme, the Examinations Committees of the two faculties may agree an adapted mechanism for the assessment of the part of the curriculum assessed by the Portfolio of Evidence. This should be an equivalent mechanism in terms of the depth and breadth of the assessment.

b. Part 1 examination

1. This examination will be held at least twice a year. See Information for candidates for guidance and dates.
2. It will consist of one paper, based on the foundation training curriculum. assessing knowledge and applied knowledge. This will include different formats of multiple choice questions and multiple short answer questions.
3. Part 1 will stand alone, candidates being awarded either a pass or fail.
4. Candidates must pass Part 1 before proceeding to Part 2.

c. Part 2 examination

1. Candidates must have written confirmation of a pass in Part 1 before they may apply to sit Part 2. This should be Part 1 MJDF, the relevant passes in either MFGDP(UK) or MFDS as set out in paragraph 10 of these regulations, or other examinations accepted by, and detailed on the MJDF web pages of, the two faculties.
2. This examination will be held at least twice a year.
3. It will consist of an assessment using objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and structured clinical reasoning (SCR) formats.
4. The examination will assess clinical skills and competencies and structured clinical reasoning.
5. This part of the examination may be taken at any point after completion of 12 months in clinical dentistry.
6. Candidates will be awarded a pass or fail.

4. Process for application

Application forms, and further essential information published in the Information for candidates document can be accessed in the Information for candidates section of this web site.

a. Applications process

1. Portfolio of Evidence

   Candidates should see information in the Portfolio guidance section of this site for details of assessment of the Portfolio.

2. Part 1 and Part 2 examination

   Applications for either Part 1 or 2 must reach the MJDF Examination Department by the closing date specified in Information for candidates. Applications received after the date will not be processed.

   Applications for admission to any section of the assessment must be fully completed, accompanied by any supporting information specified in the application form and the full fee payable for any examination.

   If an application form is found to be incomplete, it will be returned to the applicant and no action taken until it is returned fully completed with the appropriate fee enclosed. Further guidance on the applications process is included in the Information for candidates document.

b. Examination fees

Fees payable for assessment of the Portfolio of Evidence, Part 1 and Part 2 examination will be as agreed, and from time to time amended, by the Faculty Boards, and will be set out in the Information for candidates document.

c. Post-qualification experience

As set out in paragraph 3 c.v, to attempt Part 2 examination the candidate must have completed 12 months in clinical dentistry before the closing date for the examination. To be awarded the MJDF Diploma, candidates must have completed 24 months in clinical dentistry, as set out in paragraph 2 b.

5. Time restrictions on completing the Diploma

Candidates have the option of commencing the MJDF assessment with the completion of the Portfolio of Evidence or sitting Part 1 examination.

All elements of the assessment must normally be completed within five years of completion of the Portfolio or of sitting Part 1, whichever was earlier.

The Portfolio of Evidence may be completed at any point within the five-year period, including after sitting Part 2.

6. Infringement of the regulations

The faculties may refuse to admit to the assessment or to proceed with the assessment of any candidate who infringes any of the regulations or who is considered by the examiners to be guilty of behaviour prejudicial to the proper management and conduct of the examination. See the separate joint faculty policy relating to malpractice.

7. Plagiarism

Any cases of suspected plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with the separately specified joint faculty procedure relating to plagiarism.

8. Appeals

Appeals will be dealt with in accordance with the separately specified joint faculty appeals procedure relating to assessments.

Candidates who wish to make representations with regard to their eligibility for the examination must address them to the faculties in accordance with arrangements set out in the appeal procedures, and within three months of the initial decision.

Candidates who wish to make representations with regard to the conduct of their assessment must address them to the faculties in accordance with arrangements set out in the appeals procedure, and not in any circumstances to the assessors. Representations must be made to the faculties as specified in the appeals procedure within 28 days of the announcement of the result.

The Full Appeals Policy can be found here

9. Withdrawals from the examination

Candidates wishing to withdraw an application for admission to an examination must do so in writing, and will be refunded the fee less a 20% administrative charge provided that the withdrawal is received before the closing date of the examination, as listed in the Information for candidates document.

Candidates who withdraw from the examination after the closing date, or who fail to attend the examination for which the candidate has been accepted, will not normally be entitled to any refund of fee. The transfer of examination fees to future diets will only be granted under exceptional circumstances, such as on medical or compassionate grounds or other similar event beyond the candidate’s control. Requests for transfer of fees must be accompanied by a supporting letter from the candidate’s general medical practitioner, postgraduate dental dean or a local tutor in order to be considered.

Requests for a refund under exceptional circumstances, such as on medical or compassionate grounds or other similar events beyond the candidate's control, must also be accompanied by a supporting letter from the candidate’s general medical practitioner, postgraduate dental dean or local tutor in order to be considered.

Failure to comply with the condition of the regulations, or failure to meet the eligibility requirements, will not be considered sufficient grounds for a refund.

The faculties reserve the right to review admission to the examination on an individual basis in exceptional circumstances.