In Finland, the right to practise the profession of dentist, in other words, to practise as a licensed dentist, is granted by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira. The licence is granted on the condition that the professional qualifications of the applicant correspond to those of a degree in dentistry completed in Finland. To verify this, Valvira may require the applicant to undergo competence assessment.
The assessment examinations are arranged by the training units in dentistry of the relevant Finnish universities. The examinations have been redesigned, and the reforms were piloted in 2023. Since 2023, the competence examinations have comprised two stages: theory and practice. Based on the experience gained from the reforms, amendments to the examination rules will be made in 2024 to ensure the skills and language proficiency of dentists seeking a licence.
As of 1 August 2024, the updated guidelines and payment practices apply to all individuals seeking a licence, including those who started pursuing their qualifications before 1 August 2024.
Theory examination
A theory examination will take place on 23 and 24 September 2024 in electronic form.
The theory examination consists of three components respectively encompassing the following disciplines: cariology, endodontics, prosthetics and stomatognathic physiology; periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery; paediatric dental care, orthodontics, oral radiology, oral pathology, radiation safety legislation and the promotion of oral health on the population level and administration. Since 2023, the promotion of oral health on the population level and administration have constituted a single section. If you have completed the section on the promotion of oral health on the population level before 2023, the administration section must be completed separately. The examination on the promotion of oral health on the population level and administration as well as the examination on radiation safety legislation are carried out according to the same rules as the other theory examination sections.
General rules for the theory examination:
- The examination can be completed in a single session or in parts within five years. The five-year completion period is calculated from the first instance of sitting a theory examination session, with term-specific accuracy. For example, if the first session in which the applicant participates is in the spring term 2023, their last opportunity to complete the theory or practical examination is in the spring term 2028.
- Pregnancy leave (and maternity leave), parental leave, military service and sick leave on the examination date constitute grounds for extending the duration of the examination period (five years) by one examination session. A written certificate of such grounds must be provided when applying for an extension. An extension can be granted if an examination on a component not completed by the person seeking a licence is held during the relevant leave. If the leave in question takes place over two examination sessions, the extension of the examination period will be calculated from the date of the most recent examination session missed because of the leave.
- The theory examination sections of each discipline are assessed separately. Each discipline must be completed successfully.
- A passing grade requires at least 60% of the score for each discipline.
- Points can be deducted for erroneous answers.
- The practical examination components of the competence examinations can be taken after successfully completing the relevant discipline-specific theoretical examination components.
- Theory examination components:
Component 1:
- Cariology, endodontics, prosthetics and stomatognathic physiology, and periodontics
- The overall duration of the component is two hours and 40 minutes.
- Each section lasts 40 minutes.
Component 2:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, paediatric dental care and oral pathology
- The overall duration of the component is two hours and 40 minutes.
- Each section lasts 40 minutes.
Component 3:
- Promotion of oral health on the population level and administration, oral radiology and radiation legislation
- Those completing the oral radiology section will begin the component with that section, which lasts 50 minutes and consists of interpreting radiographs in addition to answering theoretical questions. It should be noted that, at the beginning of this component, the lighting in the examination room will be dimmed for 50 minutes to enable the reading of X-ray images.
- The duration of the section on the promotion of oral health on the population level and administration is 60 minutes. The duration of the section on oral radiology is 50 minutes and the duration of the section on radiation legislation is 30 minutes.
- The overall duration of the component is two hours and 20 minutes.
Registration for the theory examination:
The registration period for the theory examination in autumn 2024 is from 29 July to 25 August 2024. Registration for the theory examination takes place through an electronic form (in Finnish), which will become available here at the beginning of the registration period. The form is open during the registration period only.
Completion:
The theory examination is completed on the electronic Moodle examination platform on University premises using the applicant’s own computer.
Theory examinations must be completed without any learning material. Participants must not have on their person a mobile phone or any other smart devices or headphones (hearing protection, if any, must be presented to the examiner in advance).
Participants must present official proof of identity (valid passport or photo ID card) before each examination session.
Visits to toilets during examinations are supervised. With the exception of a transparent unmarked bottle, no food or drinks are allowed in the examination sessions.
Only general dictionaries between Finnish or Swedish and another language are permitted. Monolingual dictionaries or other works that explain or define words are not permitted. Dictionaries may not have any markings.
Cheating:
Any attempt to cheat will result in a failing grade for the entire examination component. Other possible consequences, such as the restriction of the right to participate in subsequent examinations, will be decided separately.
Results:
Teaching and Learning Services at the Faculty of Medicine will announce the examination results by email no later than one month after the examination.
Administrative review procedure
Those seeking a licence cannot personally discuss with the examiner questions pertaining to the assessment of the examination. Those who detect an error in the assessment of their examination can, within 14 days of receipt of results, submit in writing a request for administrative review. The request must specify the section or sections in which the applicant is requesting review. Unspecific requests for administrative review will not be processed. Requests for administrative review must be sent by email to meilahti-student@helsinki.fi.
- Required reading (in Finnish only, updated on 28 June 2024)
- Model questions (in Finnish only)
Practical examination
The practical examination, comprising five disciplines (cariology, endodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthetics and stomatognathic physiology), is a clinical examination carried out in skills workshop conditions (simulation). The content and skills requirements of the examination cover all of the skills, knowledge and activities required of dentists in their clinical practice in these fields. The practical examination may include an oral (spoken) element. The examinations will be held over several days.
The practical examination in autumn 2024 will be held from 25 November to 27 November 2024.
The discipline-specific components of the practical examination can be completed at once or on different occasions. The practical examination is no longer a single examination entity. The same five-year completion period, calculated with the accuracy of one term, applies to the validity of the practical examination. The five-year completion period is calculated from the first instance of sitting a theory examination session, with term-specific accuracy. For example, if the first session in which the applicant participates is in the spring term 2023, their last opportunity to complete the theory or practical examination is in the spring term 2028. Failed examinations can be retaken at the next practical examination session, taking the five-year completion period into account. No separate retake sessions will be organised.
General rules for the practical examination:
- The practical examination can be completed at one go or in parts after at least one section of the theory examination has been successfully completed.
- The discipline-specific components of the practical examination can be taken after successfully completing the relevant theory examination components. For example, the practical examination component in cariology can be taken after successfully completing the theory examination component in cariology.
- Pregnancy leave (and maternity leave), parental leave, military service and sick leave on the examination date constitute grounds for extending the duration of the examination period (five years) by one examination session. A written certificate of such grounds must be provided when applying for an extension. An extension can be granted if an examination on a component not completed by the person seeking a licence is held during the relevant leave. If the leave in question takes place over two examination sessions, the extension of the examination period will be calculated from the date of the most recent examination session missed because of the leave.
- The practical examination sections for each individual discipline are assessed separately. Each discipline must be completed successfully.
- A passing grade requires at least 60% of the score for each discipline.
- Points can be deducted for erroneous answers. The examination can be failed in the case of mistakes that would result in a significant treatment failure. The examination takes into consideration dentistry as a whole, including aseptic technique and interaction with the patient in addition to the procedure to be carried out. The document entries requested in the examination tasks must comply with the standards of Finnish healthcare and the instructions.
Registering for the practical examination:
The registration period for the practical examination in autumn 2024 is from 29 July to 25 August 2024. Registration for the practical examination takes place through an electronic form (in Finnish), which will become available here at the beginning of the registration period. The form is open during the registration period only.
Cheating:
Any attempt to cheat will result in the rejection of the entire examination component. Other possible consequences, such as the restriction of the right to participate in subsequent examinations, will be decided separately.
Results:
Teaching and Learning Services at the Faculty of Medicine will announce the examination results by email no later than one month after the examination.
Administrative review procedure
Those seeking a licence cannot personally discuss with the examiner questions pertaining to the assessment of the examination. Those who detect an error in the assessment of their examination can, within 14 days of receipt of results, submit in writing a request for administrative review.The request must specify the section or sections in which the applicant is requesting review. Unspecific requests for administrative review will not be processed. Requests for administrative review must be sent by email to meilahti-student@helsinki.fi.
