HK Dental ORE
Licensing Examination of the Dental Council of Hong Kong
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Licensing Examination of the Dental Council of Hong Kong is the route by which dentists who qualified outside Hong Kong can seek registration to practise in Hong Kong. It is administered by the Dental Council of Hong Kong under the Dentists Registration Ordinance (Cap. 156). The examination is structured in three parts: Part I is a Written Test, Part II is a Practical Test, and Part III is a Clinical Examination. Candidates sit the parts in sequence, so the written paper is the gateway to the hands-on assessments. The published schedule for the 2027 First Sitting is tentative and has been brought forward because of examination venue arrangements: Part I on 18 March 2027 with applications in January 2027, Part II from 10 to 12 May 2027, and Part III from 17 to 18 May 2027. Because dates, fees, eligibility and application procedures are set by the Council and can change, always confirm against the Licensing Examination pages of the Council's website before you apply. Preparation should be staged to match the three parts: consolidate applied clinical knowledge and terminology for the written paper, then rehearse practical procedures and instrument handling under time pressure, then build supervised clinical experience so that patient-based tasks are performed safely and to a defensible standard. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Dental Council of Hong Kong.
What you'll study
About HK Dental ORE preparation
What are the three parts of the examination?
Part I is a Written Test, Part II is a Practical Test, and Part III is a Clinical Examination. The Council publishes them as a sequence, so prepare for the written paper first. The Parts II and III dates for the 2027 First Sitting fall in May 2027, after the March written paper.
When is the 2027 First Sitting?
The Council lists a tentative schedule: Part I Written Test on 18 March 2027 with the application period in January 2027, Part II Practical Test from 10 to 12 May 2027, and Part III Clinical Examination from 17 to 18 May 2027. The Council states this sitting has been advanced because of examination venue arrangements, so confirm details before applying.
How long is each part and how many questions are there?
The source material does not publish the number of questions, the duration of any part, or the passing mark. Do not rely on second-hand figures. Check the Licensing Examination section of the Council's website, and any candidate handbook or letter issued with your application, for the format that applies to your sitting.
How much does it cost and how do I apply?
Fees, application forms and eligibility requirements are set by the Council and are not stated in the material summarised here. Applications for the 2027 First Sitting open in January 2027 for Part I. Use the official Licensing Examination pages and the Council's contact channels rather than third-party summaries, since figures are revised from time to time.
Can I retake a part I fail, and do I have to resit everything?
The source material does not set out a retake policy, the number of attempts allowed, or how long a pass in one part remains valid. Treat any specific claim about resit rules as unverified until you have it in writing from the Council. Ask the Secretariat directly before you plan a repeat attempt.
How difficult is it, and where do candidates usually fail?
No pass rates are published in the material summarised here, so difficulty cannot be quantified honestly. The common practical failure modes are predictable: running out of time on procedures, weak instrument handling and ergonomics, incomplete assessment before treatment, and poor infection control or documentation. Build supervised clinical repetition rather than relying on reading alone.
In what order should I study?
Work backwards from the examination dates. Finish written-paper revision well before March so that the last weeks are consolidation and timed practice, not new material. Then switch to practical rehearsals with instruments and manikins, and keep clinical sessions running in parallel so that Part III skills are current rather than crammed into May.
Is this page run by the Dental Council of Hong Kong?
No. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Dental Council of Hong Kong. Always treat the Council's own website and any documents issued to you as a candidate as the authoritative source for dates, fees, eligibility and examination regulations.
What else has changed recently that might affect me?
The Council notes that the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme for registered dentists launches on 1 July 2026, that the dental hygienist registration system took effect on 24 August 2026, and that the Code of Professional Discipline was amended for the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance from 20 January 2026. These affect practising registrants rather than the examination itself, but they shape the professional standards you are expected to know.