If you've been putting off checking your MyGDC login, now is the time to stop putting it off.
The GDC has just confirmed two changes that affect every overseas dentist on the ORE pathway right now — and one of them has a deadline that's almost here.
The headline: ORE Part 2 fees are rising by 65%
From the new contract year starting 31 May 2026, the ORE Part 2 fee rises from £4,235 to £6,967 — an increase of £2,732. That's a substantial jump, and we know for many candidates this isn't just an inconvenience, it's a genuine financial planning problem.
The GDC has attributed the rise to the cost of specialist clinical facilities, examiner availability, and capital investment in equipment by the new exam provider, UCL Consultants (UCLC). VAT has also been applied to the ORE fee for the first time, which is reflected across the revised structure.
There is a small piece of better news buried in here: Part 1 fees are actually falling, from £584 to £485 — a 17% reduction. The application processing fee rises slightly, from £96 to £115.
Why this matters for your planning: if you're budgeting for your ORE journey, the total cost of Part 2 alone has increased by more than the cost of a flight home for many candidates. If you haven't yet sat Part 1, factor the new fee structure into your savings plan now rather than discovering it at booking time.
The booking window: 30 June 2026, 14:30 UK time
Here's the part with an actual deadline. The next ORE Part 1 sitting — held 25–26 August 2026 — opens for booking on Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 14:30 UK time. The next Part 2 sitting (10–13 September 2026) follows.
For the first time, all bookings go through your MyGDC account rather than the older booking system. If you haven't logged into MyGDC recently, or you're not sure you remember your password, this is genuinely worth sorting out before the 30th — not on the day itself.
A few practical details worth knowing, taken directly from the GDC's own guidance:
- You can only be logged in on one device at a time. If you log in elsewhere, you'll be logged out automatically.
- Your session will log you out automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity — so don't get the login screen open and then go make a cup of tea.
- When all places are booked, the system shows "closed — examination full" for two hours, even if you refresh.
- Payment must be completed within one hour of booking, or your place isn't held.
This isn't us being dramatic — these are the GDC's own published warnings, and previous sittings have filled within minutes of opening.
What overseas dentists preparing for ORE Part 1 should do this week
- Log into MyGDC today. If your password doesn't work, reset it now — not on the morning of the 30th, when password reset emails might be slower to arrive amid higher traffic.
- Check your priority status. Candidates nearing the five-year limit for Part 2, and those with refugee status, get priority access — but you may need to confirm this in advance.
- Have your payment method ready. With payment required within an hour of booking, and the Part 2 fee now considerably higher, make sure your card has sufficient limit and isn't going to trigger a fraud block from your bank for an unusually large international transaction.
- Set a calendar reminder for 30 June, well before 14:30. Being logged in and ready at 14:25 is a very different experience to logging in at 14:31.
The bigger picture for GDC registration and overseas dentists in the UK
This fee rise and new booking system are part of a wider overhaul that the GDC says will eventually allow up to 1,500 internationally qualified dentists to join the register each year — a significant increase from the 354 who did so via the ORE in 2024. The GDC has described this as "a substantial step in the right direction," and the longer-term aim is a more predictable, less chaotic system than the one many candidates have experienced over the past few years.
That's genuinely good news for the future. But for anyone with a sitting in their sights for August or September 2026, the practical reality right now is: costs are higher, and you need to be ready to act fast on 30 June.
Ready to start preparing? ORESuccess gives you full coverage of both ORE Part 1 and Part 2, and LDS — including the UK-specific guidelines that catch most candidates out, OSCE-format clinical scenarios, and 35 hours of GDC-compliant verifiable CPD for when you're registered. Start your 7-day free trial.
This post reflects information published by the GDC as of June 2026. Always check gdc-uk.org for the most current booking dates and fees, as these are subject to change.