The five things Ahpra checks

English sets the timeline. Recency of practice is the one people worry about for no reason.

English language skills

Most applicants meet it with a test taken at a test centre within the last two years.

Four pathways: school education in a recognised country, advanced education, combined education, or a test. Most ADC graduates use the test pathway.
A test result is valid for two years before the date you lodge. Older results can be accepted only after continuous registered health work or study in a recognised country since the test.
One sitting, or two sittings within 12 months from the same provider. Each sitting must meet the overall score and no component may fall below the floor.
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted within 60 days. At-home and remotely proctored tests are not accepted.
A test taken for a skilled migration visa in the last two years can be reused if it meets the scores.

Tests taken on or before 22 April 2026

Test	overall	listening	reading	writing	speaking
IELTS Academic	7	7	7	6.5	7
OET	n/a	B	B	C+	B
PTE Academic	66	66	66	56	66
TOEFL iBT	94	24	24	24	23
Cambridge C1 Advanced	185	185	185	176	185

Tests taken on or after 23 April 2026

Test	overall	listening	reading	writing	speaking
IELTS Academic	7	7	7	6.5	7
OET	n/a	350	360	350	360
PTE Academic	63	58	59	60	76
TOEFL iBT	91	22	22	23	24
Cambridge C1 Advanced	178	175	179	180	194

Floors when combining two sittings. No component in either sitting may fall below these.

Test centre only. OET components are on the 0 to 500 scale for tests from 23 April 2026. TOEFL must be the "Taking TOEFL for Australia" registration.

Ahpra runs the Australian check; you order the international one.

Declare all criminal history, however old: convictions, findings of guilt, pleas and charges, with what happened, when, and what you have done since.
The Australian check is included in the application fee.
An international check is needed for every country where you lived six or more consecutive months as an adult. Approved suppliers: AIS International and Fit2Work. Results go straight to Ahpra and are valid three months.
Order it before you lodge: the application needs the supplier's reference number.

Does not apply to you: the ADC examinations count.

The standard applies to anyone who has not practised as a dental practitioner in the last five years.
The Dental Board's FAQ states that if you qualified overseas and have passed the ADC examinations, the examinations count as recency of practice and you apply for general registration in that division.
Keep statements of service anyway; they support your CV and employers ask for them.

Source: Dental Board of Australia. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

Cover for every aspect of practice and every location, in place before the first patient.

You declare at application that you will be covered before you practise.
Your own policy or a third party's (for example an employer's) can satisfy the standard, as long as it covers everything you do and everywhere you do it.
If you stop practising you still need run-off cover.
ADA branches arrange discounted cover through Guild; ADA NSW offers free cover to ADC candidates while they study.

60 hours over each three-year cycle; keep records from day one.

The current cycle runs 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2028. A practitioner who registers part-way through completes a pro rata share.
At least 80 percent of the hours (48 of 60) must be clinically or scientifically based; at most 12 hours may be non-scientific.
You declare compliance at each annual renewal and may be audited, so keep a log and evidence.