1. The Confirmed Fee Schedule: Every GDC Fee in One Place
The following fees are confirmed by the GDC as of April 2026 and apply to the current contract period. All fees are payable in pounds sterling and are non-refundable except under the specific withdrawal and refund policies published on the GDC website.
| Fee | Amount | When Payable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORE application processing fee | £96 | At time of online application submission | Non-refundable; charged each time an application is made |
| ORE Part 1 examination | £584 | At time of booking | Applies to each sitting including resits |
| ORE Part 2 examination | £4,235 | At time of booking | Review withdrawal policy before booking |
| ME standalone retake | £566 | At time of booking | Only if ME is the sole failed Part 2 component |
| GDC registration application fee | Variable | After passing both ORE parts | Tiered fee structure; check current GDC page |
| Annual Retention Fee (ARF) 2026 | £698 | By 31 December 2026 | Confirmed for dentists for 2026 |
| ARF subsequent years | ~£698 + CPI | By 31 December each year | Expected to track CPI from 2027 onwards |
Always verify fees before booking
The numbers in this article match the current contract period. But if you are booking later, especially under UCLC, check the live GDC fee pages before you pay.
Need the wider ORE context too?
Review the full 2026 guide for eligibility, structure, and the UCLC transition timeline.
2. The English Language Testing Cost
English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement for ORE eligibility unless you qualify for an accepted exemption. The GDC does not set these fees directly — they are set by IELTS and OET providers and vary by country and centre.
IELTS Academic in the UK typically falls around the £155–220 range. OET Dentistry is usually much higher, at about AUD $587, roughly £290–320 depending on exchange rate movement. Resits mean paying again.
This is why confirming a genuine exemption with the GDC before booking a test can save real money.
| Test | Full Test Fee (Approx.) | Retake Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (UK test centre) | £155–220 | Same as full test | Score valid 2 years; no partial retake |
| IELTS Academic (outside UK) | Typically £120–200 equivalent | Same as full test | Varies by country |
| OET Dentistry | ~AUD $587 (~£290–320) | AUD $200.50 per sub-test retake | Profession-specific test accepted by the GDC |
| Exemption | £0 | N/A | Only if your route genuinely qualifies |
Need the full English language rules?
Review IELTS minimums, OET standards, and all exemption routes in the dedicated guide.
3. Travel, Accommodation, and Incidental Costs
The ORE is held in London, so even candidates who focus only on exam fees often underestimate the travel side. Part 1 is a single written sitting, but Part 2 usually means multiple days in London and more accommodation cost.
International candidates carry the biggest burden here. Flights, hotels, food, local transport, and resits can quickly add thousands on top of the exam fees. Even UK-based candidates outside London still need to budget for trains, buses, and overnight stays.
| Cost Category | Minimum (UK-resident) | Typical (UK-resident, outside London) | Typical (International candidate, per visit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 travel and accommodation | £10–30 | £100–300 | £500–1,200 |
| Part 2 travel and accommodation | £20–50 | £300–600 | £700–1,800 |
| Per resit (Part 1) | £10–30 | £100–300 | £500–1,200 |
| Per resit (Part 2) | £20–50 | £300–600 | £700–1,800 |
4. Preparation Course Costs
The GDC does not endorse any ORE course, but many candidates still pay for commercial preparation. Part 1 tends to be cheaper because it is mostly books, question banks, and online revision. Part 2 is where costs rise sharply because of manikin practice, supervised sessions, and practical-course fees.
This is one place where saving money blindly can backfire. A poor Part 2 attempt costs more than a reasonable preparation investment if that investment helps you avoid a full resit.
| Preparation Type | Low Estimate | Typical Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 textbooks | £60–100 | £150–250 | If not already owned |
| Part 1 question bank subscription | £50 | £100–200 | Varies by provider |
| Part 1 preparation course | £0 | £300–600 | Optional, but often useful for UK-specific content |
| Part 2 manikin and materials | £500 | £800–1,500 | Can be shared to reduce cost |
| Part 2 preparation course | £400 | £800–1,500 | Usually the biggest prep cost |
| Extra supervised manikin sessions | £0 | £200–600 | Additional practice beyond the course |
Preparation cost makes more sense when you see the pass rates
Review the pass rate trends before deciding how much Part 2 prep is worth investing in.
5. Other Mandatory Documentation Costs
Some application costs are small compared with Part 2, but they still add up. The UK ENIC Statement of Comparability, CCPS or Good Standing certificates, and document certification fees are all easy to overlook when candidates think only about exam fees.
The main risk here is repetition. If a document expires or must be reissued because of timing gaps, you pay again.
| Documentation Cost | Confirmed Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK ENIC Statement of Comparability | £78.30 | Standard service; one-time for initial application |
| CCPS / Certificate of Good Standing | £30–120 | Varies by issuing authority |
| Document certification / notarisation | £30–80 per document | UK solicitor example; varies elsewhere |
| Recorded delivery postage | £10–20 | Tracked mailing for application documents |
| Identity check | £0 | Included in online application process |
6. Total In vestment Scenarios: Best Case to Worst Case
This is the section that matters most financially. The ORE journey is not just about paying one Part 1 fee and one Part 2 fee. Once resits, travel, preparation, documents, and first-year registration costs are included, the total can move from uncomfortable to very heavy.
The worst-case scenario is not theoretical. A candidate who uses many attempts and travels internationally can reach a level of total spend that should change how seriously they plan each attempt.
| Cost Component | Best Case | Typical | Worst Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORE application processing fee | £96 | £96 | £96 |
| Part 1 examination fees | £584 | £1,168 | £2,336 |
| Part 2 examination fees | £4,235 | £8,470 | £16,940 |
| ME standalone retake | £0 | £0 | £566 |
| English language test | £0 | £200 | £600 |
| UK ENIC statement | £78 | £78 | £78 |
| CCPS / Good Standing | £60 | £120 | £240 |
| Document certification | £60 | £80 | £120 |
| Part 1 travel and accommodation | £150 | £450 | £2,400 |
| Part 2 travel and accommodation | £400 | £1,200 | £7,200 |
| Preparation costs | £300 | £2,000 | £4,000 |
| GDC registration application fee | £350 | £350 | £350 |
| First year ARF | £698 | £698 | £698 |
| TOTAL estimated | ~£7,011 | ~£14,910 | ~£35,624 |
What these totals do not include
These figures do not include visa and immigration costs, broader UK living costs, or the opportunity cost of time spent preparing instead of earning. For some international candidates, those missing costs are not small.
Cost makes more sense when you pair it with the attempt rules
Review the deadline and attempts guide to understand why using attempts strategically matters financially as well as academically.
7. Managing Costs: Practical Strategies
The simplest cost strategy is not clever shopping. It is avoiding unnecessary attempts. Passing Part 2 on the first attempt saves far more money than cutting small corners elsewhere.
On English testing, confirm exemption routes before paying for IELTS or OET. On Part 2 prep, sharing manikin equipment or study-group practice can reduce cost. On travel, booking accommodation early and staying a little outside the most expensive central areas can lower the total.
On documentation, timing matters. Poor timing can force you to refresh CCPS or other papers and pay twice for something that should have been a one-time cost.
Documentation timing affects cost too
Review the application guide for CCPS freshness, certification rules, and submission timing.
How DentAIstudy helps
DentAIstudy helps ORE candidates turn a financially heavy journey into a more planned one.
- Break the ORE path into clearer next steps and priorities
- Stay organised across fees, deadlines, and exam preparation
- Turn dense guidance into practical planning blocks
- Reduce avoidable financial mistakes before booking or submitting
Related ORE articles
References
- General Dental Council — ORE Part 1 page | Confirms the Part 1 fee and current sitting structure.
- General Dental Council — ORE Part 2 page | Confirms the Part 2 fee and ME standalone retake fee.
- General Dental Council — How to apply for the ORE | Confirms the £96 application processing fee.
- General Dental Council — GDC announces ARF for 2026 | Confirms the ARF for dentists for 2026.
- General Dental Council — Registration application fee | Registration fee page for the ORE route band and live fee check.
- British Council / IDP — IELTS UK test fees | IELTS UK fee range reference.