ADC Exam Preparation — Australian Dental Council
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) assessment is the three-stage pathway for overseas-trained dentists seeking registration with AHPRA to practise dentistry in Australia. This guide covers all three stages and explains how DentistUP supports the Written Examination (Stage 2) preparation.
Affiliation disclaimer: DentistUP and Socket Science are not affiliated with the ADC, AHPRA, the Dental Board of Australia, or Pearson VUE. Always consult the official ADC at adc.org.au.
The ADC Assessment Process — 3 stages
All three stages must be completed in sequence. DentistUP supports Stage 2 — the Written Examination — by building the dental knowledge foundation the exam tests.
Initial Assessment
Eligibility and credential verification. ADC assesses your dental degree, transcripts, and registration certificates. Valid for 7 years from a successful outcome. Processing can take up to 8 weeks.
Written Examination
DentistUP supports this stage280 scenario-based MCQs across 4 sections (70 questions × 2 hours each) over two consecutive days. Held twice per year (March and September) at Pearson VUE centres worldwide. Fee: AUD 2,122 (2026). Pass valid for 5 years from March 2026 onwards.
Practical Examination
Two-day practical assessment. Day 1: Technical skills (hands-on tooth preparation and restoration procedures). Day 2: Clinical skills (OSCE-style stations — diagnosis, treatment planning, patient communication). Fee: AUD 4,775 (2026). Requires Written Examination pass.
All fees are approximate and subject to change. Verify current fees and dates at adc.org.au.
2026 ADC Written Exam — blueprint and key facts
The ADC Written Examination uses scenario-based multiple-choice questions (clinical vignettes with 5 linked questions each) — not simple factual recall questions. The 2026 blueprint places increased emphasis on clinical reasoning, communication, infection prevention and control, health promotion, professionalism, and ethical practice.
Restorative Dentistry
14%
Radiology
10%
Preventive Dentistry
10%
Paediatric & Orthodontics
10%
Periodontics
9%
Oral Surgery
~7%
Endodontics
~6%
Pharmacology
~5%
Oral Medicine + others
Remaining
How DentistUP supports ADC Written Exam preparation
Deep Study
29 dental branches including restorative, periodontics, endodontics, radiology, pharmacology, and all other ADC blueprint disciplines.
Review & Refine
Incorrect and uncertain answers enter your Review Pool. Return until you answer correctly and consistently.
Mock Exams
Full 100-question mixed-discipline exams to test whether knowledge holds together under timed conditions.
AI Learning
Structured explanations for difficult questions — clinical examples, memory points, and comparisons.
Important: DentistUP addresses the dental knowledge component of ADC Written Exam preparation. The ADC uses scenario-based vignette questions — DentistUP uses standard MCQ format. The ADC Stage 3 Practical Examination (hands-on technical and clinical skills) requires separate preparation.
Try the free ADC practice exam
100-question dental knowledge practice exam covering ADC Written Exam disciplines. Free, no account required, full explanations after submission.
Free ADC practice
Adapts to your exam
Choose your exam in the app and DentistUP applies an AI-assisted profile of that exam, built from its published format and content outline, to your mock exams, study plan and exam information.