With February nearly halfway over, there are only 13 days left for the registration window of the 2026 Hong Kong Dental Licensing Examination (HKDLE). Recently, I’ve noticed a common issue among doctors seeking consultation: everyone is hesitant. The core of this hesitation boils down to the question, “If I pass, can I really go?”
Today, no motivational talk—just the facts. The real demand for dentists in Hong Kong is more specific than you might imagine.
Numbers don’t lie: there is only 0.37 dentists per 1,000 people
Let’s start with some official data. According to the latest information disclosed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council, as of the end of 2023, there were a total of 2,876 registered dentists in Hong Kong, averaging only 0.37 dentists per 1,000 people.
What does this figure signify? It is lower than that of most developed countries and regions, as well as many first-tier cities in mainland China. More notably, according to the government’s “Medical Staff Projection 2020,” Hong Kong will face a shortage of 210 dentists by 2025, 180 by 2030, and still 120 by 2035. This means the shortage of dentists will persist for at least another decade, with relief not expected until 2040.
It’s not a matter of “missing one or two years,” but “missing a decade.” This is not a cyclical fluctuation but a structural imbalance between supply and demand.
Policies are “opening the door,” not “flooding the market.”
Facing this gap, the Hong Kong government’s choice is to adopt a multi-pronged approach and attract talent. Starting from January 1, 2025, the revised “Dentists (Registration) Ordinance” will take effect, introducing two new pathways—limited registration and special registration—which allow dentists trained overseas to register without exams after working at designated institutions (such as the Department of Health, Hospital Authority, and The University of Hong Kong).
Meanwhile, the traditional Licensing Examination has been increased from once a year to twice a year since 2015. Over the past five years, an average of 25 individuals have passed the exam and obtained registration qualifications annually.
These figures are not high, but the trend is clear: the door is opening, yet the threshold has not lowered.
The Health Department has initiated the recruitment of non-local dentists in 2024, receiving over 90 applications. More than 10 qualified dentists have been conditionally appointed in the first batch, with an expected onboarding by the first quarter of 2025. This is a genuine job opportunity.
Not only public institutions, but also the private sector is facing a shortage of talent
If you worry about “low salaries in public hospitals,” take another set of signals into account. The Vocational Training Council (VTC) plans to launch a Dental Hygiene Care Diploma program, with the first batch of graduates expected to enter the workforce in the second half of 2026, starting at around HK$20,000. This is just the salary for dental hygienists.
The salary level of dentists has exceeded HKD 70000 in public institutions (point 30 of the Civil Service Master Pay Scale), and there is even greater potential in the private market. According to registration data from the Hong Kong Dental Council, the vast majority of practicing dentists currently serve in private institutions. This means that the choice after passing the exam is in your own hands. More importantly, the Hong Kong government is expanding its layout for dental services. From increasing the number of local training places (from 50 in the 2009/10 academic year to 90 in the 2024/25 academic year), to expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists and dental therapists, and to revising regulations to introduce non local talents. All these actions point to the same conclusion: in the next decade, the demand for dental professionals in Hong Kong will only increase, not decrease.
There are still 13 days left in the registration window, what are you waiting for?
Returning to the present matter. The registration channel for HKDLE in 2026 will be closed on February 26th.
If you are still hesitating, why not recalculate your account:
·Demand side: 210 job vacancies, continuous shortage for ten years. Policy side: adding exemption from exams, allowing exams twice a year
·Cost side: Each exam fee is HKD 10650, and the scores will be retained for 4 years or 4 opportunities
·Time frame: From registration to written test, there are still over 100 days left
Waiting until the last moment to take action means you have to rush through materials, notarization, and mailing in anxiety. And those who have already registered have already started the pace of preparing for the exam.
CHENG HEI Education’s suggestion: Leave opportunities for those who are prepared
We have come into contact with too many candidates, and the biggest regret is not that we did not pass the exam, but that we could have started earlier. The shortage of dentists in Hong Kong is a real issue. But ‘shortage of personnel’ does not mean ‘release of water’. Those who ultimately obtain the license are not lucky, but prepared early and correctly.
CHENG HEI Education’s 2026 systematic classes have been fully launched, from Part 1 written test to Part 2 practical operation, from registration guidance to pre exam sprint. We provide not only courses, but also a complete set of “certainty”.
There are still 13 days left in the registration window. If you decide to charge once this year, don’t hesitate anymore.
Leave opportunities to those who are prepared, not to those who “look again”.
📌 Final reminder: HKDLE registration deadline for 2026: February 26th
Part 1 Written Exam Date: May 28th
Part 2&3 Exam: July 27-31
Those who haven’t registered yet, take action immediately. Those who have registered, enter the status and start your countdown. Reply “Register” in the background to inquire about more Hong Kong dentist registration exam guidelines. CHENG HEI Education, accompany you steadily and steadily.