The Dental Council of Hong Kong (hereinafter referred to as “the dental authority”) recently officially announced the registration date and tentative examination schedule for the 2026 Hong Kong Dental Licensing Examination (HKDLE) (Second Sitting).
Compared with previous years, this registration has made key adjustments in the submission method of application materials, especially more stringent official restrictions on the issuance and delivery of “certificate of good reputation”. Doctors and candidates who plan to take the examination in Hong Kong must attach great importance to it and prepare for compliance in advance.
1、 Official exam schedule
According to the latest announcement issued by the dental authority, the specific time nodes of the second licensing trial in 2026 are as follows:
Note: please pay close attention to the latest news published on the official website of the Dental Council of Hong Kong, and the final official itinerary will prevail.
2、 Core changes: Interpretation of the new regulations on certificate of good reputation
In this registration qualification examination, the dental authority has made the following two rigid restrictions on the validity of the core Certificate – “certificate of good reputation”:
1. Submission channel change: it must be directly connected by the official agency
The latest regulation points out that the “certificate of good reputation” must be sent directly by mail or e-mail to the Hong Kong Dental Management Committee by the corresponding dental management committee or bureau (such as the provincial and municipal health committees, medical associations or relevant practice registration authorities in the mainland).
• special note: any certificate issued by an employer (such as a hospital, clinic, etc.) will be deemed invalid. The channels for candidates’ personal submission or forwarding may also not meet the compliance requirements for direct delivery.
2 timeliness: the validity period is strictly limited to 3 months
The official clearly stressed that all submitted “certificates of good reputation” whose issuing date exceeded three months would be considered invalid. Since the certificate needs to be directly delivered to the Hong Kong Dental authority by the issuing authority, candidates must accurately calculate the time difference when applying to the original registration authority to ensure that the materials are still within the validity period of 3 months when they are delivered to the Hong Kong Dental authority.
3、 Suggestions and test preparation reminders
In response to this policy change, our educational administration team sorted out the following coping strategies for all candidates at the first time:
1. reserve a buffer period for administrative approval: in view of the new regulations requiring “official to official” direct mail delivery or mailing, due to the differences in the foreign affairs process, mailing efficiency or public to official mail delivery cycle of the competent authorities in various regions (Health Commission/Medical Association), candidates must consult the local competent authorities and apply for issuance before July 2 (the first part of the registration is open), and do not submit the card blindly before the registration deadline.
2. strictly review the issuing subject and date: when applying, clearly explain to the staff that it must be sent directly in the name of the institution, and verify the issuing date, so as to avoid being rejected due to “overdue materials”, thus missing the opportunity to take the exam in the second half of the year.
3. the test preparation rhythm is fully improved: the first part of the written examination is only a few months away from the start of the registration, while the practical and clinical examinations in the second and third parts are concentrated at the end of the year. Please allocate your energy reasonably while strictly controlling the “materials”, and carry out high-intensity sprint in strict accordance with the established clinical and written examination review plan.
Hkdle’s entry threshold has always been strict, and the standardization of material review is directly related to whether it can enter the examination smoothly. Please strictly follow the official guidelines and promote the application work in a standardized and orderly manner.
We will continue to analyze and release for you the specifications for filling in the registration form, the terms and conditions of the official examinee guide, and the professional pit refuge analysis for the practical and clinical parts of each examination station. I wish you all the candidates to successfully pass the audit in the second half of the year, prepare for the exam efficiently and successfully get ashore.