When applying for the Licensing Examination of the Dental Council of Hong Kong (DCHK), many applicants are confused about two similar but different documents: a Certificate of Good Character and a Certificate of Good Standing. These documents apply to different types of applicants and should not be treated as the same.
For applicants who have never been registered to practise dentistry anywhere, DCHK generally requires an original document certifying their good character during dental training. This is usually issued by the dean or an authorised person of the applicant’s dental school or faculty.
For applicants who are currently registered dentists, or who are not currently registered but have previously been registered with any dental council, board or registration authority, DCHK requires an original Certificate of Good Standing from each relevant registration authority. This certificate must be sent directly to DCHK by the issuing authority, either by post or by email. Certificates issued by employers, clinics or hospitals are not accepted, and certificates issued more than three months ago are considered invalid.
In other words, applicants who have never been registered usually prepare a school-issued Certificate of Good Character. Applicants who have ever held a dental registration must contact the relevant registration authority to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing.
For applicants from Mainland China, the document may sometimes be issued or confirmed through the local health authority or the authority responsible for medical practitioner registration. For example, in Guangzhou, applicants may try to submit a government information disclosure request to the relevant district health bureau, asking whether they have any administrative penalties, disciplinary records or adverse professional conduct records during their registered practice period. Similar approaches may be considered in cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai, depending on the local authority’s procedures.
Sample wording for a school-issued Certificate of Good Character:
This is to certify that Mr./Ms. __________, ID/Passport No. __________, was admitted to the __________ Programme of the School/Faculty of __________, __________ University, in __________. During his/her study and dental training, he/she complied with the laws, regulations and university rules. To the best of our knowledge, he/she has no record of disciplinary offence, misconduct or breach of law. During clinical training, he/she demonstrated good professional attitude, integrity and ethical standards. This certificate is issued for the purpose of applying for the Licensing Examination of the Dental Council of Hong Kong.
Name of Dean / Authorised Person: __________
Position: __________
Signature: __________
Date: __________
Official Seal: __________
Sample wording for a Certificate of Good Standing / Professional Conduct:
This is to certify that Dr./Mr./Ms. __________, ID/Passport No. __________, Medical Practitioner Qualification Certificate No. __________, Practising Certificate No. __________, is/was registered under this authority from __________ to __________ / to present. According to the records currently held by this authority, no record has been found of administrative penalty, suspension or revocation of practising certificate, professional misconduct, disciplinary sanction or other adverse professional conduct record relating to his/her dental/oral medical practice. This certificate is issued for the purpose of applying for the Licensing Examination of the Dental Council of Hong Kong.
Important reminder: if you have never been registered anywhere, it is usually safer to submit the original school-issued Certificate of Good Character together with your application documents. If possible, you may also ask your school to send a scanned copy or confirmation email directly to DCHK as supporting evidence. However, this should not be treated as a substitute for the original document unless DCHK confirms otherwise.
This article is for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice or an official interpretation. Requirements may vary depending on individual circumstances and the latest DCHK instructions. Applicants who are unsure about their situation should contact the Dental Council of Hong Kong directly by phone or email before submitting their application.