Guides Total cost
What GDC registration actually costs in 2026
The exam fee is not the bill. Application, registration, the annual retention fee and the things nobody lists — for both routes.
Most cost pages quote you an exam fee and stop. The exam fee is not the bill. Below is everything from application to your first year on the register, for both routes, at 2026 prices.
The ORE route
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| ORE application processing | £115 |
| Part 1 | £485 |
| Part 2 | £6,967 |
| Exam total | about £7,567 |
Part 2 rose from £4,235 to £6,967 in May 2026 — an increase of £2,732, or 65%. Part 1 fell, from £584 to £485. VAT now applies to ORE fees. A medical emergencies retake on its own costs £686.
The LDS route
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | £1,025 |
| Part 2 | £1,793 |
| Part 3 | £1,736 |
| Exam total | about £4,554 |
Then registration itself
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| GDC registration application | £117.23 |
| Annual Retention Fee, dentist (2026) | £698, pro-rated in your first year |
The ARF recurs every year for as long as you stay registered. It is not a one-off.
What these tables still do not include
Be honest with your own budget about the rest:
- UK ENIC Statement of Comparability — see the ENIC guide.
- IELTS Academic, and a resit if the first attempt is short of 7.0.
- Travel and accommodation. ORE Part 1 is sat in person at London venues; Part 2 is four days at the UCL Eastman. LDS Parts 2 and 3 are in person in London. Only LDS Part 1 is sat at home.
- A visa, if you need one. Passing an exam is not immigration permission.
- Resits. Budget for at least the possibility.
Where preparation fits
Against a £4,554 to £7,567 exam bill, preparation is the small number — and the one you control. Our courses are £199 per exam for three years’ access, question bank and full revision guide together, with three hours free before you decide.
FAQ
How much does ORE Part 1 cost? £485 in 2026, down from £584. The application processing fee is a separate £115.
How much does the whole ORE cost? About £7,567 in exam fees, plus GDC registration at £117.23 and the annual retention fee of £698.
How much does the LDS cost? About £4,554 across all three parts — roughly £3,000 cheaper than the ORE.
Why did ORE Part 2 get so expensive? It rose 65% in May 2026, from £4,235 to £6,967, after the exam moved to a new delivery provider.
Is there an annual fee after I register? Yes. The dentist Annual Retention Fee is £698 for 2026, pro-rated in your first year.
Sources
Fees, scores and requirements change — confirm anything here with the GDC, RCS England or UK ENIC before you act on it.