MFDS | MJDF | MFD | Dip PCD : What are these?


 You should know there are four Royal College of Surgeons in the UK (and Ireland)

  1. Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS Eng)
  2. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPS Glas)
  3. Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg (RCS Ed)
  4. Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSi)

Each College has multiple faculties. Usually for dentistry, there are only two faculties.

  1. Faculty of General Dental Practitioners  - FGDP
  2. Faculty of Dental Surgery (For Dental Specialities) - FDS

Every RCS has three levels of affiliations

  1. Student Affiliate
  2. Membership (Referred as Membership Diploma)
    • After First Degree in Medicine/Dentistry or during speciality training
    • Obtained through an exam
    • Eg: MFDS, MRCS, MFD,  MEndo, MProstho, MOrth, MRCOG
  3. Fellowship 
    • After Speciality training
    • Higher experience in general practice
    • Through equivalency - ad eundem (honorary)
    • Through examination 
    • Eg: FDS RCS, FGDP, FRCS, FRCP

There are also bi-collegiate and tri-collegiate or inter-collegiate memberships

    • Eg: MEndo, MPerio, MProstho - Are bi-collegiate membership between RCS England and RCPS (Glasgow)

Enough with the introduction. Lets me explain what is MFDS? MJDF? MFD ? Dip PCD?

MJDF (UK): Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties is a membership diploma of RCS England. It only proves that the candidate has enhanced knowledge in General Dentistry than a recently graduated dental student, and does not act as a license to practice dentistry in the UK. You'll also get membership benefits from the affiliated college. It is Equivalent to MFDS (Conducted by RCPS Edinburg and RCPS Glasgow) and MFD (Conducted by RCS Ireland).

MFDS (UK): Member of the Faculty of Dentistry is a membership diploma of RCPS Edinburg and RCS Glasgow. It is Equivalent to MJDF (Conducted by RCS England) and MFD (Conducted by RCS Ireland)

MFD (Ireland): Member of Faculty of Dentistry is a membership diploma of RCS Ireland. It is Equivalent of MJDF ( Conducted by RCS England) and MFDS (Conducted by RCPS Edin and Glas)

DPCD or Dip PCD (Ireland): Diploma Of Primary Care Dentistry is equivalent to PART 1 of MFD RCSi. It is an international exam open to all dentists, in all parts of the world and can be taken at any time following graduation.Candidates who are successful in the examination are awarded the Diploma of Primary Care Dentistry RCSI qualification and may enter directly into the RCSI MFD Part 2 examination.

 

EXAM PATTERN & ELIGILIBITY:

All RCS membership consists of two parts:

    • Part 1 Theory : Written : MCQs, SBAs, True or False, Etc
    • Part 2 Clinical : Oral, OSCE, Written

For Part 1 of the exam: Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate dental qualification recognized by the RCS

For Part 2 of the exam: There's a entry criteria of few hundred clinical hours. It is usually covered up by Clinical Rotations done in the undergraduate or Internship or Foundation Year (FY 1)

BENEFITS:

  • Gain another set of qualification with nominals which you can write behind your name.
  • Gaining a membership diploma states that you have an enhanced knowledge than a recent dental graduate.
  • Every RCS has their own benefits from free & discounted courses, conferences and events to a lot more. (Click Here to see an example)
  • Some Employers (usually from the Middle-East) increase the salary package.
  • It boosts your application when you apply for Jobs and Post Graduate training. Some positions ask for Membership Diploma as an essential criteria. 

Dr Diana McPherson

Course Director, UK Dental Exams Masterclass

WhatsApp: +44 7537 182 352

Facebook: CLICK HERE

 

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