In a recent development in the line of dental treatments, any student who is going for or has already done BDS from a foreign country must clear NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance test). The step is mandatory as declared by Dental Council of India (DCI).

No person can simply start practising as a dentist in India even if he or she has appeared for a course in any foreign country. Without clearing NEET, the person will not be eligible for practising in India. The Council has enforced this regulation after making amendments in DCI Screening Test Act 2009. Notices have been issued to all relevant colleges and Universities and even State Councils.

Until now, students were acquiring UG or PG dental degrees from foreign universities and were practising immediately after getting license post screening test. Now with the new regulation, NEET will have to be cleared before practising as a dentist.

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As per eminent Dentist Dr. Smita Singh, the above step has been taken to improve the quality of dental treatments in India. A number of students are studying in the dental field in Russia, China, Nepal etc. but the standards of these places are much different from India. Those standards may not apply to India. Dr. Singh also pointed out that when an Indian therapist goes to USA, he or she is not even allowed to examine a patient without clearing their norms. Only after a therapist proves satisfactory as per American standards, he is allowed to go ahead with treatments. Indians must first examine the patients and once their work seems appropriate to the American authorities, they are allowed to move further ahead. Going ahead, DCI has decided to follow Indian standards and once a student clears NEET he can start working as a dentist in India.