RACDS offers new continuing education program

The Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons has launched a new program, the Affiliate in General Dental Practice (AGDP). The AGDP is a qualification in general dentistry with a clinical and continuing education focus but significantly different from the long established RACDS Fellowship.

The RACDS believes this new pathway complements existing successful Fellowship programs and provides a wider choice for dentists from private practice, public dental services and the armed forces to become part of the College. The College, which is now more than 30 years old, has a well established reputation for providing other flexible options in postgraduate education to University higher degrees. As a result, the RACDS enjoys continuing support and goodwill from all sections of the dental profession.

In recognition of the varying interests and changing needs of general dentists, the College has spent considerable time designing the Affiliate program to appeal to motivated practitioners who seek to enhance their skills and knowledge after graduation through continuing education. Flexibility in preparation through local continuing education programs and patient care in the practice means that dentists from all over Australia will have ready access to the AGDP.

Well known presenter of postgraduate dental education in Australia and overseas, associate professor Martin Tyas, has played a major role in the planning of the AGDP. Professor Tyas is head of the AGDP Board of Studies, which is made up of Australian and New Zealand College members. After looking at similar qualifications overseas, the AGDP Board has put together a program emphasising knowledge and clinical skills in patient care, clinical maturity and ongoing commitment to continuing dental education.

The AGDP requires 50 hours of continuing dental education over each five-year period after gaining the qualification. In acknowledgment of the professional status of the RACDS pathway, the AGDP has already received approval by the majority of Australasian dental registration authorities as an 'additional qualification'.