Satisfactory completion of dental vocational training in Scotland: a system of assessment

Formal assessment of dental vocational training (DVT) has been an issue since 1993 when DVT became mandatory for graduates wishing to practice within the NHS. There have been a number of other drivers for change, including concerns about the capabilities of new graduates, a lack of standardisation of the training experience and accountability for standards of training. All of these factors contributed to the decision, by the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (now part of NHS Education for Scotland--NES), to support a programme of research into the development of a competency-based system of assessment for DVT. During the life of this project the argument for introducing assessment of DVT and General Professional Training (GPT) has become ever stronger.