countries of the EU/EEA require registration with a competent authority – more frequently this authority is separate from the dental association, and may be government appointed.
To legally practise in each country a basic qualification is always required (degree certificates), but a certain amount of vocational experience, evidence of EU citizenship, a letter of recommendation from a dentist’s current registering body and sometimes evidence of insurance coverage may be necessary. When examining the situation in a particular country it is important to distinguish legal registration to practise in any capacity (usually with government department or agency, sometimes as a ‘licence’) from registration with a social security or social insurance scheme. Where registration is with the national dental association or another non-governmental body a private practitioner may also require a ‘licence to practise’ from a government ministry. Registration with social security or insurance schemes will often depend on different criteria, and may also entail linguistic, contractual as well as ethical obligations.