Dental Practitioners
Dental practitioners who intend to practise dentistry in Sri Lanka must be registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council. Registration is granted to individuals who possess recognised dental qualifications and meet the professional and ethical standards required for dental practice.
Dental graduates may initially obtain provisional registration in order to complete supervised training where applicable, followed by full registration once the required training and regulatory requirements have been fulfilled.
The Council also maintains a register of dental specialists who have completed recognised postgraduate specialist training.
400+
New Dental Registrations / Year
100+
Years of Dental Regulation
6+
Accredited Dental Schools
5
Dental Registration Services
Registration Pathway
Dental graduates must complete three milestones before they may practise independently as a registered dental surgeon.
Provisional Registration
Granted to BDS graduates from a recognised dental school upon passing their final professional examination. Allows commencement of the mandatory internship year.
- Eligible after passing final BDS exams
- Required to begin internship
- Supervised practice only
Dental Internship
A compulsory one-year clinical training programme at an SLMC-approved government dental hospital under the supervision of specialist consultants.
- One year at an approved dental hospital
- Rotations across core dental disciplines
- Assessed by supervising consultants
Full Registration
Full licence enabling independent dental practice throughout Sri Lanka. Issued upon successful completion of the internship and all SLMC requirements.
- Full independent practice authorised
- Entry into the SLMC dental register
- Annual renewal required
Dental Registration Services
All dental registration services are available through the MySLMC practitioner portal.
Renewal & Restoration
AnnualRenew your dental practice licence annually through MySLMC. Restoration of lapsed registrations is available subject to CPD compliance.
- Annual renewal online
- CPD verification
- Restoration of lapsed registration
- Renewal certificate download
Full Registration
Post-InternshipApply for full registration after completing your dental internship. Authorises independent dental practice throughout Sri Lanka.
- Post-internship application
- Qualification verification
- Dental register entry
- Registration certificate
Specialist Registration
SpecialistRegister specialist credentials in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontics, or Paediatric Dentistry.
- Postgraduate qualification verification
- Specialty credential registration
- Specialist register entry
- Consultant designation
Temporary Registration
Foreign DentistsOverseas-trained dental practitioners may apply for temporary registration for short-term visits, approved projects, or teaching and research activities.
- Category A — Short-term visit
- Category B — Approved post/project
- Category C — Teaching/research
- Duration-limited registration
Certificate of Good Standing
VerificationOfficial certificate confirming dental registration status and good standing with SLMC. Required for overseas employment, further study, or immigration.
- Standard certificate
- Urgent / express processing
- Duplicate copy request
- Apostille-ready document
Professional Services
GeneralAdditional services including registration of additional qualifications, information updates, internship certificates, and SLMC ID card requests.
- Additional qualification registration
- Information / address update
- Internship completion certificate
- SLMC practitioner ID card
Registration Requirements
All documents must be certified and in the required format before applying. SLMC may verify documents directly with issuing institutions.
- Completed BDS or equivalent from a recognised institution
- Original degree certificate or provisional certificate
- Certified copy of birth certificate
- National Identity Card or passport copy
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Duly completed application form
- Prescribed registration fee payment receipt
- Completed and certified dental internship — one full year
- Internship completion certificate from hospital director
- SLMC provisional registration certificate
- Satisfactory assessment reports from supervising consultants
- Duly completed application form
- Prescribed registration fee payment receipt
- Current full SLMC dental registration
- Postgraduate specialist qualification certificate
- Letter of recognition from relevant specialty board
- Certified copies of all academic documents
- Duly completed specialist application form
- Prescribed specialist registration fee
- Valid dental registration in country of origin
- Certificate of Good Standing from home regulator
- Invitation or appointment letter from Sri Lankan institution
- Passport copy (valid for duration of registration)
- Completed application form with sponsor details
- Prescribed fee — varies by category (A, B or C)
Important Notes
Processing Time
Standard applications are processed within 10–15 working days. Contact the Registrar's Office for urgent requests.
Document Language
All documents not in Sinhala, Tamil, or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
Fee Payment
Fees are non-refundable once an application has been processed. Payment via MySLMC portal or bank draft.
Verification
SLMC reserves the right to verify submitted documents directly with the issuing institution.