CURRENTLY RECRUITING
Helping people Travelling the world Aircraft
STARTING PAY FROM
£92,300
+ benefits after completion of foundation training
STARTING PAY AND LEVEL WILL BE CALCULATED INDIVIDUALLY BASED UPON EXPERIENCE
As an RAF Dental Officer, you will deliver a complete range of dental care treatments to all RAF personnel.
There are currently two routes of entry into the RAF as a dentist:
1. Post Foundation training, see more information here.
2. Post dental school, pre foundation training. Find out more here about undertaking your Dental Foundation Training with the RAF.
Add to favourites
Don't limit yourself. You can apply for more than one position and we can help you find the right role.
You can view and manage favourites here .
Already applied? See what the next steps in the application process are below.
On this page:
Salary and Apply
What will you do?
Requirements & eligibility
Career, training & education
Benefits
Application process
Apply for this role
Similar roles
What will you do?
As a Dental Officer, you will provide a high standard of dental care to RAF personnel. Depending on your duty Station this could range from providing dental care to recruits undertaking basic training through to fast jet pilots at front line flying units. All RAF personnel are entitled to receive free dental care to ensure that they are fit for military service. Typical responsibilities include:
Conduct dental screenings and regular checks
Carry out advanced clinical solutions for complicated dental problems
Provide a range of simple treatments like fillings and cleanings
Requirements at a glance
Be qualified to practise dentistry and be fully registered with the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom.
Have GCSEs at a minimum of Grade C/Grade 4-5 or equivalent Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) at a minimum of Grade 2 or Scottish National Equivalent (SNE) at Grade 5 in English Language and Mathematics/Application of Mathematics
Be aged 21 - 53 (Must attest before 54th birthday)
You will need to meet specific Nationality and Residency criteria. Please see full details in the Entry Requirements section below
Commit to a Preliminary Commission of 6 years service
Meet the health and fitness criteria
Pass a Fitness test - Details below
View all entry requirements below
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be aged between 21 and 53 years old (Must attest before 54th birthday).
Applicants must also read all of the sections below and make sure they meet all entry requirements before submitting an application.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Have these minimum grades:
GCSE
GCSE 2017
SNE
Mathematics/Application of Mathematics
C
Grade 4
Grade 5
English Language
C
Grade 4
Grade 5
Be qualified to practice dentistry and be fully registered with the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom.
If your qualifications are not listed, or you do not have any qualifications, please Contact Us to learn more about how you can join the Royal Air Force.
NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY
NATIONALITY
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).
RESIDENCY
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application, but candidates with a minimum of 3 years may be considered.
If you have resided abroad for a period due to work or study, you may still be eligible on a case by case basis.
This will be established during the selection process.
The Nationality and Residency requirements are the foundation of obtaining the necessary security clearance. The nationalities of your spouse or partner, and parents, are also taken into account among other factors.
There will be further pre-employment checks and you will be expected to achieve the security clearance of Security Check (SC).
Employment restrictions may be imposed in the future if you are unable to achieve an increased security clearance requirement for selected placements.
Security Vetting and Nationality Considerations
RAF security policies are subject to ongoing review, which may impact the eligibility of individuals with dual nationality or direct connections to certain countries to obtain the minimum required level of security vetting. Security vetting is a mandatory requirement for all RAF personnel.
Applicants are welcome to proceed with their application to join the RAF; however, it is important to understand that permanent employment is contingent upon successfully obtaining the appropriate level of security vetting for the chosen role.
If it is determined that an applicant’s nationality or connections may prevent the granting of the required clearance, this could result in the rejection of the application. Additionally, restrictions may apply to the roles available to individuals based on nationality or dual nationality concerns, as outlined by UK government policy.
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. Every candidate's fitness levels are tested as part of the application process.
The first of these is the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) which takes place at a fitness centre local to you. This consists of a 2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
How fit you need to be to pass this test varies on age and gender. The PJFT requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).
MEN
AGE
2.4 Km Run
(Mins)
15-16
13.52
17-29
13.20
30-34
13.49
35-39
14.14
40-44
14.46
45-49
15.17
50-54
15.53
WOMEN
AGE
2.4 Km Run
(Mins)
15-16
16.22
17-29
15.48
30-34
16.14
35-39
16.44
40-44
17.22
45-49
17.57
50-54
18.34
See here for more information about a training plan
A second fitness test will take place at RAF Cranwell as part of your familiarisation visit. This includes the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT or Bleep test). Standards to achieve will be given during the visit.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Candidates joining the RAF must be medically fully fit, both physically and psychologically, to meet the challenges of military service, during which they will be expected to deploy, potentially at short notice, to locations world-wide that are remote from established medical care.
Certain medical conditions could preclude entry to the RAF. Further details can be found in this document.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Information
Why is BMI important?
One of the most common medical causes of delay to candidate’s applications, is falling outside the selection BMI limits. Candidates with a BMI outside the selection limitations are statistically at increased risk of injury during basic training and long-term ill health.
What is BMI?
BMI is calculated using your height and weight. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) classify a healthy BMI as being between 18.5 and 24.9. Some individuals have an elevated BMI due to a high muscle mass. To accommodate individuals with an elevated BMI (up to a maximum of 32) caused by high muscle mass, waist circumference measurements are used.
How to measure your waist circumference
Breathe normally and the waist measurement is to be taken at the end of a normal breath out. Position the tape measure midway between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the pelvis. The tape should be snug but not compress the skin. If there is difficulty finding the bony landmarks, place the tape at the level of the tummy button.
Calculating your BMI
Calculate your BMI here
BMI Limitations for RAF Selection
Age
BMI minimum
BMI maximum
Male maximum BMI (with additional assessment)
Female maximum BMI (with additional assessment)
18 or over
18
30
32 (waist circumference less than 94cm)
32 (waist circumference less than 80cm)
16 to 17
17
27
27
27
Eyesight
Eyesight standards vary for different roles. Wearing glasses or contact lenses may be allowed.
Health Criteria
If you are unsure about any health criteria, please continue your application and your eligibility will be assessed at the medical examination stage.
During your application, the Medical Risk Assessment that all candidates undergo is there to make sure that you are healthy enough for the intense training required by the RAF. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Your medical history is confidential and is not disclosed to those not authorised to hold this information.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
YOU MUST:
Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
Achieve the minimum security clearance of Security Check (SC) for this role
DISQUALIFYING FACTORS
YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:
Have been or are a member of a group that stirs up racial hatred and violence
Are waiting to appear in court, or have unspent convictions. You may also have to declare spent convictions for certain roles
Misuse drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits
Have tattoos, brands or bead implants that are obscene or offensive.
Any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, must not be obscene or offensive (eg, racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drug related or of an extreme political nature). Tattoos may be worn on the side and back of the neck but tattoos on the back of the neck must not extend above the natural hairline (scalp tattoos are not permitted).
Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt
Beard Policy:
Serving personnel can wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm).
Usually, candidates are to be clean shaven when being fitted for their respirators in Phase One training, however other methods of creating a clean seal can be advised if this is not possible due to religious reasons.
If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information please contact us .
CAREER, TRAINING & EDUCATION
At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas.
01
Phase one training
Initial Officer Training
Ongoing
RAF Cranwell
As a specialist officers, you will be required to complete Specialist Initial Officer Training (SOIT) Course at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
Read more
Ongoing
RAF Cranwell
Phase one training
You will complete a challenging modular course split into 4 distinct terms designed to develop your fitness, leadership and academic skills through a number of indoor and outdoor exercises across the UK.
02
Phase two training
Specialist training
Ongoing
As assigned
The RAF Dental Branch currently only recruits dentists who are registered with the GDC and have completed or are in the process of completing Dental Foundation Training.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Phase two training
Foundation Training is not currently offered in the RAF.
03
First tour
Specialist training
Ongoing
As assigned
For your first tour, you will be posted to a multi-chair practice to work with an experienced dentist.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
First tour
You will be mentored and supported to practise dentistry to the highest standards. Comprehensive clinical governance, including quality assurance and practice audit, are built into RAF working practices.
Once you have gained experience of working within the Dental Branch you will have clinical freedom to give your patients the best possible care, whilst maximising RAF resources.
04
Ongoing development
Ongoing training
Ongoing
As assigned
All of our Dental Officers are encouraged to take up to 5 days of postgraduate education each year.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Ongoing development
You will be encouraged to study for the Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) qualification. As your career develops you may be selected to work towards further postgraduate qualifications, e.g. Masters Degrees, and then be appointed as an enhanced general practitioner in disciplines such as periodontology or advanced conservation.
Professional training pathways leading to consultant status are also funded by the Ministry of Defence to meet our clinical and manning requirements.
05
Your career prospects
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
You will join the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant on an Initial Commission of 6 years.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Your career prospects
You will be eligible to be considered for promotion to Squadron Leader after 4 years accredited service (time spent in civilian practice may count towards seniority). Further promotion, to the rank of Wing Commander and beyond, is by competitive selection. You may apply for your engagement to be extended until the age of 60.
06
Transferable skills
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
As a Dental Officer in the RAF, you will have all the development opportunities and career prospects available to your civilian counterparts.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Transferable skills
You will have the chance to work around the world and gain unique dental and personal experiences. Some Dental Officers pursue a full career within the RAF whereas others will leave at the end of their 6-year or 20-year commissions and go on to work in civilian practice where the skills they have learned within the military are highly valued.
WHY JOIN AS AN OFFICER?
When you become an RAF Officer, your responsibilities start from day one. You’ll be tasked with leading a team, building a sense of camaraderie, and making quick decisions. Become tomorrow’s leader. Start today.
Discover more
WHY JOIN THE RAF?
Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
Rent from £75p/m
Free gym
Subsidised food
Health care
World travel
Training
View all benefits
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER APPLYING
Joining the RAF takes several steps. Below is an overview of the process. The purpose of this process is for us to gauge whether you’re the right person for the RAF and for you to show us all of your skills and experiences that have made you who you are.
1
Specialist Interview
2
Health Assessment
3
Fitness Test
4
OASC
5
Familiarisation visit
6
Acceptance
7
Training
1
Specialist Interview
Stage 1 of 7
Candidates for this role will undertake a Specialist Interview. This will be an online interview on MS Teams with a member of the Specialist Recruitment Team and Professions Team. The interview will last around 1 hour. You will have the opportunity to showcase your skills and experience. We can also answer any questions you may have about joining us.
2
Health Assessment
Stage 2 of 7
You’re legally required to meet certain medical standards, and must pass an occupational health assessment to show you’re fit for military duty. As part of this assessment we will check your overall health, focusing on areas like hearing, eyesight and body mass index.
We’ll also investigate any past illnesses and screen for health issues that may prevent you from carrying out your role. Please refer to entry requirements below for more information about the health standards you’ll need to meet.
3
Fitness Test
Stage 3 of 7
A good level of fitness is critical to joining the RAF, it’s also something that must be maintained throughout your career. You’ll need to complete a Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFC). This will take place at a local gym near to you, and is a 2.4km run.
The performance level you’ll need to meet differs by age and gender. You can also find help, and a training plan, to assist you in your preparation here .
4
OASC
Stage 4 of 7
This will be your first visit to the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre. OASC lasts one day, but you will arrive the day before. During this time the officers will be assessing your leadership, teamwork, communication, motivation, and problem solving.
The day will end with an interview. The first half of the interview covers your achievements at school and college, in sports, your community, at work, and as a cadet, scout or guide.
The second half explores your motivation for joining the RAF – what you know about current affairs and the RAF’s role in the national and international arena, current operations the RAF is involved in and your knowledge about the RAF and the role you've applied for.
You can watch a video here that explains the OASC selection process in more detail.
5
Familiarisation visit
Stage 5 of 7
This takes place over 2 days and is designed to give you an insight into officer training. You’ll be issued with your initial kit, including your boots, attend lectures, and also repeat the fitness test taken at OASC.
6
Acceptance
Stage 6 of 7
Once you’ve successfully completed each phase of the application process you’ll be invited to a provisional offer of service interview at your nearest AFCO.
This is to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of service in the RAF, are fully committed to joining, and prepared to commence training.
7
Training
Stage 7 of 7
(M)IOT and officer staff training
The Modular Initial Officer Training Course (MIOTC) has been designed to set commissioning officers up for their career in the RAF with the right skills and knowledge. This training will provide a solid platform for your continued development.
Visit our Cranwell training page for more information about (M)IOT and the rest of officer training.
APPLY NOW
Got what it takes? Start your application here.
SIMILAR ROLES
Medical Services
Dental Nurse
Helping people Travelling the world Sport & fitness
Medical Services
Biomedical Scientist
Analysis & maths Gaming & computers Building & fixing things
View all roles
