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NHS Education for Scotland

A skilled and sustainable workforce for a healthier Scotland

Dental vocational (foundation) training

Dental Vocational Training (DVT) is organised and administered on a Scotland-wide basis by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). The main components of DVT include: a centralised recruitment process and a standardised training programme designed to help recently qualified dentists make the transition from undergraduate teaching to independent practice.  

Trainee Recruitment 

Dental Vocational Training (TVT)   

Recruitment to Training Year 2026/27 commences in September 2025. Applications are now open and close on 15th October 2025.   

Applications to Dental Vocational Training posts in Scotland are made on Oriel, please follow this link to apply: 

https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/PermaLink/Vacancy/D940F6BE 

DVT Information Booklet 

DVT Person Specification 

DVT Applicant Guide 

DVT Structured Reference Form 

Vocational Training Allowances are determined within the Statement of Dental Remuneration on the Scottish Dental website. Any details, including VT Salary information, can be found hereStatement of Dental Remuneration | Scottish Dental 

Vocational Training in Scotland 2026/27 - Webinar 

The NES dental team held an informative VT recruitmentwebinar on Tuesday, 19th August, which can be viewed via the following link: https://vimeo.com/1113921763 

DVT Recruitment Timeline  

Date  

  Recruitment Activity  

Wednesday, 10th September 2025 at 12pm  

Oriel opens for DVT applications  

Wednesday, 15th October 2025 at 12pm  

Oriel closes for DVT applications and supporting documents upload  

By Monday, 1st December 2025  

Application Outcomes released via Oriel   

Friday, 29th May 2026 10am to Monday, 1st June 2026  

Visitation opens 

Rural Trainer Prospectus live on DTIS and Rural practices eligible to make direct appointments  

Monday, 1st June 2026 at 10am  

Remaining Trainer Prospectus live on DTIS  

*Please note all above dates are subject to change  

 

Longitudinal Foundation Training (LDFT)   

Applicants who applied for DVT by the closing date will be given the opportunity to register interest for the LDFT programme and will be contacted by NES once longlisting has been completed.

Details of the programme can be found within the LDFT Booklet.

Person Specification for applicants to LDFT: LDFT Person Spec

 

Therapist Vocational Training (TVT)   

Therapist Vocational Training (TVT) recruitment is organised and administered on a Scotland-wide basis by NHS Education for Scotland (NES).   

Dental Therapy is a discipline which requires a particular set of skills and knowledge. Vocational training has emerged as a means of developing these skills in new dental therapist graduates. The accepted model of vocational training comprises 12 months of supervised clinical experience in an approved training practice or clinic; supplemented by an educational programme, which includes tutorials and study days.   

The below documents will be published on this website shortly.  

TVT recruitment timeline 

TVT Information Booklet  

TVT Person Specification  

 

Trainer Recruitment 

Applications are open for Vocational Training Year 2026-27

If you have not already used the DTIS system, you can register to apply here: https://nes-dtis.azurewebsites.net/Public/Register.

If you have used DTIS as a trainer before then you can log in as you have done previously to apply, Log in - NES DTIS

 

The NES dental team hosted an information webinar for those considering applying to become a Vocational Trainer on Tuesday 23rd September at 7pm. You can watch it here: 

Becoming a Dental Vocational Trainer - Recorded Webinar 

Trainer Recruitment Timeline 

Date  

  Recruitment Activity  

Monday 6th October 10am 

DTIS Opens for trainer applications 

Monday 8th December 12 noon 

Closing date for NEW trainer applications 

Monday 26th January  

12 noon 

Closing date for current + returning* trainers 

*A returning trainer is an applicant who has NOT been out of VT for more than the last two training cycles 

By 1st April 

Outcomes issued to trainers 

w/c 13th April 

Friday 8th May  

Access for DTIS to complete prospectus 

Prospectus deadline 

 

Trainer Recruitment Documents 

Vocational Trainer Advert

Becoming a Vocational Trainer 

Becoming a Trainer FAQ’s 

Criteria For Trainers

Contact us 

Recruitment Enquiries 

If you have any feedback, comments, concerns or complaints regarding the Dental Recruitment process, please contact us by going to the Service Desk here and submitting a support request. 

Training Specific Enquiries 

In relation to training specific enquiries please contact the VT Hub at vthub@nes.scot.nhs.uk.  


Last updated: Monday, October 6, 2025

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