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 (DVT)
Recruitment to Training Year 2026/27 commences in September 2025.
The application window to apply for Dental Vocational Training posts in Scotland is now closed.
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 here Statement of Dental Remuneration | Scottish Dental
Vocational Training in Scotland 2026/27 - Webinar
The NES dental team held an informative VT recruitment webinar 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 to Monday, 1st June 2026 |
Rural Trainer Prospectus live on DTIS. Visitation opens for Rural Practices only, and are eligible to make direct appointments during this period. |
|
Monday, 1st June 2026 at 10am |
Remaining Trainer Prospectus live on DTIS (Visitation open for all other practices) |
|
Monday, 1st June 2026 at 10am to Friday 12th June 2026 at 10am |
Visitation open but only direct appointments during this period (no preferencing) |
|
Friday 12th June 2026 at 10am |
Candidate preferencing window opens |
|
Friday,19th June 2026 at 10am |
Candidate preferencing window & Visitation close |
|
Tuesday, 23rd June 2026 at 10am |
Matching results released to candidates on Oriel, following which they will have 48 hours to either accept or reject. Shortly after this, matching results will be uploaded to DTIS for trainers to view who they have matched with.
|
|
Thursday, 25th June 2026 by 5pm |
Clearing Opens |
|
Tuesday, 1st September 2026 |
Training posts commence |
*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
Trainer Recruitment
The application window for New Trainer applications in Scotland is now closed. Please note existing applications are still open as per below timeline.
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 2025 at 10am |
Portal opens for all trainer applications |
|
Monday, 8th December 2025 at 12pm |
Closing date for new trainer applications |
|
Monday, 26th January 2026 at 12pm |
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 Wednesday, 1st April 2026 |
Outcomes issued to trainers |
|
Early April 2025 |
Trainer review outcomes issued to trainers |
|
w/c 13th April 2026 |
Access to DTIS granted to trainers for completion of practice prospectus |
|
Friday, 8th May 2026 |
Deadline for submission of practice prospectus |
|
Friday, 29th May 2026 to Monday, 1st June 2026 |
Rural Trainer Prospectus live on DTIS. Visitation opens for Rural Practices only, and are eligible to make direct appointments during this period. |
|
Monday, 1st June 2026 at 10am |
All Trainer Prospectus live on DTIS (Visitation open for all other practices) |
|
Monday, 1st June 2026 at 10am to Friday 12th June 2026 at 10am
|
Visitation open but only direct appointments during this period (no preferencing)
|
|
Friday, 12th June 2026 at 10am |
Trainer preferencing window opens for DVT |
|
Friday, 19th June 2026 at 10am |
Trainer preferencing window & Visitation closes |
|
Tuesday, 23rd June 2026 at 10am |
Matching results released to candidates on Oriel, following which they will have 48 hours to either accept or reject. Shortly after this, matching results will be uploaded to DTIS for trainers to view who they have matched with. |
|
Thursday, 25th June 2026 by 5pm
|
DVT clearing opens (direct appointments) |
|
Tuesday, 1st September 2026 |
New trainees commence training programme |
Trainer Recruitment Documents
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, January 12, 2026