Threatening the Professional Future of an Entire Generation of Iranian Dentists

Is It Fair to Deny Qualified Dental Professionals Access to an Essential Examination Solely Because They Reside in Iran?

To: The Australian Dental Council (ADC), Pearson VUE/Pearson Professional Assessments, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the relevant Australian authorities

We, the undersigned Iranian dentists, dental professionals, ADC candidates, educators, and supporters, respectfully call for the urgent reconsideration of the recent restriction preventing candidates whose primary residence is Iran from scheduling or sitting the ADC Written Examination at authorised Pearson VUE test centres outside Iran unless they can provide proof of primary residence in another country.

This restriction places an unfair and disproportionate barrier in the path of an entire group of qualified dental professionals. The ADC Written Examination is an Australian professional assessment and has no connection to the Iranian government or any sanctioned activity. Iranian candidates seek only the opportunity to demonstrate their professional knowledge under the same examination, identification, and security requirements as every other candidate.

We understand that Pearson must comply with applicable U.S. regulations and that this restriction may be related to changes concerning General License G. Nevertheless, we respectfully urge Pearson, OFAC, the ADC, and the relevant Australian authorities to work together to identify every legally permissible solution—including an exemption, licence, transitional arrangement, alternative examination provider, or other lawful delivery method—that would allow residents of Iran to continue taking the ADC Written Examination outside Iran.

For many overseas-qualified Iranian dentists, passing the ADC Written Examination is an essential step in the Australian dental assessment and registration pathway. Candidates dedicate months or years to preparation and incur substantial expenses for examination fees, visas, international travel, accommodation, and study resources. Many affected candidates had already booked their examinations and completed their travel arrangements before learning that they might no longer be permitted to sit the examination.

Preventing these candidates from taking the examination solely because their primary residence remains in Iran does not evaluate them according to their qualifications, knowledge, conduct, or professional merit. Instead, it places their careers and futures in jeopardy because of circumstances entirely beyond their control.

For candidates with existing bookings, the sudden introduction of this restriction is particularly devastating. Lost examination opportunities, non-refundable travel costs, disrupted professional plans, and the possible expiration of examination eligibility periods create serious financial, professional, and personal consequences.

We respectfully request that the relevant authorities:

- Allow residents of Iran to sit the ADC Written Examination at authorised test centres outside Iran wherever legally permissible.

- Honour all examination bookings confirmed before the introduction or announcement of this restriction.

- Reconsider the requirement to demonstrate primary residence outside Iran wherever that requirement is not strictly mandated by law.

- Explore whether OFAC can provide a specific or general authorisation permitting Pearson to deliver the ADC Written Examination to Iranian residents.

- Ask the ADC to establish an alternative lawful examination arrangement or provider if Pearson is unable to administer the examination to residents of Iran.

- Publish clear and transparent information explaining the legal basis, effective date, accepted residency documents, and practical consequences of the restriction.

- Provide affected candidates with appropriate remedies, including refunds, fee transfers, priority rescheduling, and extensions of eligibility or authorisation periods.

- Consider the substantial professional, financial, and personal harm caused to candidates who prepared for months or years and arranged international travel in good faith.

We are not asking for special treatment, reduced professional standards, or exemption from any examination requirement. We are asking only for a fair and legally permissible opportunity to sit the same examination, pay the same fees, comply with the same security requirements, and be assessed according to the same professional standards as every other candidate.

A regulatory restriction should not unintentionally destroy the professional future of an entire generation of dentists who have no involvement in sanctioned activities and are simply seeking to pursue their careers through a legitimate international assessment process.

We respectfully ask the ADC, Pearson VUE, OFAC, and the relevant Australian authorities to act urgently, protect candidates with existing bookings, and establish a lawful pathway that preserves access to the ADC Written Examination for residents of Iran.