The route into orthotist & prosthetist

The same craft instinct — making a physical device that fits one specific person — with a much shorter training.

Five to six years, clinical from early on. Independent practice follows almost immediately, unlike medicine.

Devices rather than exercise, for many of the same patients, with a workshop as well as a clinic.

Four to five years plus an internship year in the Saudi system; three to four years in the UK. Some countries, notably the US, now require a doctoral-level qualification.

Required by most UK dental schools, on the same timetable and with the same September booking deadline as medicine.

• July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
• September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
• OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
• JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.

A heavy component of the Saudi health-college composite.

• Several periods across the yearQudurat (General Aptitude Test), open from Grade 11. Computer-based and paper sittings both run.
• Final months of the school yearTahsili (Scholastic Achievement Test), sat near the end of Grade 12 once the syllabus is covered.
• Spring and summer of Grade 12University applications through the unified admission portals and each university's own portal.

Sat by every applicant regardless of track.

• Several periods across the yearQudurat (General Aptitude Test), open from Grade 11. Computer-based and paper sittings both run.
• Final months of the school yearTahsili (Scholastic Achievement Test), sat near the end of Grade 12 once the syllabus is covered.
• Spring and summer of Grade 12University applications through the unified admission portals and each university's own portal.

The US graduate-entry dental admission test.

The Saudi admission composite for health and rehabilitation colleges.

• Several periods across the yearQudurat (General Aptitude Test), open from Grade 11. Computer-based and paper sittings both run.
• Final months of the school yearTahsili (Scholastic Achievement Test), sat near the end of Grade 12 once the syllabus is covered.
• Spring and summer of Grade 12University applications through the unified admission portals and each university's own portal.

Required to practise; the classification level follows the qualification and determines scope and pay.

Not a formal test at most programmes, and a genuine requirement of the work — this is a physically demanding profession and the placement year makes that clear quickly.