New for January 2027 — in partnership with Novus Institute. First cohort places are limited. Register your interest →
Recognised diploma 9 months · 9 modules Monthly in London Cohort starts January 2027 From £917/mo + VAT

You're a brilliant dentist.
Buying your first practice shouldn't feel like a leap in the dark.

A recognised, end-to-end diploma that takes you from "I don't know where to start" to confidently owning your own dental practice — with expert tutors, monthly mentoring and real support after you complete.

38+ yrsFTA dental deal expertise
7,800+Buyers in the FTA network
2 yrsPost-diploma buying support
1:1Ongoing personal mentoring
A recognised qualification
Face-to-face in London
×FTA × Novus partnership
Led by Dr Raj Rattan MBE with
Andy Acton Chris Strevens Davesh Patel Vic Gethani
Sound familiar?

Everything tells you to buy a practice. Nothing tells you how.

You're an excellent dentist. But ownership is a different skill set — and the gap between "associate" and "principal" is exactly where most ambitious dentists get stuck.

I don't know what a practice is actually worth

Goodwill, EBITDA, multiples, NHS vs private mix — the numbers feel like a foreign language, and you're terrified of overpaying.

Funding and deal structures are a black box

How much deposit? Which lender? Asset vs share purchase? Earn-outs? You don't know what "good" looks like — or what to avoid.

Due diligence scares me

You've heard the horror stories — CQC issues, dodgy leases, hidden liabilities. You don't know which landmines to look for.

I've never actually run a business

Payroll, compliance, HR, marketing, P&L. Clinical school never taught this, and the responsibility feels overwhelming.

I feel too inexperienced to negotiate

You'll be sitting across from seasoned sellers, accountants and solicitors. How do you hold your own and protect your interests?

What if I get it wrong?

This is the biggest financial decision of your life. One expensive mistake could set you back years — so you keep putting it off.

This diploma exists for exactly this moment. We turn "one day" into a clear, guided plan.

What you get

A complete, hands-held path to practice ownership

Not a webinar series. A structured, recognised programme built by the people who broker dental practices for a living — with you supported every step of the way.

A recognised diploma

A credible, structured qualification — not just our word that it's good. Something to put your name to. Full accreditation details will be confirmed for the January 2027 cohort.

9 modules over 9 months

A logical sequence from first principles to completion — covering every stage of buying and running a practice.

Monthly face-to-face in London

In-person teaching, case work and peer learning each month — the relationships and accountability online can't replicate.

Ongoing 1:1 mentoring

Personal guidance from experts who do this every day — so you always have someone in your corner when the stakes are high.

Support after you finish

When you buy a practice within 2 years of completing, we're alongside you for the real deal — not just the theory.

Taught by genuine experts

Led by Dr Raj Rattan MBE, with course tutors who are leaders in their fields — finance, law, valuation and operations.

The curriculum

Nine modules. One confident buyer.

Each module builds on the last, ending in a live final project on buying a real dental practice — so you finish with applied skills, not just notes.

01

Buying a practice

The full buying journey, the market today, and how to find and assess the right opportunity for you.

02

Financial planning

Personal and practice finances, affordability, cashflow and building the financial foundation for ownership.

03

Funding & deal structures

Lenders, deposits, asset vs share purchases, earn-outs and structuring a deal that protects you.

04

Legal framework & due diligence

Contracts, leases, CQC, NHS contracts and the diligence checklist that uncovers the risks before you sign.

05

Valuation & negotiation skills

How practices are really valued — and how to negotiate confidently to the right price and terms.

06

Transition from old to new owner

Handover, staff, patients and systems — managing the changeover smoothly and protecting goodwill.

07

Running the practice from day one

People, performance, marketing, systems and leading a team — managing the business from day one.

08

Risk, compliance, governance & scaling

Governance and compliance done right — plus how to scale and build a multi-site portfolio over time.

09
Final project

A live project on buying a dental practice

Pull it all together into a real-world buying project — pressure-tested by your tutors and mentors — so you walk away ready to act.

Your mentors

Learn from the people who do this every day

Led by some of the most respected names in UK dentistry and practice transactions, supported by specialist tutors who are leaders in their fields.

Programme leadDr Raj Rattan MBE

Dr Raj Rattan MBE

Programme lead · dental leadership & risk

One of UK dentistry's most respected voices, bringing decades of leadership, clinical governance and risk insight to guide the programme.

Andy Acton

Andy Acton

Leadership & practice buying

Serial entrepreneur who acquired Frank Taylor & Associates in 2000 and has built it into the UK's leading dental practice sales agency — a sought-after speaker on leadership, management, marketing and the future value of dental practices.

Chris Strevens

Chris Strevens

Dental valuation & practice finance

Acquired Frank Taylor & Associates in 2000 with Andy and is Director & co-owner of Frank Taylor & Associates and the companies within the wider FTA Group, with recognised expertise in dental valuation, practice finance and deal structures — and decades of experience advising banks and buyers across the UK.

Davesh Patel

Davesh Patel

Practice buying & strategy

Hands-on expertise in buying, structuring and growing dental practices — translating real deals into practical lessons.

Vic Gethani

Vic Gethani

Deal-making & business growth

Deep experience in valuation, negotiation and building successful dental businesses from purchase to scale.

Plus specialist guest tutors across finance, law, valuation and operations.

How it works

From first module to your first practice

A clear, supported journey — not just nine months of teaching, but ongoing partnership well beyond your final module.

1

Apply & join the cohort

Register your interest, secure your place, and join the January 2027 intake.

2

9 months of learning

One module a month, with face-to-face sessions in London and applied case work.

3

Graduate with your diploma

Complete your final project and earn your diploma qualification.

4

Buy with us beside you

Ongoing mentoring and hands-on support when you buy within 2 years.

A modern UK dental practice reception
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Two trusted names, one programme
Why learn with us

Built on real deals, not theory

Frank Taylor & Associates has guided dental practice owners through successful transactions for over 38 years. This diploma, created with Novus Institute, distils that experience into a programme designed to make you a credible, confident buyer.

38+Years guiding dental practice transactions
7,800+Buyers in the FTA network
LimitedPlaces in the first cohort
2 yrsOf buying support after you finish
Your investment

A fraction of the cost of one expensive mistake

The wrong valuation or a missed liability can cost six figures. This diploma is the insurance — and the head start — for the biggest investment of your career.

The diploma
£8,250 + VAT (£9,900)

0% finance over 9 months — £917 per month + VAT

One inclusive fee for the full 9-month programme. Pay in full or spread the cost with interest-free monthly instalments.

  • 9 modules over 9 months
  • Monthly face-to-face sessions in London
  • Recognised diploma qualification
  • Live final project
What makes it different
Beyond
the classroom

Most courses stop when the teaching does. We stay with you through the part that actually matters — buying the practice.

  • Ongoing 1:1 mentoring from experts
  • Post-completion support when you buy within 2 years
  • Access to the FTA network of practices & buyers
  • Peer community connections
Register your interest

Apply for the January 2027 cohort

Places are limited and allocated to genuinely committed applicants. Tell us a little about you and your ambitions, and our team will be in touch to discuss whether the diploma is the right fit.

  • Priority access before public launch
  • A personal call to answer your questions
  • No obligation — registering is not a commitment
Places in the first cohort are limitedEarly registrations are prioritised for interview.

Tell us about you

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Thank you — you're on the list

We've received your registration for the January 2027 cohort. A member of our team will be in touch personally to talk it through. Keep an eye on your inbox.

Questions

Everything you might be wondering

Is the diploma accredited?
This is a structured, recognised qualification rather than just an in-house certificate. We're finalising the full accreditation details and will confirm them for the January 2027 cohort.
How much does it cost?
The diploma is £8,250 + VAT (£9,900 in total) — one inclusive fee covering the complete 9-month programme, including all face-to-face sessions, the qualification and your final project. 0% finance is available over 9 months, working out at £917 per month + VAT.
How is it delivered?
Nine modules across nine months, with a face-to-face meeting in London each month. Between sessions you'll work through applied case material, culminating in a live final project on buying a dental practice.
Do I need to be ready to buy right now?
No. The diploma is designed for ambitious dentists at the "I want to, but I'm not sure how" stage. Whether you plan to buy in 12 months or are still exploring, you'll finish ready and confident.
What happens after I finish?
You receive ongoing mentoring, and if you go on to buy a practice within two years of completing, we provide hands-on support as you buy — backed by the wider FTA network.
Who is teaching it?
The programme is led by Dr Raj Rattan MBE, alongside Andy Acton, Chris Strevens, Davesh Patel, Vic Gethani and specialist guest tutors who are leaders in finance, law, valuation and practice operations.
What does registering my interest commit me to?
Nothing. Registering simply gives you priority access and a personal call to learn more. There's no obligation to enrol.

Ready to stop wondering "what if" and start owning?

Join the first cohort and become the confident, credible buyer you know you can be.

January 2027 cohortPlaces are limited
Register →