Dental assisting offers excellent career opportunities for the high school student, high school graduate, those seeking a career change and those re-entering the workforce.
To become a qualified dental assistant and achieve a dental career, you need to gain a Certificate III in Dental Assisting. New South Wales offers courses from three providers:
- The NSW Dental Assistants’ (Professional) Association, Stanmore Visit Website
- TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute – Randwick College based at the Sydney Dental Hospital Visit Website
- TAFE NSW Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) Visit Website
- The Australian Defence Force also offers dental assisting training programmes in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Visit Website
Entry Requirements
Requirements for entry to the Certificate III courses in Dental Assisting:
- The Dental Assistants’ Professional Association
- Students should be at least 16 years of age. Mature age persons welcome
- Traineeship opportunities and School Based Traineeships available to eligible students
- Classroom courses or distance learning
- Minimum qualification of a year 10 school certificate
- Required to be employed in a dental practice or have access to a practice by the end of first term
- International Students
- Minimum qualification of a school certificate level English or 5.5 IELTS
- Permanent Resident of Australia
- TAFE NSW OTEN and Sydney Dental Hospital (Sydney Institute)
- NSW school certificate or equivalent from another authority
- Must have access to a dental practice
- International Students
- Overall score of 5.5 IELTS
- OR successful completion of the Certificate in English for TAFE
- The Australian Defence Force
- Must be at least 17 years of age and under 51 years of age
- Have completed Year 10 with passes in English and mathematics.
- Listed as desirable is a Year 10 pass in Science
- Must be either an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia
Many dental practices provide on-the-job training programmes to get you started. The Certificate III qualification is also open to practicing dental assistants or students who can gain supervised workplace dental assisting experience. You may be given recognition of prior learning or work experience to gain exemptions from repeating what you already know.
Dental assisting courses have attendance requirements and are run to fit in with typical working schedules. Some courses are also available via distance education as well as online.
Distance or flexible learning is also available through the Dental Assistants Professional Assocation (DAPA).
Ask your school careers advisor about the possibility of starting some of this dental assistant training while you are still at school. Some states offer school based traineeships in dental assisting - this is approved in NSW.
Information on traineeships in dental assisting is available through the NSW Department of Education and Training New Apprenticeships Centres.
One of the best ways to experience the career is through a work experience trial. Contact your local dentist to see if they offer this. Please also ensure that you are covered by appropriate insurance, particularly if you are not a school student.
A short "Introductory Course" into Dental Assisting is available through the DAPA. This course is suited to new entrants and school leavers, providing an introduction into practical dental assisting duties and basic "safe working" procedures including Infection Prevention. Students are encouraged to continue into Certificate III in Dental Assisting.
Dental Assistants should have current vaccination for Hepatitis B and Tetanus.
The Dental Assistants Professional Association also conducts an Employment Register which assists in finding suitable dentistry employment. Contact: info@dapa.asn.au or call (02) 9569 3220