About this apprenticeship
What it involves
Dental nurses work alongside dentists and dental therapists, preparing surgeries, assisting during treatments, and looking after patients throughout their visit. You will learn clinical skills, infection control, and how to keep accurate patient records in a regulated healthcare environment. Qualification opens the door to registration with the General Dental Council and further specialist nursing roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Dental anatomy, oral health conditions, and common treatments
Infection prevention and decontamination of instruments
Chairside assisting techniques for routine and specialist procedures
Radiography safety and dental X-ray processing
Patient communication, consent, and safeguarding duties
Accurate clinical record keeping and data protection
Emergency procedures including basic life support
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Prepare the surgery with the correct instruments before each patient
Pass instruments and materials to the dentist during treatment
Monitor and reassure patients who feel anxious
Process and decontaminate instruments after every appointment
Take and process dental X-rays under dentist instruction
Record treatment notes accurately in the patient management system
Restock clinical supplies and maintain surgery equipment
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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