HLT35021 & HLT45021

Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Study a Certificate III and Certificate IV in dental assisting uninterrupted to achieve two nationally recognised qualifications in just 24 months.

Prepare yourself for a career in dental health with a Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Are you interested in oral healthcare and helping teach good dental hygiene? Would you like to enter an in-demand profession with solid income potential and opportunity in growth? The HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting and HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting might be the right study pathway for you. Designed to completed within just 24 months of back-to-back study, these qualifications teach you how everything you need to know on how to become a dental assistant.

The Certificate III in Dental Assisting reflects the position of workers who assist dental practitioners during oral health care procedures. The role includes maintaining high standards of infection control, assisting with practice administration, and supporting quality and professionalism in the dental sector. To achieve this qualification, you must complete at least 350 hours of work placement. Similarly, the Certificate IV in Dental Assisting signifies the role of dental employees who provide an advanced level of assistance to dental practitioners which contributes to the quality of oral health care. You must complete Certificate III before commencing study on Certificate IV.

The dental assistant courses are delivered online combined with practical components to ensure you enter the dental sector highly qualified and ready to hit the ground running. Whether you’re wanting to become a dental assistant, dental receptionist or dental hygienist, these certificates in dental assisting provide you with all the skills, expertise and experienced required to make a prosperous career in the industry.

With job prospects for dental assistants set to rise over the coming years (according to Job Outlook) and enticing entry-level salaries up for grabs, there’s no better time to enrol in our flexible online courses to learn how to become a dental assistant.

Interested in becoming qualified as a dental radiographer? Dental radiography work must only be performed by a person with a radiation user licence granted by the relevant State /Territory regulatory authority under legislation. To learn the skills necessary to apply for a licence, you’ll need to study a HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography).

*Source: joboutlook.gov.au

The HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting & HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting is a Nationally Recognised course.

Eligibility Requirements

Education

Entry in HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting has no pre-requisite or mandatory education requirements as specified by the training package. Students’ skills and capabilities to undertake this training product will be assessed and advice on suitability will be provided during the pre-enrolment process.

Students must complete HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting before commencing HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting.

Minimum Age

You will need to be at least 16 years old. If you are under 18 your enrolment form will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.

Residency Status

You will need to be a permanent Australian resident or equivalent.

Computer Requirements

In order to successfully complete the online part of the education support course you will need regular access to the following:

Computer: Laptop or desktop computer with working speakers or headphone points
Internet: High-speed internet such as Broadband or ADSL, T1/T2, fibre optic (Dial-up access is not recommended)
Windows: Operating system – Windows 8 or above
Internet Browser: Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
MAC: Operating system - OS X 10.14 Mojave or later
Software: Flash, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Word (or Open Office which is free to download).

Work Placement

For mandatory work placement (350 hours, including an initial 50 hours completed in simulation), students must have access to a dental practice and a qualified supervisor i.e. a person who holds Certificate III in Dental Assisting or a higher relevant qualification.

To complete HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting students will need further access to a dental practice with relevant equipment, patients, and staff to complete practical activities. During these placement activities, students must have access to a suitably qualified supervisor i.e. a person who holds a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting or higher relevant qualification.

Students may need to undertake a Working with Children check to meet individual work placement employer requirements.

We will assist you in organising a work placement location of your choosing.

Qualification

Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Delivery

Online course, combined with 350 hours of practical work placement and additional workplace tasks available

Length

Up to 24 months – up to 12 months to complete HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting and up to 12 months to complete HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Study Load

Submit 1 unit of competency every 6 weeks to graduate in 24 months

Cost

Payment Options

Upfront Payment
Payment Plan

Course Outcomes

Once you’ve completed your Certificate III in Dental Assisting and a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting, you’ll be able to provide an advanced level of assistance to dental practitioners which contributes to the quality of oral health care. There are plenty of employment opportunities available upon completing these qualifications, including dental assistant, dental therapy assistant, dental sterilisation nurse and dental hygienist assistant.

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants will assist dentists, hygienists and therapists with a mixture of dental procedures. Their responsibilities include but are not limited to prepping for procedures and cleaning up afterwards, assisting through the duration of the treatments (such as passing instruments and operating the suction apparatus), developing X-rays and carrying out general administrative duties.

Dental Therapy Assistant

As a registered healthcare professional, a dental therapy assistant specialises in the oral care of children and teenagers. Their main role is to provide help prepping young patients for examinations and treatments to improve productivity in the workplace. Dental therapy assistants focus on patient care and ensuring the patients feel comfortable and receive all the necessary information regarding their examination or procedure.

Dental Sterilisation Nurse

Dental sterilisation nurses play a pivotal role in the dental practice. They are responsible for cleaning the instruments used in procedures, keeping the environment clean and adhering to strict infection control guidelines. The proper sterilisation of equipment is an essential part of dentistry and it’s the dental sterilisation nurse’s job to ensure they provide their patients with the highest quality dental care.

Dental Receptionist

A dental receptionist ensures the dental practice operates smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities are wide and varied, ranging from being the first point of contact with patients, managing incoming calls, scheduling appointments, assisting patients with forms and advising them of policies, general administration, handling test results and communicating with supply vendors. They need to be highly organised with fantastic interpersonal skills.

Dental Hygienist Assistant

With a focus on promoting oral health and preventing periodontal disease, a dental hygienist assistant assists dental hygienists and dentists in a broad range of procedures. The workload is highly interesting and the day-to-day tasks often vary. Their duties include assisting with check-ups and teeth cleaning as well as being an integral part of patient education on proper dental care and preventative care.

Delivery Options and Length

Online course, combined with 350 hours of practical work placement and additional workplace tasks

Flexible online learning, via My eCampus, combined with 350 hours of work placement. For mandatory work placement (350 hours, including an initial 50 hours completed in simulation), students must have access to a dental practice and a qualified supervisor i.e. a person who holds Certificate III in Dental Assisting or higher relevant qualification.

To complete HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography) students will need further access to a dental practice with relevant equipment, patients, and staff to complete practical activities. During these placement activities, students must have access to a suitably qualified supervisor i.e. a person who holds a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting or higher relevant qualification.

Up to: 24 months – up to 12 months to complete HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting and up to 12 months to complete HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Cost & Payment Options

Upfront Payment

Payment Plan

Your course fee includes the delivery and assessment of your qualification, your study materials (including all resources) and on-going support from our Education Team.

Upfront payment All course costs can be paid in total via VISA/MasterCard or bank deposit.

Payment plan Paid via a series of regular weekly or fortnightly instalments.

Course fees include course delivery and assessment, study materials and dedicated student support services. Please note this course does not qualify for assisted government funding.

Online course, combined with 350 hours of practical work placement and additional workplace tasks

CHCCOM005

Communicate and work in health or community services

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, management and other industry providers. This unit applies to a range of health and community service contexts where workers may communicate face-to-face, in writing or using digital media and work with limited responsibility under direct or indirect supervision.

CHCDIV001

Work with diverse people

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work respectfully with people from diverse social and cultural groups and situations, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This unit applies to all workers.

HLTDEN015

Prepare for and assist with dental procedures

This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to prepare the dental surgery including equipment, instruments and materials, for dental procedures and assist the practitioner during dental procedures. This unit applies to dental assisting work under the instruction and supervision of the dental practitioner. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

HLTDEN016

Assist with dental radiography

This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to prepare patients for dental radiography. It also describes the skills and knowledge to process and mount conventional dental radiographs. This unit applies to dental assisting work under the instruction and supervision of the dental practitioner. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

HLTDEN017

Assist with administration in dental practice

This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required for a dental assistant to assist the practitioner by managing appointments to suit the patient and the organisation, recording and reconciling payments, and maintaining patient records. This unit applies to dental assistants who assist with administration in dental practice. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

HLTINF001

Comply with Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Procedures

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to follow organisational infection prevention and control procedures, including implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to infection risks. This unit applies to individuals working in health and direct client care contexts.

HLTINF002

Process reusable medical devices and equipment

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to clean, sterilise and package reusable medical devices and equipment. This unit applies to workers in office based health practice settings such as general practitioner (GP) surgeries, dental practices and other environments where a limited range of sterilisation equipment may be available. They follow established procedures and work under general supervision.

HLTWHS001

Participate in workplace health and safety

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required for workers to participate in safe work practices to ensure their own health and safety, and that of others. The unit applies to all workers who require knowledge of workplace health and safety (WHS) to carry out their own work, either under direct supervision or with some individual responsibility. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

HLTAID011*

Provide First Aid

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies. The unit applies to all persons who may be required to provide a first aid response in a range of situations, including community and workplace settings. Specific licensing/regulatory requirements relating to this competency, including requirements for refresher training should be obtained from the relevant national/state/territory Work Health and Safety Regulatory Authorities. * This course contains the unit, HLTAID011Provide first aid, which must be completed through an external RTO. Foundation Education has an agreement in place with Red Cross Australia (RTOID 3605) which allows students to receive training for this unit at a reduced price. Please note that the cost of this external training is not included in any of your course fees. Upon completion, you will need to submit a copy of your first aid certificate in order for us to process a Credit Transfer against this unit on your student record. If you have chosen your own third-party provider, you must submit a certified copy of your certificate. If you have undertaken training with Red Cross Australia, you must forward Foundation Education the email you receive which contains the electronic copy of your certificate.

HLTDET001

Construct models

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to construct models from impressions of the patient’s maxillary or mandibular jaws. This unit applies to work in dental technology.

HLTSTE003

Sterilise loads

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to follow correct procedures to select and operate sterilisation equipment, interpret steriliser function and parameters in the provision of sterilised reusable medical devices, appropriately load items for sterilisation, and to release sterilised items for distribution. This competency unit does not deal with ethylene oxide sterilisation. This unit applies to individuals working under general supervision and within established procedures in a range of health service organisations, including hospitals and specialist sterilisation facilities.

HLTWHS003

Maintain work health and safety

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to implement and monitor work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and work practices as part of a small work team. This unit applies to workers who have a key role in maintaining WHS in an organisation, including duty of care for other workers.

BSBMED301

Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to understand and respond to instructions; to carry out routine tasks and communicate with a range of internal/external clients in a medical environment; as well as use appropriate medical terminology. It applies to individuals who apply a broad range of competencies in various medical administration contexts. They may exercise discretion and judgment using appropriate knowledge to provide technical advice and support to a team.

HLTDEN027

Take a clinical photograph

This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to take a clinical dental photograph under conditions that can be reproduced. This unit applies to dental assisting work under the instruction and supervision of the dental practitioner. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

HLTSTE004

Manage sterile stock

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply procedures for handling, storing and maintaining sterile stock. This unit applies to individuals working under general supervision and within established procedures in a range of health service organisations.

Students must complete HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting to enter the HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting.

Check the currency of HLT35021 and HLT45021.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Given that some students may already be able to demonstrate their competence in some units, a recognition of prior learning (RPL) assessment process may be available to students to recognise skills and knowledge that may have been gained through formal and informal training and/or learning, work experience and life experience.

Why choose us?

Student Testimonial

Rachel Withers, dental graduate

I started my placement four weeks ago roughly and was offered a full-time job within the practice.

Flexible Online Study
All of our courses are delivered online, giving you the flexibility to choose your course length.
Dedicated Student Support
Our industry experienced Technical Advisors, Assessors and Support Officers will support you from enrolment through to graduation.
Industry-relevant Courses
Course material is developed in consultation with industry experts to equip you with job-ready skills.
Nationally Recognised Training
All of our courses are Nationally Recognised and accredited.

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