Applicants for this qualification must:

• Be currently employed in a dental practice and working a minimum of 21.5 hours per week
• Have basic English language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening)
• Be 18 years of age or over. Applicants under the age of 18 require the signed consent of a parent or guardian to enrol.
• Have your enrolment approved by ADAQ

Traineeships and General Training Funding

To check your eligibility to become a trainee or access General Training Funding please see our Traineeships and General Training Funding page or contact the training team via email at [email protected] or by phone on 07 3252 9866

ADAQ Training course material is delivered online via the Canvas Learning Management platform. To successfully complete the course, it is required that students have access to a reliable internet connection and a PC or Laptop with up-to-date software including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Edge (Windows 10 version), Google Chrome or Firefox. Students will also need access to a mobile phone or recording device to complete video assessments.

Students can access Canvas from any browser on an Android/iOS device. However, mobile browsers are not supported, and features may not function as expected compared to viewing Canvas in a fully supported desktop browser.

Canvas has two native mobile applications available for students (free to download) on both phones and tablets. Depending on the device, not all Canvas features may be available on the app at this time.

Resources required for training and assessment in the workplace

Students enrolling in this qualification will need to have access to the following items in their workplace to complete the training and assessment requirements of the course:

• Personal protective equipment for the operator, student and patient – including glasses, gowns/coats, masks and gloves.
• Instrument reprocessing equipment - including a steam steriliser, sterilisation records, soiled re-usable medical devices for reprocessing, cleaning equipment.
• Equipment and materials used during a room changeover – cleaning products, barrier protection materials, appropriate waste bins.
• Equipment and materials required for dental treatment – including a dental chair, curing light, dental unit including, suctioning unit, water line, air turbine motors and practitioner light, dental materials including medicaments and restorative materials, dental instruments including surgical and restorative handpieces and burs, patient information system and patient records
• Radiographic equipment – including radiographs and radiographic apparatus
• Administration facilities – including telephone, equipment for handling and recording financial transactions,
• Practice documentation - current Dental Board of Australia (DBA) and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) guidelines and practice standards, Dental Board of Australia (DBA) infection control and record keeping guidelines, organisational infection control guidelines and procedures, infection control policies and procedures, safety data sheets, and manufacturer instructions
• Modelling of industry operating conditions, including access to people for simulations and scenarios in dental assisting work.
• For the unit HLTDEN027 Take a Clinical Photograph, students will also require access to mouth mirrors and cheek retractors and be able to take 50 clinical photographs under the supervision of a practitioner.
• For the unit HLTDEN028 - Provide effective oral hygiene instruction to patients with an oral health treatment plan, students are required to provide oral hygiene instructions and information to 6 patients with specific requirements under the supervision of a practitioner.

Please contact the ADAQ Training team if you have any questions regarding access to these items.

Standard Course Structure

Students must successfully complete all core units and two (2) elective units. Students may choose any two of the electives listed below.

Core Units of Competency

Elective Units

*The unit HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is not provided as part of the course content and will need to be completed with an external provider prior to course completion. Evidence of completion must be provided. The cost of HLTAID011 is not included in the course fees.

Each unit of study includes both theory and practical components which are conducted throughout the course and may include a variety of assessment methods including; written assessments, video assessments, quizzes, observation during onsite practice visits, workplace logbooks, work samples, third-party feedback, and recognition of prior learning.

If you have previously completed any of the core/elective units as part of another qualification you may be eligible for Credit Transfer (CT) or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer (CT) allows for students who have previously completed a unit of competency completed with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to have that unit recognised by all other RTO’s.

An example of credit transfer is if you have previously completed a unit offered in the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting with the exact unit code and course name as the unit you are enrolling, that unit will be recognised by ADAQ Training, and you will not be required to complete the unit again. 

To gain Credit Transfer, we recommend that you contact ADAQ Training prior to enrolling to confirm that you are eligible for the credit transfer for the unit that you are applying. Once this has been confirmed you would enrol in the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting as normal. When selecting the electives on the enrolment form, you would include the unit that you are applying for Credit Transfer, then upload your evidence of prior completion of that unit in the area provided.

In providing your certification of prior completion of the unit you will be consenting to have your certification authorised either via ADAQ accessing your USI transcript directly or by ADAQ contacting the RTO you completed your qualification with directly.

Recognition of Prior Learning

All students enrolling in qualifications with ADAQ Training are invited to apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL). If applying for RPL, you will need to provide evidence of your prior skills, learning and experience. The evidence provided must relate to the performance criteria, performance evidence and knowledge evidence outlined in each of the units you are applying for RPL.

RPL will be assessed on the Currency, Authenticity, Sufficiency and Validity of evidence provided to demonstrate the students’ knowledge and skills.

Students who gain RPL for units of competencies will still be required to complete some assessments and proof of currency to be eligible to complete the applicable units.

For more information on the RPL process, please contact the ADAQ Training team on 07 3252 9866 or [email protected]

Recognition of Prior Dental Assisting Qualification

If you wish to enrol in the HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting, it is a prerequisite to have completed one of the following Certificate III in Dental Assisting qualifications:

• HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting
• HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting
• HLT31812 Certificate III in Dental Assisting

However, if you completed an earlier Certificate III in Dental Assisting, you may be eligible for recognition of the prior qualification (RPQ) for some units to assist you in gaining the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting.

Superseded qualifications for which this may be applicable include:

• HLT31807 Certificate III in Dental Assisting
• HLT31802 Certificate III in Dental Assisting

If you have completed either the HLT31807 or HLT31802 and wish to enrol as an RPQ student in the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting qualification, complete the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting enrolment form and select the RPQ option.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide a copy of your certificate. In providing your certificate you will be consenting to have your certification authorised either via ADAQ accessing your USI transcript directly or by ADAQ contacting the RTO you completed your qualification with directly.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for Credit Transfer or Recognition for Prior Learning, please contact our ADAQ Trainers via email at [email protected] or call us on 07 3252 9866 to discuss further.

To view Fee for Service course fees, click here.

To check your eligibility to become a trainee or access General Training Funding please see our our Traineeships and General Training Funding page or contact the training team via email at [email protected] or by phone on 07 3252 9866