Certificate III in Dental Assisting HLT35021

Dental Assisting is designed for individuals who are interested in starting a career in the dental industry or those who are already working in the field and wish to formalize their skills with a recognized qualification. This course is suitable for those who have a genuine interest in healthcare, oral hygiene, and patient care. It is also an excellent fit for individuals who are organized, have strong interpersonal skills, and can work well in a team-oriented environment as these traits are crucial for dental assistants. Additionally, it's an ideal starting point for those who may wish to further their studies in dentistry in the future, such as aspiring dental hygienists or dental therapists.  

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply.

The HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting equips students with a broad range of skills and knowledge required for effective dental assistance. Here is a list of what you will learn in this course:  

• Dental Terminology: Understanding the specific terms and language used in the dental field.  
• Patient Care: How to provide comfort, support, and assistance to patients before, during, and after dental procedures.  
• Infection Control: Knowledge and practical skills to maintain high standards of infection control in a dental setting.  
• Chair-side Assistance: How to effectively assist dentists during various dental procedures, including preparation and organization of dental instruments and materials.  
• Oral Health Education: Techniques for educating patients about maintaining good oral health and preventing dental diseases.  
• Dental Radiography: Basic principles and safety protocols of dental radiography, and how to assist in taking dental X-rays.  
• Dental Anatomy and Physiology: Understanding of the structure, functions, and conditions of teeth, mouth, and jaw.  
• Dental Office Administration: Skills to manage administrative tasks in a dental practice, including scheduling, record-keeping, and communication.  
• Equipment Maintenance: How to maintain, clean, and sterilize dental equipment.  
• Dental Procedures: An overview of common dental procedures, their purpose, and how to assist in their execution.  
• First Aid: Providing immediate care in emergency situations, including CPR.  
• Professional Ethics: Understanding the ethical and legal responsibilities in a dental practice.  

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Entry Requirements

There are no mandated education entry requirements for this qualification as per the Certificate III in Dental Assisting Training Package. 

There are no mandatory Open Colleges entry requirements. 

It is recommended that students: 

• Are 16 years old (note students under 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to enrol) 
• Have language, literacy and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to work independently and use own familiar support resources, communicate effectively via email, and identify relevant information from a range of written texts. These skills are equivalent to those that would be required to successfully complete: 
• Have access to a modern computer with video / audio playback capabilities and high-speed internet 
• Have access to Microsoft Office or equivalent 
• Have basic computing skills, including ability to make a short video 
• Have access to a digital video recording device to save and upload video/image files to OpenSpace, e.g., mobile phone/smartphone

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 or require guardian/parental consent.

Equipment and tools

You will need to purchase specific tools and equipment for this course. Click here to view the complete list of materials, equipment and tools required for this course. IT Requirements It is recommended that students have the following hardware and additional software: 

• Operating System: 
• Processor: 2 GHz or faster, 2-core 
• Memory: 8GB of RAM or higher z916GB recommended) 
• Hard Drive: Space 2 GB free disk space 
• Browser: Chrome is the preferred browser for students 
• Windows users: 
• Software: 
• Internet Connection: DSL, Cable, or Satellite with at least 2mbps upload speed Note: it is strongly recommended that you have access to the Internet from home. Expecting to access your course from your work internet or a public network like a library or coffee shop may be impractical due to your average weekly study hours. 
• Printer/Scanner: Access to printing/scanning devices or facilities may be required for certain course activities 
• Peripherals: 
• E-Mail Capability: Access to e-mail through an e-mail program or web-based e-mail system (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, Mail for Android or Mail for iOS apps) 
• Students will be required to purchase the following: 

Physical Requirements

The HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting does not just focus on knowledge and skills. It's also important for students to note that certain inherent physical and sensory abilities can enhance success in both the course and future dental assisting roles. However, potential limitations shouldn't discourage anyone as many adjustments can be made to accommodate diverse needs in both educational and professional settings. 

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

• Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
• If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

• Costs for statutory checks will range between $50 - $250 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
• Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
• Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

You will be required to complete a minimum of 350 hours of work placement in 2 blocks. This may be completed as a block or part-time depending on organisation requirements. 

Work placement block 1 can only be commenced after successful completion of Modules 1 – 4 inclusive. Work placement block 2 can only be commenced after successful completion of Modules 6 – 8 inclusive. You will not be able to achieve competencies until you have completed some of your work placement hours. 

Immunisations 

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation. 

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement. 

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Your supervisor is required to have completed the Certificate III in Dental Assisting (or higher) and have 5 years of relevant industry experience.