QUALIFICATION

Certificate III in Dental Assisting

National Code: HLT35021
TAFE SA Code: TP01274

2025 start

Description

This qualification reflects the role 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.

Award Course Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Duration

Example Career Profile

Print Course Page

6 months

Full Time or Part Time equivalent

Dental Workers/ Dental Assistants

Locations & Applications

Competitive Applications

Campus / Location

Code

Study Mode

Study Load

Scheduled

Gilles Plains

Closed

Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.

Full Time

Apply 5 May 2025

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On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

Online

Online – learn at your own pace, in your own space. Lecturer support will be provided via email and interaction with fellow students may be available via forums and chat groups. Online courses require access to a computer with an internet connection.

Blended

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom – online classes are delivered by Collaborate. Collaborate is a web-based online classroom collaboration tool that acts as a real-time virtual classroom.

Workplace

Workplace – if you are currently employed in the industry but do not have a formal qualification TAFE SA can recognise the skills you already have. The duration of the course will be determined by your individual study plan.

Full Time

Part Time

Day Classes

Evening Classes

International

A course available to International students

Course Admission Requirements

Completion of the Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA)

If there are more applications for this course than places available, applicants will be ranked by date of application to this course.

Existing Worker Applications

Campus / Location

Code

Study Mode

Study Load

Scheduled

Gilles Plains

640318

Part Time

Apply Now

Icon Legend

On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

Online

Blended

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom – online classes are delivered by Collaborate. Collaborate is a web-based online classroom collaboration tool that acts as a real-time virtual classroom.

Workplace

Full Time

Part Time

Day Classes

Evening Classes

International

A course available to International students

Course Admission Requirements

You must be currently working as a Dental Assistant

If there are more applications for this course than places available, applicants will be ranked by date of application to this course.

Please Read Before Applying

Entry Recommendations
You will need to be proficient in speaking, reading and writing English.

Attendance Requirements (subject to change)
Students will be on-campus for 3 to 4 days per week. Trainees and Existing Workers are on-campus for one day or night a week for workshop attendance.

Industry Conditions and Skills
You will have excellent communication skills, enjoy interacting with other people, be organised, meticulous, pay attention to detail and an efficient time manager. You will also have good manual dexterity, enjoy responsibility, can understand and follow instructions and multitask.

Additional Uniforms, Equipment and Costs
You will need:

a TAFE SA polo shirt, $33.00
safety glasses $17.00.

Vocational Placements
You will need to complete a vocational placement of 300 hours (minimum) to complete this course. Your vocational placement may be in your existing dental workplace or you will placed by TAFE SA's Placement unit. Your vocational placement will be scheduled over the duration of your course depending on your current dental experience. To make sure that you are able to be placed, you will need to provide the required clearances and checks by the date advised.

Mandatory Requirements
Many health care facilities including SA Health, residential aged care, and dental clinics require students and other health care workers to provide a National Police check and evidence of immune status. If you do not comply with any of these requirements, you may not be able to take your vocational placement and complete this course.

Fees

Total Fees for the 6 month course

Subsidised

$3,185

Concession

$2,135

You may be eligible for government subsidised training.

Subsidised Training Eligibility

Subsidised training may require applicants to complete a Core Skills Profile Assessment (CSPA).

What is the CSPA?

This course is part of the Fee Free TAFE initiative. Fee Free TAFE and vocational education is a joint initiative of the Australian and South Australian Governments providing tuition-free training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill. The eligibility check below is an indication only and does not confirm your eligibility status. Eligibility verification will take place before the enrolment process and may include participation in a Language, Literacy and Numeracy pre-assessment. The number of Fee Free TAFE places that are funded is limited by the terms of the skills agreement signed by the Australian and South Australian Governments. Should all available Fee Free TAFE places be taken, subsequent applicants will be offered a subsidised place.

Fee Free Training Eligibility

Full Fee

$6,545

Help with Fees

Upfront Payment

Each semester, fees can be paid online with VISA or Mastercard or at an Australia Post outlet.

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Payment Plan

If you have difficulty paying your fees upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.

Read More

Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

Employment Outcomes

Dental Assistant

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Qualifications & Skills Covered

Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35021)
This course covers communication, working with diverse people, dental radiography, infection prevention and control, medical devices and equipment and workplace safety. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 8 core units and 2 elective units.

Note: Students who successfully complete only one or more units of competency but not the full qualification are eligible to receive a Statement of Attainment.

90%*
of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.

87%*
of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.

* 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

Course Units

Below is a list of all units that TAFE SA can offer in this qualification. The selection of elective units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend, and the qualification packaging rules described on www.training.gov.au.

Not all elective units listed below must necessarily be completed to achieve your qualification.

Core

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control	35	HABDR	HLTINF006
Assist with administration in dental practice	40	HABCG	HLTDEN017
Assist with dental radiography	35	HABCF	HLTDEN016
Communicate and work in health or community services	30	CABES	CHCCOM005
Participate in workplace health and safety	20	AAFHR	HLTWHS001
Prepare for and assist with dental procedures	350	HABCE	HLTDEN015
Process reusable medical devices and equipment	30	HAATF	HLTINF002
Work with diverse people	40	CABDM	CHCDIV001

Elective

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Construct models	40	HAAST	HLTDET001
Provide effective oral hygiene instruction to patients with an oral health treatment plan	70	HABCT	HLTDEN028
Provide First Aid	18	HABCP	HLTAID011
Use business software applications	60	FACWY	BSBTEC201

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Dental

Certificate III in Dental Assisting

Description