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Certificate III in Dental Assisting HLT35021
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Overview

Launch a fulfilling career in the dental industry with this flexible qualification that reflects the role of dental assistants and staff who assist dentists, dental hygienists, dental specialists, dental therapists or oral health therapists. You will learn high standards of infection control and gain skills required to assist with practice administration. This course offers the best of both worlds – the flexibility of online learning along with hands-on sessions at our Simulated Dental Clinic providing you with real world experience and the opportunity to practice what you learn in a simulated environment.

This course may be available through Fee-Free TAFE. Learn more about Fee-Free TAFE

Qualification:

 Certificate III in Dental Assisting HLT35021

Next Intake:

 Semester 1 2025

Course No:

 C3-HS38

Campus:

 CIT Bruce 

Duration:

 Students currently employed in a dental workplace:
You can complete this training part-time in approx. six months (one semester). Delivery is blended with face-to-face sessions and online/self-directed learning (reading course materials, assignment work) and workplace tasks.
Students will be required to attend a minimum of 25 practical sessions at the Simulated Dental Clinic at CIT Bruce campus over the course of the program. Up to 10 hours per week of online/self-directed learning.
Students who are not currently employed in a dental workplace:
You can complete this training part-time over approx. 9-12 months. Delivery is blended with face-to-face sessions and online/self-directed learning (reading course materials, assignment work) and workplace tasks.
Students will be required to attend approx. 35 practical sessions at the Simulated Dental Clinic at CIT Bruce campus over the course of the program. Up to 10 hours per week of online/self-directed learning.

Cost Info:

Enrolment fees for this course are based on the costs per subject as indicated below. The total course cost may vary depending on the choice of elective subjects or if subjects are attempted more than once. Subject costs identified as Standard are partially subsidised by the ACT Government. Concessions may be available to eligible students.

Further information about fees is available at Course fees and assistance

Indicative Cost:

 Standard $2,706

Apprentice/trainee
  • Subsidised fee $360
  • Full fee $6,744

Likely Job Outcome:

 Dental Assistant.

Application Type:

 Standard; Fee Free TAFE
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Timetable Information

To help with the enrolment process print your timetable, or keep the window open, so that you can refer back to it for your course code, course name, and the Course Reference Numbers (CRNs) or Block Code.

Additional Information

To achieve this qualification, the candidate must complete at least 350 hours of dental assisting work in the workplace or via industry placement by the completion of the course. Students not currently employed in a dental workplace may be eligible for industry placement. Please consult with the course coordinator on enrolment.

Entry Requirements

Open Entry.

Skills Recognition

To study any course at CIT (excluding non-accredited training) you must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

Literacy Skills Information

We suggest that you will need Australian Core Skills Framework literacy levels of at least 3 across reading, writing, learning, oral communication and, depending on your course of study, numeracy skills to successfully complete this course. If you do not have this level, you can still enrol and seek support to improve your skills or you may prefer to begin with the lower level course. Please visit Foundation Skills.

Transition Information

Qualifications at CIT are regularly updated or replaced to meet current industry needs and maximise your employment opportunities. If this occurs while you are part way through a qualification, you may need to vary your learning to meet the new national requirements. CIT will aim to make this as smooth as possible for you.

Subject Cancellations/Changes

To ensure positive outcomes for all students, CIT may need to cancel or change classes at short notice. CIT will make every effort to inform students as soon as changes are made and will also make every effort to offer alternative arrangements for students to meet the requirements of the subject and complete their qualification. In an unfortunate instance when this cannot be met, you will receive a full refund. Please ensure you maintain current contact details via CIT Self Service or by contacting CIT Student Services at infoline@cit.edu.au.


Subject Information

Complete 10 subjects

Core: Complete all 8

  • CHCCOM005   Communicate and work in health or community services
    • CIT Code: COMM500
      Cost: Standard $70.00
      Description: 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.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CHCDIV001   Work with diverse people
    • CIT Code: CLTS145
      Cost: Standard $56.00
      Description: 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.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTDEN015   Prepare for and assist with dental procedures
    • CIT Code: HESC589
      Cost: Standard $1,320.00
      Description: 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.No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTDEN016   Assist with dental radiography
    • CIT Code: HESC590
      Cost: Standard $550.00
      Description: 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.No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTDEN017   Assist with administration in dental practice
    • CIT Code: HESC591
      Cost: Standard $143.00
      Description: 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.No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTINF006   Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
    • CIT Code: HESC614
      Cost: Standard $70.00
      Description: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply basic infection prevention and control principles in work settings including implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to risks. This unit applies to individuals working in a range of industry and work setting contexts. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTINF002   Process reusable medical devices and equipment
    • CIT Code: HESC537
      Cost: Standard $148.00
      Description: 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.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTWHS001   Participate in workplace health and safety
    • CIT Code: WPHS101
      Cost: Standard $45.00
      Description: 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.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Electives: Complete 2

  • BSBTEC201   Use business software applications
    • CIT Code: BUSN544
      Cost: Standard $150.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to select and use software and organise electronic information and data.The unit applies to those who use a limited range of practical skills with a fundamental knowledge of equipment use and the organisation of data in a defined context, under direct supervision or with limited individual responsibility.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTSTE003   Sterilise loads
    • CIT Code: HESC592
      Cost: Standard $154.00
      Description: 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.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.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Related Courses

Certificate IV Dental Assisting HLT45021

More Information

For more information about this course please contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au