Skip to Content
Need Help Live Chat
Certificate IV in Dental Assisting HLT45021

Overview

Expand your career in the dental industry with this flexible qualification that reflects the role of dental assistants who provide an advanced level of assistance to dentists, dental hygienists, dental specialists, dental therapists or oral health therapists.

You will specialise in dental radiography and develop your skills in clinical photography and constructing models.

This course offers the best of both worlds - the flexibility of online learning along with hands-on sessions at our Simulated Dental Clinic and work-based learning and assessment, providing you with real world experience and the opportunity to practice what you learn.

Qualification:

Certificate IV in Dental Assisting HLT45021

Next Intake:

Semester 1 2025

Course No:

C4-HS42

Campus:

CIT Bruce 

Duration:

You can complete this course part-time in approx. six months (one semester). Delivery is blended combining practical sessions at the Simulated Dental Clinic supported by online/self-directed learning (learning activities, self-reflection) and assessment work - up to 10 hours per week. You will also be required to complete learning and assessment activities in your workplace.
Refer to the timetable for more details

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.

Indicative Cost:

standard $2,256
Apprentice/Trainee
  • Subsidised fee $450

Likely Job Outcome:

Senior dental assistant

Application Type:

Standard
Share:

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

As part of the Dental radiography component of this training you will be required to take intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs in the workplace. Please consult with the course coordinator on enrolment to discuss your options.

Entry Requirements

Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who have achieved:

- HLT31812 Certificate III in Dental Assisting or
- HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting or
- HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting or
- Equivalent.

You must be employed in a dental practice to undertake this qualification.

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 8 subjects

Core: Complete all 2

  • 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
  • HLTWHS003   Maintain work health and safety
    • CIT Code: WPHS102
      Cost: Standard $88.00
      Description: 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.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Electives: Complete 6

  • HLTDEN021   Apply the principles of radiation biology and protection in dental practice
    • CIT Code: HESC606
      Cost: Standard $777.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to minimise the risk of radiation to the patient, practitioner and others during the exposure of a prescribed dental radiographic image. It also describes the quality assurance measures that must be undertaken to ensure all radiographs are of consistent diagnostic standard.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.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.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTDEN022   Prepare to expose a prescribed dental radiographic image
    • CIT Code: HESC607
      Cost: Standard $198.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to interpret a prescribed request for a dental radiographic image. It also includes the preparation of the patient for dental radiography and the selection of equipment requirements.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.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.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTDEN023   Produce a prescribed dental radiographic image
    • CIT Code: HESC608
      Cost: Standard $799.00
      Description: This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to operate dental radiographic equipment and position the patient correctly to produce an intraoral or extraoral diagnostic radiographic image. Where work relates to extraoral radiography this includes orthopantomogram (OPG) and may include lateral cephalograms for orthodontic radiographic work-ups and excludes cone beam images. 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.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.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • BSBPEF301   Organise personal work priorities
    • CIT Code: BUSN479
      Cost: Standard $100.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to organise personal work schedules, to monitor and obtain feedback on work performance and to maintain required levels of competence. The unit applies to individuals who exercise discretion and judgement and apply a broad range of competencies in various work contexts.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • HLTDET001   Construct models
    • CIT Code: HESC610
      Cost: Standard $70.00
      Description: 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. 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
  • HLTSTE004   Manage sterile stock
    • CIT Code: HESC611
      Cost: Standard $70.00
      Description: 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.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 III Dental Assisting HLT35021

More Information

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