Dental nurse - requirements

Dental nurses support the running of a dental practice and help dentists treat patients. Learn more about the day-to-day role of a dental nurse, and what qualifications you’ll need to get a job.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

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What qualifications do you need to be a dental nurse?

To qualify, you’ll need to pass a course in dental nursing that’s approved by the General Dental Council. This might be a Level 3 Diploma or T Level in Health. You can study for this at college, and it’s also offered by some universities.

Degree subjects to consider include:

Once qualified, you’ll need to register with the General Dental Council.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a dental nurse?

You don’t need an undergraduate or postgraduate degree to be a dental nurse. However, many people use their role as a dental nurse as a stepping-stone into other roles.

If you want to progress to other areas in dentistry then universities offer lots of oral health-related degrees. Examples include:

  • Dental hygiene and therapy
  • Dental surgery
  • Oral science

What skills do you need to be a dental nurse?

As you’ll be helping the dentist and supporting patients, it’s important to have great team work and people skills. You’ll also need a genuine interest in dentistry and dental hygiene.

Hard skills usually include:
  • Dentistry
  • Nursing
  • Surgery
  • Infection control
  • Radiography
Soft skills include:
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Confidentiality
  • IT
  • Administration

Do you need work experience to be a dental nurse?

You don’t need anything specific, but work experience in healthcare will help you stand out when applying for courses and jobs.

It’s possible to get a job as a trainee dental nurse without any academic qualifications. Some employers might support you in studying for a qualification while you’re working.

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