Certificate III in Dental Assisting

Skills check

Domestic students

You will be invited to complete a Skills Check following your application submission, before enrolling to your studies. This helps you to decide if your course is right for you and allows us to understand your current abilities in English, Maths, as well as using Digital technology. 

Access and instructions on how to complete the Skills Check will be emailed to you once you have submitted your application.

Read the Skills Check FAQs.

Selection criteria

Existing worker delivery / Traineeship
The following selection criteria requirements apply only to existing workers (online) delivery and traineeship only:

• If your chosen study mode is workplace delivery, it is a requirement that you are currently working in the Dental industry (to be eligible to complete the external program - students must be working a minimum of 15 hours per week as a Dental Assistant) 

Traineeship pathway
​To study a traineeship program you must be indentured as a trainee with your employer.

Employers need to be able to provide necessary human and physical resources to qualify for a trainee.

Find out more on how to become an apprentice or trainee

Domestic and International face to face delivery
The following selection criteria requirements apply only to face to face delivery students:

• Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion. For more information on the international education achievement levels equivalent to Year 10 and 12
• Due to workplace Health and Safety, all participants need to have completed a course of Hepatitis B vaccinations before commencement of vocational placement, which occurs in approximately week 14 of the program. A course of injections takes approximately 6 months to complete and if applicants have not had Hep B vaccinations, they must begin the process and have had at least 2 of the 3 required injections prior to going to vocational placement. You will be required to provide a copy of your serology report as evidence of sero-conversion to HepB surface antigen (anti-HBsAg). Please contact your GP to arrange a referral for a blood test.

International students
The following selection criteria requirements apply only to International students:

• English Language Proficiency: Academic IELTS 6.0 (no individual band less than 5.5) or equivalent - For a list of all English Language tests accepted by TAFE Queensland International.
• Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion. For more information on the international education achievement levels equivalent to Year 10 and 12
• Due to workplace Health and Safety, all participants need to have completed a course of Hepatitis B vaccinations before commencement of vocational placement, which occurs in approximately week 14 of the program. A course of injections takes approximately 6 months to complete and if applicants have not had Hep B vaccinations, they must begin the process and have had at least 2 of the 3 required injections prior to going to vocational placement. You will be required to provide a copy of your serology report as evidence of sero-conversion to HepB surface antigen (anti-HBsAg). Please contact your GP to arrange a referral for a blood test

Applicants should be a minimum of 17 years of age and turning 18 during the first year of study with TAFE Queensland. International students who are under 18 years of age and are applying for a student visa are required by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to have adequate welfare arrangements in place.

It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader. This equipment and software is available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations.

If you are not currently employed or volunteering in industry, during your course you will be required to complete vocational placement so you can start practising your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. TAFE Queensland may be able to assist in arranging suitable placements.

Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You are required to complete 350 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.

Vaccination requirements 
Vaccinations may be required by the owner or operator of the facility providing your placement.
These requirements will be provided to the student, prior to arrangements being made for the completion of vocational placement.