Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing




Qualification Code:

L3DDENTAL

Awarding Body:

NCFE

Duration:

12 months

Delivery Method:

Online

Cost:

£2,040 (VAT included)

Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing

Course Overview

You need to be working in a dental practice before you start. This is a workplace qualification. Your competence is assessed on the job, in a real surgery, by an assessor who visits you there. Without a dental nursing role, paid or as a formal trainee placement, you cannot be enrolled. If you are not yet employed, speak to us anyway and we will tell you what to do next.

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing is the recognised qualification for becoming a GDC-registered dental nurse. Complete it, meet the General Dental Council’s requirements, and you can apply to join the register and work as a qualified dental nurse anywhere in the UK.

How it works

The course runs over twelve months and is built around the job you are already doing. There is no day release and no college term dates.

  • Online learning you work through at your own pace, around your shifts
  • A named assessor who visits your practice to observe you working and sign off your competence
  • Support from your practice, with your dentist or practice manager confirming what you have done
  • Twelve months from enrolment to completion, which is the typical timeframe rather than a hard deadline

What the £2,040 covers

Everything. The course fee includes your textbooks, your online resources, your assessor visits and your examination fees. Some providers quote a lower headline price and add the exam fee later. We do not, because a surprise bill at the end of a twelve-month course is not a good way to treat someone.

The price includes VAT. There is nothing else to pay.

The diploma covers the full range of knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of a registered dental nurse.

  • Health and safety in the dental workplace — practice policy, risk, and your responsibilities
  • Infection prevention and control — decontamination, instrument processing and the standards inspectors look for
  • Medical emergencies — recognising them, and your role when one happens in the chair
  • Chairside support — assisting across restorative, surgical, endodontic, prosthetic and orthodontic treatment
  • Radiography — supporting the taking and processing of dental images safely
  • Oral health assessment and promotion — giving patients advice that is accurate and useful
  • Patient care and communication — including anxious patients, children, and people with additional needs
  • Professional practice — GDC standards, confidentiality, consent and record keeping

You are assessed on what you can actually do, not on what you can remember in an exam hall. Most of the evidence comes from the work you are already doing.

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing (RQF).

This is a nationally regulated qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. It is the qualification the General Dental Council accepts for registration as a dental nurse.

What that means in practice

On completion you can apply to the GDC for registration. Once registered you are a qualified dental nurse, able to work in any dental setting in the UK — NHS, private, community, hospital or specialist practice.

Registration is granted by the GDC, not by us. You will need to meet their requirements at the point you apply, which include an indemnity arrangement and a declaration of health and good character.

Before you book, check all four.

  • You are employed in a dental practice, or hold a formal trainee placement there. This is not negotiable — the qualification cannot be assessed without it.
  • You are 16 or over at the point of enrolment.
  • Your English and maths are at a working standard. There is no formal GCSE requirement, but you will be writing reflective accounts and reading clinical guidance.
  • Your practice supports you. Your employer needs to allow assessor visits and confirm your workplace evidence. We will send them what they need.

Not employed yet?

You are not stuck, but this is not your first step. Dental practices do recruit trainee dental nurses without a qualification, on the understanding that you will train while you work. Get the role first, then come back to us. If you would like to talk it through before you start applying, call us — we would rather spend ten minutes on the phone than take a booking you cannot use.

There are several ways to pay, and a few ways to pay less.

Ask your employer first

Many dental practices fund this in full or in part. Training a nurse to registration is cheaper than recruiting one, and your practice knows it. It is worth asking before you reach for your own card.

Klarna

You can spread the cost through Klarna at checkout. We are paid in full at the point of booking and you repay Klarna over the term you agree with them, under their terms.

Secure your place with 20%

You can book with a 20% deposit and settle the balance before you start.

ELCAS

We are in the process of adding this course to the Enhanced Learning Credits scheme for armed forces service leavers. If you are eligible for ELC and interested in this course, get in touch and we will tell you where that process has got to.

Employer bookings

If you are a practice putting more than one nurse through, contact us before booking and we will quote you directly.

Do I need a job in a dental practice before I can start?

Yes. This is a workplace qualification, assessed on the job by an assessor who visits your practice. A paid dental nursing role or a formal trainee placement both work. Without one, you cannot be enrolled.

How long does it take?

Twelve months is typical. That is how long it usually takes to gather the workplace evidence across the full range of treatment types. Some learners finish sooner.

Is the exam fee included?

Yes. The £2,040 covers your textbooks, online resources, assessor visits and examination fees. There is nothing to pay on top.

Does this qualification let me register with the GDC?

Yes. The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing is accepted by the General Dental Council for registration as a dental nurse. You apply to the GDC yourself on completion and will need to meet their requirements at that point.

Is it fully online?

The learning is online. The assessment is not — a named assessor visits your practice to observe you working. That combination is what makes the qualification valid.

Can I do this if I already work as a dental nurse but am not registered?

Yes, and many of our learners are in exactly that position. If you have been working chairside for years without a formal qualification, the experience makes the evidence gathering considerably easier.

What if I change practice partway through?

Tell us as soon as you know. As long as you are still in a dental nursing role, you carry on. We will transfer the assessor arrangements to your new practice.

Will my employer need to do anything?

They need to allow your assessor to visit, and someone senior needs to confirm your workplace evidence. We send them everything they need and we keep it light.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. You can book with a 20% deposit, or spread the cost through Klarna at checkout.

Is this the same as the dental nurse apprenticeship?

No. The apprenticeship is funded through the apprenticeship levy and arranged by your employer. This is the commercial route — you or your practice pay for it directly, and it can start whenever you are ready rather than waiting for a cohort.

Over 10,000 people have begun their clinical career with us.

We support NHS ambulance services, dental practices, community pharmacies, care providers and offshore operators. Here is what some of them say.

Both Rob and Tony the CERAD tutors were absolutely amazing, helpful and patient with us. Couldn’t have asked for better trainers or a better bunch of people to take this journey with!

Tia Sayer

Apprentice Emergency Technician

I completed my level 3 CERAD in March of this year, this was the third course I have done with Medipro in the last 14 months. In all of the courses I have done with Medipro I have found nothing but genuine, friendly, top class people. 

Phil Brazier

Level 3 CERAD

The teacher was very knowledgeable and made the lessons fun so it was easy to absorb. I am new to the Medical Diving field so it was very exciting learning more and going deeper into medical conditions and illnesses specific to diving. Being a diver, it will be a great asset for me to recognise and be able to administer aid should it be needed.

Kevin

Diver Medic Technician

Medipro is a very responsive apprenticeship training provider. They help us build and retain a very skilled, competent and patient care focused team of Emergency Care Assistants.

James Tavener

Training Manager

I would definitely recommend you guys to others. I feel like there’s a lot of support when needed. It’s been really enjoyable.

Imogen Fitzgerald

Apprentice Emergency Medical Technician

I think the course so far has been really good. I’ve liked the practical sessions. It’s clear what we need to learn and there’s a lot of support as well.

Amy Palfreyman

Apprentice Emergency Medical Technician

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