How do I become a dental assistant
Get qualified to work as a dental assistant with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Dental Assistant.
Common questions
A full time Dental Assistant will earn $1,163 per week ($60,476 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should act as a guide only. Individuals with more experience can expect a higher salary than those new to the industry.
Courses.com.au Team
31,900 workers were employed as Dental Assistants as of May 2019. According to the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, the projected employment growth over 5 years is 14.2% which is around 4,500 job openings. Job openings occur due to employment growth and job turnover, for example workers leaving this occupation.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal - 2019 Occupational Projections
Courses.com.au Team
To become a dental assistant, you usually have to complete vocational training to acquire a qualification. Courses often take one to two years to complete, depending on whether a student is pursuing a certificate or a dual certificate.
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
How to become a dental assistant
24th February 2020
What can you do with a Certificate III in Dental Assisting?
4th March 2021All dental assistant courses
- BSBWHS332X Apply Infection Prevention and Control Procedures to Own Work Activities
- HLT35015 & HLT45015 Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting with Oral Health Promotion Specialisation
- HLT35015 & HLT45015 Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting with Radiography Specialisation
- HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting
- HLT35021 & HLT45021 Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
- HLT35021 & HLT45021 Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography)
- HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting
- HLT43012 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
- HLT45015 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
- HLT45015 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Oral Health Promotion Specialisation)
- HLT45015 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Radiography and Oral Health Promotion Specialisation)
- HLT45015 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Radiography Specialisation)
- HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
- HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography)
- HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
- HLTINFCOV001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
- HLTSS00064 Infection Control Skill Set
- HLTSS00072 Dental Radiography Skill Set
- HLTSS00083 Infection Prevention and Control Skill Set
- HLTWHS001 Participate in Workplace Health and Safety
Dental Assistant careers
Dental assistants receive patients into the surgery, then help them relax and prepare for treatment by a qualified dentist. During treatments you’ll be using water sprays and suction devices as well as handing specific instruments to the dentist. Afterwards, you’ll be cleaning and sterilising the dental equipment to prevent cross contamination.
As a dental assistant you’ll be giving advice to patients about teeth cleaning, flossing and ongoing oral health, and how to take care of their teeth before and after dental surgery. If you have specialist qualifications you may also be taking dental x-rays and other radiographic images.
