0208 993 4500
dental@schoolofdentalnursing.com
+44 7856 755880
Certificate in Oral Health Education
Key Information
Duration: 6 months
Date: March, September
Hours: 18 hours (3 hours Monthly)
Awarding Body: National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN)
Level: Equivalent to level 4
Fees: £990 (including examination fee)
Deposit: £290.00 deposit included in the course fee, refundable only if you cancel before the course starts.
Who it’s for: GDC registered dental nurse
Quick Enquiry
Certificate in Oral Health Education
Is This the Right Next Step for You?
Prevention is at the heart of modern dentistry, and the dental nurse who can genuinely educate patients — not just hand them a leaflet, but communicate effectively, tailor advice to the individual and support real behaviour change — is an increasingly valuable member of any dental team.
The Certificate in Oral Health Education is a post-registration qualification, equivalent to Level 4, awarded by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN). It’s for registered dental nurses who want to grow into confident oral health educators. You’ll develop the knowledge and communication skills to deliver clear oral health advice, adapt it for different patient groups and make a real difference to the people in your care.
Entry Requirements
To enrol, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- Hold current registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) or the Irish Dental Council (IDC)
- Have a supportive employer who can supervise the completion of your Electronic Record of Competence (eRoC)
- Hold a valid First Aid or Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate of Completion
- Be competent in written and spoken English to a level that allows effective communication with patients, families and healthcare professionals
If you’re unsure whether you meet any of these requirements, the team is happy to talk it through before you apply.
What You Will Learn
The course equips you with everything you need to function confidently as an oral health educator in practice. That means not just understanding oral diseases and how to prevent them, but developing the communication skills and behaviour change techniques that make patient education actually work — for a nervous child, an anxious adult, a patient with complex needs or someone who’s never given their oral health much thought before.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to deliver oral health messages proficiently, adapt your approach to individual patient needs and contribute meaningfully to your practice’s preventive care programme.
Why Study With the School of Dental Nursing?
Live Monthly Classes — Unlike many online courses that rely entirely on self-directed study, this programme is delivered through live virtual classes via Zoom, timetabled once a month. That means real-time learning, the opportunity to ask questions and direct engagement with your tutor — not just pre-recorded videos watched alone.
Supported Between Sessions — Additional resources are available through the School’s virtual learning environment, eTrain, including lecture slides, past video lessons, suggested reading and other key materials. Everything you need to prepare for classes and consolidate your learning afterwards is in one place.
Personal and Professional Development — This qualification doesn’t just add letters after your name. It builds a genuinely different kind of clinical skill — one that sits at the intersection of dentistry and healthcare communication, and that relatively few dental nurses develop to a high level.
How You Will Be Assessed
To be awarded the Certificate in Oral Health Education, you must successfully complete two things:
Record of Competence (eRoC) A comprehensive, work-based Electronic Record of Competence made up of three sections:
- Practical Competence Assessment Sheets (PCAS)
- Case studies
- Supplementary outcomes
The eRoC is completed in your own clinical environment, with supervision from your employer, and documents your developing competence as an oral health educator across a range of patient interactions and situations.
Written Examination A 90-minute written examination in two parts:
- Part A — 45 multiple-choice questions (MCQ)
- Part B — 30 extended matching questions (EMQ)
Examinations are held twice a year, in March and September. You’ll have access to past materials and revision support through eTrain to prepare thoroughly well in advance of your chosen sitting.
Ready to Apply? Got questions before you apply? Call 0208 993 4500 or email dental@schoolofdentalnursing.com — the team knows the course inside out and is happy to talk things through before you commit to anything.
Maintaining good clinical practice
General health and disease
Patient assessment and treatment planning
Patient management
Health promotion and disease prevention
Management, leadership and working with others
Learner Eligibility:
- To be a registered dental nurse with the General Dental Council (GDC) or Irish Dental Council (IDC)
- To have a supportive employer to supervise the completion of the Electronic Record of Competence (eRoC)
- To have a valid First Aid / Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate of Completion
- Be competent in written and spoken English in order to communicate effectively with patients, their families and dental and healthcare professionals
Frequently Asked Questions About Certificate in Oral Health Education
The Certificate in Oral Health Education is an NEBDN post-registration qualification for registered dental nurses. It develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to deliver oral health education confidently and take a more active role in preventive care.
An Oral Health Educator helps patients improve and maintain their oral health through personalised advice on brushing, interdental cleaning, diet, fluoride use and preventing gum disease.
They use patient-centred communication and behaviour change techniques to help patients turn advice into everyday habits. They also work with children, parents and carers to encourage good oral health from an early age.
Oral health education helps patients understand how to prevent dental problems and care for their teeth and gums. Clear, practical advice tailored to each patient can support healthier habits and better oral health. Prevention is an essential part of both NHS and private dental care.
You must hold current registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) or the Dental Council of Ireland. You also need:
- A supportive employer and suitable workplace supervision to complete your Record of Competence.
- A valid First Aid or Basic Life Support certificate.
- Good written and spoken English.
Yes. Appropriately trained dental nurses can provide oral health education and oral hygiene instruction within their professional scope. This qualification develops and assesses the knowledge and practical skills needed for that role. You must also follow your employer’s procedures and work within your competence.
Yes. It is awarded by NEBDN and designed for dental nurses providing oral health education in UK dental settings.
The course covers:
Professional responsibilities and record keeping.
Oral diseases and how to prevent them.
Oral hygiene instruction and teaching techniques.
Behaviour change and patient-centred communication.
Dietary advice and smoking cessation awareness.
Planning, delivering and evaluating oral health education sessions.
The course is delivered online through live monthly classes on Zoom, supported by study materials on our eTrain learning platform. You complete your practical work and workplace assessments in your dental practice, allowing you to develop your skills alongside your existing role.
Assessment consists of two parts:
NEBDN written examination: A 90-minute examination comprising 45 multiple-choice questions and 30 extended matching questions. Examinations are held in March and September.
Electronic Record of Competence (eRoC): Practical competence sheets, case studies and supplementary outcomes completed in your workplace under supervision. This includes planning, delivering and evaluating oral health education with patients.
Teaching takes place over six months, with 18 hours of tutor-led learning delivered through one three-hour class each month. Your overall completion time also depends on the opportunities available in your practice to complete your Record of Competence.
Yes. You need a suitable workplace supervisor who can support your practical learning and confirm your competence. We explain the supervision requirements when you enrol.
Once you have successfully completed your Record of Competence and passed the written examination, NEBDN awards you the Certificate in Oral Health Education.
Oral Health Education focuses on helping patients understand and improve their oral health through personalised advice, education and behaviour change.
Fluoride Varnish Application involves providing a preventive clinical treatment, making it a complementary skill. Dental Radiography focuses on producing images that help clinicians diagnose and monitor dental conditions and plan treatment.
Yes. You can broaden your skills through our Certificates in Dental Radiography or Fluoride Varnish Application, subject to the entry requirements for each course. Other NEBDN post-registration qualifications include Orthodontic Dental Nursing, Dental Sedation Nursing and Special Care Dental Nursing.
You receive:
- Support from a personal tutor.
- Live monthly classes.
- Structured eTrain learning resources.
- Guidance on your workplace assessments.
- Examination revision support.
- Help from our administration team with course-related queries.
The course costs £990, including the NEBDN examination fee, with a £290 deposit. Please confirm the current fee before applying, as fees are reviewed periodically.
We have trained dental nurses since 2006. Our tutors understand the demands of clinical practice, and our courses combine structured teaching, practical learning and ongoing support to help you study alongside your working commitments.
