0208 993 4500
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Diploma in Dental Nursing Online
🌟100% pass rate for our first cohort of 10 students – Diploma in Dental Nursing (RQF), April 2025 Knowledge Test!
A huge congratulations to all our graduates — your determination and resilience have made this possible.
Key Information
Duration: 12-18 Months
Date: Flexible, Distance Learning, multiple entry points, start any time!
Awarding Body: National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN)
Academic Level: Level 3 Diploma (RQF)
Fees: £1790.00 payable by monthly instalments
Deposit: £390 deposit included in the course fee, refundable only if you cancel before the course starts.
Examination Fee: £545.00
Who it’s for: Age 16 and above
Quick Enquiry
Diploma in Dental Nursing Online
Train in Practice, Qualify for GDC Registration
One of the quickest routes into a registered healthcare career doesn’t start in a lecture theatre. It starts in a real dental surgery, where you work alongside a dental team while studying for your Diploma in Dental Nursing Online. No degree or previous experience needed: just a trainee role in a UK dental practice and a tutor in your corner.
Apply Now | Book a Call with an Adviser
Overview
The NEBDN Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing (RQF) is the nationally recognised qualification for UK trainee dental nurses. It is awarded by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) and recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC), which registers and regulates every UK dental professional. Pass the diploma and you can apply to join the GDC register as a dental nurse.
Designed for complete beginners, career changers and existing trainee dental nurses, the course combines online study with practical training in a UK dental practice. You build a digital Portfolio of Evidence, then complete a Knowledge Test and a Professional Discussion, both set and marked by NEBDN.
| 💡 Career Insight: Two Engines Running at Once Most qualifications make you choose between earning and learning. This one needs both: every shift becomes portfolio evidence, and every module makes you more confident in the surgery. |
Benefits
- A route to registration. Achieve the NEBDN Level 3 Diploma and apply to join the GDC register.
- Earn while you learn. Build real clinical experience as a working trainee dental nurse from day one.
- Flexible online study. Start any time of year and learn around work and family.
Entry Requirements
You can apply if you:
- Are aged 16 or over.
- Have a good standard of written and spoken English.
- Live in the UK with the legal right to work.
- Are employed as a trainee dental nurse in a UK practice for at least 15 hours a week before starting, and remain suitably employed throughout your practical training.
| 🧭 Not Working in a Practice Yet? We offer job search and career advice to help you find a trainee role. Contact us before you apply. |
How You Will Be Assessed (Pass All Three)
1. Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)
A digital record of your safe practice, built over at least six months from witness testimonies, assessor observations, work products and personal statements. Assessed by the School.
2. Knowledge Test
An online multiple-choice exam: 65 questions in 90 minutes, set and marked by NEBDN.
3. Professional Discussion
Your final assessment, taken after passing the first two: a 60-minute online discussion (plus 10 minutes’ reading) on the nine duties of a dental nurse, set and marked by NEBDN.
| ✅ You Won’t Prepare Alone Revision materials, mock tests and assessor guidance prepare you for every stage. |
Why Choose the School of Dental Nursing?
Training dental nurses since 2006, the School of Dental Nursing combines experience, flexible learning and personal support to help you complete your Diploma in Dental Nursing Online with confidence.
- NEBDN-accredited provider of a nationally recognised qualification.
- Flexible online learning you can start throughout the year.
- Dedicated support with tutor guidance, mock tests and learning resources.
- Clear portfolio feedback on what you’ve achieved and where to improve.
- Experienced tutors who understand life in practice.
Ready to Start Your Dental Nursing Career?
Applications are open all year round. Choose your next step:
Have a question? Contact Us, call 0208 993 4500 or email dental@schoolofdentalnursing.com.viser
Ready to apply? Apply Now – School of Dental Nursing Application Form
Want to talk it through? Book a Call with an Adviser
What You Will Learn
Your online study gives you the dental nursing theory behind safe, professional care, explained from scratch. You’ll learn the principles of chairside support and how to care for anxious or vulnerable patients; infection prevention and control, which means breaking the chain that spreads germs (like keeping raw chicken well away from the salad); and dental radiography and radiation safety, including keeping every X-ray dose “as low as reasonably practicable”. You’ll also study how to recognise and respond to medical emergencies, communicate and work as part of a team, and handle consent, confidentiality and record-keeping. Throughout, you’ll learn your scope of practice: the tasks the GDC says a dental nurse is trained to carry out (see the GDC Scope of Practice and Standards guidance).
At your dental practice, you’ll put this theory into action under supervision, building the hands-on skills and portfolio evidence that show you can work safely. Once registered, you can go on to specialise in Oral Health Education or Dental Radiography.
- Module 1: Professionalism and the Role of the Dental Nurse
- Module 2: Health and Safety
- Module 3: Dealing with Medical Emergencies
- Module 4: General, Dental and Regional Anatomy
- Module 5: Oral Disease
- Module 6: Prevention of Oral Disease
- Module 7: Assessment
- Module 8: Restorative Dentistry
- Module 9: Child Dental Health
- Module 10: Minor Oral Surgery
- Module 11: Pain and Anxiety Control
The course also provides extensive preparation for the Professional Discussion (PD) part of the exam, and support with preparing the required Portfolio of Evidence.
You can apply if you:
- Are aged 16 or over.
- Have a good standard of written and spoken English.
- Live in the UK with the legal right to work.
- Are employed as a trainee dental nurse in a UK practice for at least 15 hours a week before starting, and remain suitably employed throughout your practical training.
| 🧭 Not Working in a Practice Yet? We offer job search and career advice to help you find a trainee role. Contact us before you apply. |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Diploma in Dental Nursing Online
The Diploma in Dental Nursing Online is a Level 3 qualification accredited by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN). It prepares learners to become qualified dental nurses and apply for registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) upon successful completion.
Yes. The NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing meets the requirements of the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework. Successful learners can apply for registration with the General Dental Council and work as qualified dental nurses in the UK.
Yes. The theoretical part of the course is delivered online through the School of Dental Nursing’s eTrain learning platform. However, you must also gain practical experience in a dental practice to complete the qualification.
Yes. Workplace experience is an essential part of the NEBDN Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing. You must be employed or placed in a dental practice throughout your training. That is where you develop your practical skills and gather evidence for your Portfolio of Evidence (PoE), which you build over at least six months. The final Professional Discussion is also based on the practical work you have completed in the workplace.
Yes. Many learners enrol before securing a trainee dental nurse position. The School of Dental Nursing provides guidance, CV support, interview preparation and assistance in finding suitable dental practice employment opportunities.
Most learners complete the Diploma in Dental Nursing within 12 to 18 months, depending on their pace of study, workplace experience and examination schedule.
here are no formal academic entry requirements. To join the Diploma, you must:
- be aged 16 or over for online study, or 18 or over for face-to-face study
- live in the UK
- be employed or placed as a trainee dental nurse in a UK dental practice before your course starts
- have a good standard of written and spoken English, so that you can communicate effectively with patients, their families, the dental team and other healthcare professionals
- have a supervising dentist, mentor or witness at your practice who is registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and can sign off your Portfolio of Evidence.
If you are not yet working in a dental practice, you can start with our Foundation in Dental Nursing course, and we will help you look for a trainee position.
Yes. Many successful dental nurses begin with no previous dental experience. The course is suitable for school leavers, career changers and those looking to enter the healthcare sector for the first time.
The NEBDN Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing has three assessment stages:
- Portfolio of Evidence (PoE): built in your dental practice over at least six months and assessed by the School
- NEBDN Knowledge Test: an online multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam
- NEBDN Professional Discussion (PD): an online assessment based on the work you have completed in your dental practice
You must pass all three stages to achieve the qualification.
The Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) is a digital record of your competence as a trainee dental nurse, built while you work in a dental practice. You add evidence over at least six months. Evidence can include witness testimonies, assessor observations, examples of your work and personal statements. Your tutor guides you as you compile it, and the School assesses it. The PoE is one of the three assessments you must pass to achieve the NEBDN Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing.
The course fee is currently £1,790, which can be paid by instalments. An additional NEBDN examination fee applies. Prospective learners should check the latest fees before applying.
Dental nursing can be a rewarding career for people who enjoy working with patients and as part of a clinical team. Dental nurses are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), and they work in NHS and private dental practices, hospitals and community dental services.
Once qualified and registered, you can build your skills through further training in areas such as:
- Dental Radiography
- Oral Health Education
- Orthodontic Nursing
- Dental Sedation Nursing
- Teaching and Assessing
- Practice Management
Some dental nurses go on to train as dental hygienists or dental therapists.
Whether it is the right career for you depends on your interests and circumstances. The role involves clinical procedures, strict infection control and close patient contact, so it suits people who are organised, calm under pressure and comfortable in a healthcare setting.
After qualifying and registering with the GDC, dental nurses may progress to post-registration qualifications including:
- Special Care Dental Nursing
- Dental Radiography
- Oral Health Education
- Fluoride Varnish Application
- Orthodontic Nursing
- Sedation Nursing
Many dental nurses use their qualification and clinical experience as a stepping stone towards careers such as dental hygiene, dental therapy or dentistry, subject to meeting university entry requirements.
The NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing is a Level 3 qualification and carries UCAS points, which may support progression into higher education pathways.
TThe School of Dental Nursing has provided tuition for the NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing since 2006. You can study the way that suits you:
- Online distance learning through our eTrain Virtual Learning Environment, with video lessons, learning resources and structured homework
- Face-to-face classes at our training centre in Acton, West London, with two classroom days per month
Whichever format you choose, you will have a dedicated personal tutor, homework feedback, revision support, exam preparation and guidance on building your Portfolio of Evidence. Interest-free monthly instalments are available, and we support you in finding employment in a dental practice.
