0208 993 4500
dental@schoolofdentalnursing.com
+44 7856 755880
Diploma in Dental Nursing
🌟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: January, April, July, October
Hours: 6 hours fortnightly (10am – 4pm)
Study Location: London (Acton)
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: Adult Learners 18+
Quick Enquiry
Diploma in Dental Nursing in London
Face-to-Face Classes, Real Practice Experience
Some people learn best on a screen. Others learn best in a class room, with a tutor who can answer the question you didn’t know how to ask. Our face-to-face Diploma in Dental Nursing brings you into the classroom in Acton, West London, two days a month, while you train in a real dental practice.
Apply Now | Book a Call | Download Course Info (PDF)
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.
On this face-to-face route, you learn the theory in in-person classes at our Acton training centre and build your practical skills as a trainee in a dental practice. No previous dental qualification is needed.
- Where: 3 The Mount, Acton, London W3 9NW, about 10 minutes’ walk from Acton Town, Acton Main Line and Acton Central stations.
- When: two classroom days a month, 10am to 4pm.
- Duration: 12 to 18 months.
- Intakes: January, April, July and October.
- Fees: £1,790 course fee, payable in monthly instalments (includes a £390 deposit), plus a £545 examination fee.
| 💡 Career Insight: Why the Classroom Still Matters Dental nursing is a team job, and so is learning it. In class you explain, question and solve problems out loud with tutors and fellow trainees: the same skills your final Professional Discussion will test. |
Benefits
- A route to registration. Achieve the NEBDN Level 3 Diploma and apply to join the GDC register.
- Learn face to face. Ask questions in real time and learn alongside other trainees, two days a month.
- Learn on the job. Build real clinical experience in a dental practice throughout the course.
Entry Requirements
You can apply if you:
- Are aged 18 or over.
- Have a good standard of written and spoken English.
- Are employed or placed in a dental practice for the whole course.
| 🧭 Not Working in a Practice Yet? We help trainees find dental practice employment. 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 Mock exams, revision materials 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, face-to-face teaching and personal support to help you complete your Diploma in Dental Nursing with confidence.
- Proven results: our first cohort of 10 learners achieved a 100% pass rate in the April 2025 NEBDN Knowledge Test.
- NEBDN-accredited provider of a nationally recognised qualification.
- Easy-to-reach London campus near three Acton stations.
- Dedicated support with tutor guidance, mock exams and portfolio help.
- Experienced tutors who understand life in practice.
Ready to Start Your Dental Nursing Career?
Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Choose your next step:
- Ready to apply? Apply Now – School of Dental Nursing Application Form
- Want to talk it through? Book a Call with an Adviser
- Want all the details? Download the Course Info (PDF)
- Have a question? Contact Us, call 0208 993 4500, WhatsApp +44 7856 755880 or email dental@schoolofdentalnursing.com.
Prefer to study from home? See our Diploma in Dental Nursing Online.
What You Will Learn
Your classroom days give you the dental nursing theory behind safe, professional care, explained from scratch by experienced tutors. You’ll cover the principles of patient care and chairside support, including caring 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, 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 meet your professional responsibilities, including 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, and with experience or further training, you could progress into roles such as Oral Health Educator, Dental Radiographer, Orthodontic Nurse or Practice Manager.
- 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 18 or over.
- Have a good standard of written and spoken English.
- Are employed or placed in a dental practice for the whole course.
| 🧭 Not Working in a Practice Yet? We help trainees find dental practice employment. Contact us before you apply. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Diploma in Dental Nursing (Face-to-Face)
You’ll need to work a minimum of 15 hours per week across at least three days. This ensures you’re getting enough exposure to the variety of clinical situations and procedures required to build a complete and credible Portfolio of Evidence.
It is a Level 3 qualification accredited by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN). It prepares you to become a qualified dental nurse. You attend classroom sessions in West London and train in a dental practice. Once you pass, you can apply to register with the General Dental Council (GDC).
Yes. The NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing meets the requirements of the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework. When you pass, you can apply for GDC registration and work as a qualified dental nurse in the UK.
At the School of Dental Nursing’s training centre in Acton, West London. It is easy to reach from across London and the surrounding areas.
Two classroom days per month. The timetable is designed to fit around your trainee dental nurse job, so you don’t need to give up work to study.
School leavers, career changers, healthcare workers moving into dentistry, and anyone who learns best in a classroom with a tutor and fellow learners. You don’t need any previous dental experience or qualification.
There are no formal academic entry requirements. You must:
- be aged 18 or over
- live in the UK
- be employed or working as a trainee dental nurse in a UK dental practice before your course starts
- have a good standard of written and spoken English
- have a GDC-registered supervising dentist, mentor or witness at your practice who can sign off your Portfolio of Evidence
You need a trainee position before you can start the Diploma. If you don’t have one yet, you can start with our Foundation in Dental Nursing course. We help you find a trainee position with CV support, interview preparation and guidance on dental practice vacancies.
There are three assessment stages, and you must pass all of them:
- Portfolio of Evidence (PoE): A digital record of your competence, built in your dental practice over at least six months and assessed by the School.
- NEBDN Knowledge Test: An online multiple-choice exam.
- NEBDN Professional Discussion: An online assessment based on the work you have done in your practice.
Your PoE can include witness testimonies, assessor observations, examples of your work and personal statements. You build it over at least six months, with your tutor guiding you throughout.
Most learners qualify in 12 to 18 months. How long you take depends on your study pace, your workplace experience and when NEBDN exams are scheduled.
Classroom teaching from experienced dental nursing professionals, plus a dedicated personal tutor, online learning resources, homework feedback, mock exams, revision support, exam preparation and guidance on building your PoE.
The qualification, assessments and GDC registration route are the same. The only difference is how you study. Face-to-face learners attend two classroom days a month in Acton. Online learners study through our eTrain platform at their own pace.
We have provided NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing tuition since 2006. Our tutors are experienced dental nursing professionals, and you get classroom teaching, a personal tutor and thorough exam preparation.
