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All dental practitioners are members of the healthcare team and are expected to work with each other to provide the best possible care and outcome for their patients.
An individual dental practitioner’s scope of practice depends on their education, qualifications, training, experience, and competence. Dental practitioners are expected to know their scope of practice. Individuals who wish to broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence may do so by completing continuing professional development (CPD). However, completing CPD is not enough to move from one registration division to another.
The Scope of practice registration standard (149 KB,PDF) sets out the Dental Board of Australia’s (the Board) requirements for the scope of practice for dental practitioners.
The Guidelines for scope of practice provide guidance about the expectations of the registration standard and how to meet its requirements. Dental practitioners are expected to understand how to apply those guidelines together with this registration standard.
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) is, the Board’s accreditation authority, and has published the Professional competencies of the newly qualified dental practitioner. This document outlines the competencies expected of the newly qualified dental practitioner, including, dental hygienists, dental therapists, and oral health therapists to be eligible for registration.
An approved program of study, for a health profession or for endorsement of registration in a health profession, means an accredited program of study under the National Law.
An approved qualification means:
In Australia, there are several ways to become a qualified and registered dental hygienist, dental therapist, or oral health therapist.
One option is to complete a Board approved program of study. You can find a list of approved programs of study on Ahpra’s website.
If you have an overseas qualification as a dental hygienist, dental therapist, or oral health therapist, and want to register in Australia, you can find more information, including the list of overseas qualifications recognised by the Board, below.
You also need to meet the other Board’s other registration requirements described in the Board’s registration standards, including having appropriate professional indemnity insurance and meeting the recency of practice, the continuing professional development (CPD) and the English language skills requirements.
If you have graduated within the last 12 months and have yet to register, you can apply for registration online.
If you graduated more than 12 months ago or were previously registered with the Board or in another jurisdiction, you need to complete and submit the application form AGEN-20.
You can sometimes apply for registration as an oral health therapist.
For example, you can apply for registration as an oral health therapist if you have an approved qualification and recency of practice in both dental hygiene and dental therapy. A list of approved programs of study is available on Ahpra’s website.
If you do not have an approved qualification, you may still be able to apply for registration as an oral health therapist if you are considered qualified under the National Law. For example, you could register in the division if your qualification are assessed as being substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies to an approved qualification. To apply, you must complete and submit the application form ACDR-20.
Yes. You can apply for registration and renew your registration in multiple divisions. You will be expected to meet all registration standards.
If you apply for registration in more than one division at the same time, you will pay the application and registration fees for the division with the highest fee.
If you are already registered in one division and wish to apply for another, you will pay the application fee but not the registration fee for that additional division.
If you renew your registration in multiple divisions, you will pay one renewal fee, regardless of the number of divisions you are registered in.
You can apply for registration in the division in which you were previously registered. You should complete the application form AGEN-20.
You will need to meet all requirements in the Board’s registration standards including having appropriate professional indemnity insurance and meet recency of practice and CPD requirements.
The recency of practice registration standard describes what happens if you do not meet the Board’s recency of practice requirements.
If you have been trained as both a dental hygienist and dental therapist, before the National Scheme, you may be able to continue to perform dental treatment for which you have been educated and trained and in which you are competent. You are expected to inform your employer of your competence and registration status, ensure your professional indemnity insurance covers your practice, maintain recency of practice and engage in relevant CPD activities.
However, you can only use the protected title of dental hygienist if you are registered in that division.
Yes. A registered oral health therapist is considered qualified to practise as dental therapist and/or dental hygienist.
There are several pathways to registration for dental hygienists, dental therapists, and oral health therapist with overseas qualifications. These pathways include:
Further information is available on the Board’s Overseas qualified practitioners webpage.
1As described in the Board’s Guidelines for scope of practice