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EPA Standard
Dental Nurse (GDC 2023) v1.0
Level 3 
£8,000 
18 months
1. What the role entails
The Dental Nurse provides chair-side support to all dental professionals, making sure that there are high standards of cleanliness and infection control. Dental Nurses prepare instruments, materials and medicaments for dental procedures; mix materials; sterilise instruments; keep records; note dictation; carry out stock control; and ensure patient comfort and safety throughout their visit. Dental Nurses work in a clinical environment that could be in an NHS general dental practice, hospital, private dental practice, specialist dental practice, community dental service or military dental clinic.
2. On-programme assessments
Apprentices will typically spend 18 months on-programme and undertake the minimum required off-the-job training as per the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding rules. Before entering Gateway, the apprentice must complete the following on-programme requirements:
• Level 2 English and maths
• all required units of the General Dental Council (GDC) approved Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing qualification at Level 3.
3. Gateway requirements
The decision to take an apprentice through Gateway is made between the employer, Independent Training Provider (ITP) and the apprentice. The apprentice should only enter Gateway once the employer is content that the apprentice is working at or above the level of the occupational standard.
The apprentice must also have completed all the on-programme elements before they enter Gateway.
4. End-point assessment
There are no assessment methods for end-point assessment. The EPA takes place after the apprentice has completed all the requirements on-programme. EPA starts with the external quality assurance scrutiny of claimed certificates
and finishes when the EQA makes a decision on the final apprenticeship grade.
5. Grade aggregation table
| Fail | Does not meet the standards for Dental Nurses set out in the Safe Practitioner Framework. |
| Pass | Has met the standards for Dental Nurses set out in the Safe Practitioner Framework. |
6. Completion and certification
We’ll activate certification once the apprentice has successfully completed the Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing. Working with the apprenticeship certificate issuing authority, we’ll ensure the apprentice receives their certificate.
7. What next?
On completion of the Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing qualification, apprentices can register with the GDC as a qualified
Dental Nurse.
Why NCFE?
We’re an approved End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) specialising in EPA delivery across health, education, social care, business, active leisure and digital apprenticeship standards. NCFE offers flexible and reliable EPA solutions supported by sector expertise, guidance documents and proactive service and support.