This qualification is delivered over 720 hours, including 350 hours of work placements. Participants enrolled in this course will have up to 36 weeks (excluding the end of year holiday and term breaks) to complete the course requirements. Participants enrolled in this course may have an opportunity to shorten the course if they have prior knowledge and experience.
This qualification will be delivered using a combination of online-based delivery and other student participation and engagement methods. Students assisted with the self-directed study, assessment assistance and work experience to build on participant’s knowledge and skills on the job.
The theoretical online sessions in the individual units of competency may include participation in skills training and practice training, scenarios and projects, reports, student learner guides, audio-visual aids, and technology as learning tools to build student performance knowledge further. The Training and Assessment ensure that students have adequate time to learn the topics and opportunities for reinforcement and complete and submit challenging tasks required for assessment purposes.
A variety of presentation types may include eLearning resources and classroom-style delivery for those students requiring assistance. Such methods are well suited to present fundamental and theoretical knowledge.
The effectiveness of the training sessions involving student participation is encouraged, including class sizes from 5 to 25 students. These restrictions will maximise trainer/student interaction during training.
The online lectures and skills training are delivered at 189 Plenty Road, Preston, VIC 3072. Practical work placements locations are negotiated with the individual facilities.
Successful completion of this qualification will enable you to progress to other courses conducted by ALACC, as below.
You may be interested in combining other qualifications:
We offer the opportunity to combine the qualification with another Qualification by taking an advanced standard and imported units. By taking advanced common and imported units, you can complete 2 qualifications for less.
• Certificate III in Aged Care
• Certificate IV in Aged Care
• Certificate IV in Disability
• Diploma of Mental Health
• Diploma of Community Services
• Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management
• Diploma of Quality Auditing
• Diploma in Leadership and Management
• Advanced Diploma in Leadership Management
Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who want to take the role of assisting a dentist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, dental therapist, or oral health therapist during oral health care procedures.
RPL:
ALACC has an RPL process outlined in detail in the RPL policy, which recognises the learners’ prior knowledge, experience, and previous qualifications. Details of the RPL process are located in the Student Prospectus policy. The ALACC website is encouraged you to apply if you believe you are eligible.
Applications can be made for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). According to the College’s policy, these will be assessed to determine if and how much-advanced standing will be granted with evidence. The Learner may be able to shorten the length of their studies by recognising experience and qualifications gained elsewhere. Applications can be made via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by completing an online form from the ALACC website or Student Portal.
Credit Transfer:
ALACC recognises AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by any other Registered Training Organisation in Australia. Students may request credit transfer for a unit of competency based on their study at another institution. Please refer to our Credit transfer policy on the ALACC website. Suitable documentation such as a Statement of Attainment, Transcript of results must be provided when applying for Credit Transfer, including a USI transcript. Applications can be made for Credit Transfer (CT) via an online form from the ALACC website or Student Portal.
There are no specific pre-requisite requirements for entry to the qualification as per the Training Package.
ALACC policy requires:
- The Learner must be 18 years or over
- Have satisfactorily completed Year11 or equivalent.
- Demonstrate proficiency in English literacy and numeracy skill that meets industry requirements as a part of Certificate III in Dental Assisting Course. Refer to ALACC policy on English Language Proficiency.
- A Pre-training Review is conducted with the Learner to identify Language, Literacy and Numeracy levels, any disability that may affect your learning and to ascertain support that may be required during your study period.
Formative and summative assessments will be conducted to determine the achievement of competency-based learning outcomes. Assessments may include student questions, written assignments, case studies, projects, written reports, online workshop attendance practical activities, skills demonstration and job role environment and practical placement environment.
All assessments will be undertaken following the ALACC Assessment policy noted on the website and course handbook. Students will be advised of the assessment requirements at the beginning of each unit. Individual Unit outlines also contain assessment information. As this is a competency-based qualification, assessment continues until the participant achieves competency in the assessment tasks or a further training need is identified and addressed.
Successful completion of this course may enable you to work as a:
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Nurse
Students are encouraged to attend the Orientation session and read the Course Information Handbook before commencing their studies. ALACC offers student support services as per the ALACC Student Support policy on the website.
To achieve this qualification, the learner must have completed at least 350 hours of work placement as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the Units of Competency.
ALACC takes the responsibility to find Practical placements and will negotiate with individual Providers and ensure an Agreement is in place. For security reasons, students cannot undertake their Practical work placements without a valid Agreement between ALACC and the Placement Providers.
Students who wish to use their current place of work if relevant to the course, must discuss with the ALACC course coordinator and provide evidence of current work as per our placement process. An Agreement will be sent to the facility after negotiating with the Placement Provider.
Students going on work placements will be required to provide relevant documentation to enter the facility such as police check, mandatory immunisation and COVID booster vaccination. Students allergic to the latter must provide evidence.
Cancellation of work placements by the student will attract a minimum payment of the administrative cost of $60 unless a medical certificate is provided. The student placement may be delayed to allow time for the Placement coordinator to find another work placement.
The Course Timetable is available on Student Online Learning Portal – Moodle
Please refer to Notifications on Moodle to note if there are any changes made to the timetable when it is updated.
Quality activities are designed for Learner feedback, and evaluations will be considered in modifying and improving training and assessment strategies.
Refer to related policies on ALACC website, deferring, withdrawing, suspending or cancellation of the course the website including filling in the relevant form from the website or student portal.
Please also refer to the Refund policy on ALACC website. Your application will be assessed according to the policy.
Refer to ALACC policies related to: VET Student Loan, if relevant, domestic student policy, international student polices is available on ALACC website, or in the student portal, student prospectus, course information relevant to the specific course being undertaken.
Please enquire about Scholarship which is offered to learners enrolled in two courses with two or three terms. The second or third course will be the Principle course in which the scholarship is available for the third semester. Conditions apply.
Certificate III in Dental Assisting requires successful completion of 10 units comprised of (8) core units and seven (2) Elective Units selected from the packaging specification as specified in the Health and Community Services Training Packages, including 350 hours of work placements.
Please ask us about credit transfers.