Dental Nursing
Available for Clearing 2026
Course Overview - Dental Nursing
Overview
Dental nurses support dentists in all aspects of patient treatment and care.
On this 1-year CertHE Dental Nursing course, accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), you’ll get the knowledge and practical skills required to achieve safe beginner status, become a vital member of the dental team and register with the GDC when you graduate.
• Build your team-working skills by studying alongside dental hygiene, dental therapy and final year students from King’s College London Dental Institute
• Use some of the b...
Overview
Dental nurses support dentists in all aspects of patient treatment and care.
On this 1-year CertHE Dental Nursing course, accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), you’ll get the knowledge and practical skills required to achieve safe beginner status, become a vital member of the dental team and register with the GDC when you graduate.
• Build your team-working skills by studying alongside dental hygiene, dental therapy and final year students from King’s College London Dental Institute
• Use some of the best dental facilities for students in the country at our Dental Academy, with 44 treatment bays, 2 individual surgeries, a phantom head skill lab, full radiography suite and an electronic patient records system
• Work with real patients in the local community, gaining valuable work experience supporting our dental outreach project
• Qualify with a CertHE in Dental Nursing when you complete the course, which allows you to register with the GDC as a dental nurse
Professional accreditations
This course is accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC).
Careers and opportunities
Dental nurses offer vital support to dentists by ensuring they have all they need to treat patients, such as preparing tools and materials, sterilising treatment spaces and managing patient records.
They also assist dentists as they carry out treatments, passing instruments as they need them, keeping a patient's mouth clear of water and saliva, and making sure patients are comfortable and relaxed throughout.
Dental nursing is a crucial role within a dental team and since the pandemic, there is an even higher demand for dental nurses in the both the NHS and the private sector.
On this Dental Nursing CertHE, you'll gain what you need to become a registered dental nurse, including knowledge of many dental restorative and preventative procedures, and professional and people skills.
You'll complete a programme of statutory and mandatory training as part of our commitment to the NHS, including the anatomy and physiology of the head and neck, body systems, and understanding health, safety and infection control.
Once you complete the course, you’ll be able to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental nurse, ready to work at a general dental practice, a hospital, with the community dental service or in the Armed Forces. Or, you could continue your studies at diploma or degree level.
What areas can you work in with a dental nursing CertHE?
As a registered dental nurse, you’ll be qualified to take on roles in any sector of the dental industry, including:
- general dental practice (NHS or private)
- corporate dental practice
- hospital dental services
• Armed Forces
- specialists dental practice
- health promotion
Potential salary
As an NHS dental nurse in 2021, your starting salary would likely be between £20,330 (Band 3) and £22,549 (Band 4). With more experience as a senior dental nurse, you could make up to £31,534 (Band 5).
You could also work in the private sector, or as a locum dental nurse, for a competitive hourly rate.
Work experience with patients in the community
To help you gain professional experience, you'll help to provide free dental health services to the public at the Dental Academy and work with patients in local community settings.
You'll have the chance to offer preventative and educational dental support within institutions such as school clinics and hostels for homeless people, enabling you to gain a better understanding of the social impact of good dental care.
Our community work experience projects include:
- outreach activity in community surgeries and maxillofacial departments in local hospitals
- oral health promotion
- supervised tooth brushing in infant schools
- helping staff to develop oral care plans in residential homes
- providing dental screening to offenders in the probation service
Why Choose University of Portsmouth During Clearing?
All Clearing students are guaranteed an offer of a room in halls (terms and conditions apply), giving you added confidence as you plan your next steps. Full details can be found on the University of Portsmouth website.
By signing up for Priority Clearing, you can receive accommodation information straight to your inbox, along with exclusive access to Portsmouth’s Clearing Visit Day on Thursday 6 August. Priority Clearing applicants benefit from queue-jump status on Results Day, as well as exclusive updates, invitations to Clearing Webinars and personalised one-to-one applic...
All Clearing students are guaranteed an offer of a room in halls (terms and conditions apply), giving you added confidence as you plan your next steps. Full details can be found on the University of Portsmouth website.
By signing up for Priority Clearing, you can receive accommodation information straight to your inbox, along with exclusive access to Portsmouth’s Clearing Visit Day on Thursday 6 August. Priority Clearing applicants benefit from queue-jump status on Results Day, as well as exclusive updates, invitations to Clearing Webinars and personalised one-to-one application support.
The Clearing Visit Day offers you the chance to experience Portsmouth’s welcoming campus and vibrant student community first-hand before you enrol. With guaranteed accommodation, you can feel reassured that you’ll be at the heart of university life from day one.
Course Information
1 Clearing option available
Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.
Course Details
Information
Study Mode
Full-time
Duration
1 Years
Start Date
2026-09-14
Campus
Main Site
Application Details
Apply for Clearing 2026
Provider Details
Codes/info
Course Code
B751
Institution Code
P80
Points of Entry
Year 1
Entry Requirements
UCAS Tariff
64
72
64-72 points from a minimum of 2 A-levels, to include a pure Science subject.
Scottish Higher
64
72
Not Accepted
Access to HE Diploma
64
72
64-72 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Science - must have pure Science element).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
64
72
25 points from the IB Diploma with 544 at Higher Level, to include a Higher Level in a pure science subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
64
72
Must be in a Science subject.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
64
72
64-72 tariff points from Higher Level subjects, to include a pure Science subject.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
64
72
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
64
72
Must be in a Science subject
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
64
72
Must be in a Science subject.
Scottish Advanced Higher
64
72
64-72 Tariff points from a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers, to include a pure Science subject.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
64
72
Cambridge Pre-U score of 32, to include a Principal Subject in Science.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
64
72
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
A level
64
72
64-72 points from a minimum of 2 A-levels, to include a pure Science subject.
T Level
64
72
Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Health (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Supporting the adult nursing team, Supporting the mental health team), T Level in Healthcare Science (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Assisting with healthcare science), T Level in Science
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
64
72
64-72 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, to include a pure Science subject, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
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Fees and funding
| Region | Costs | Academic Year | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland | £9,790 | 2026/27 | Year 1 | |
| EU | £10,300 | 2026/27 | Year 1 | |
| International | £17,900 | 2026/27 | Year 1 |
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