Course Providers

This section is only for those companies, organisations or individuals who are delivering dental education courses for dentists. As a course provider, you can submit course or meeting applications to be processed as registered Professional Development Activities.

As per the Dental Council’s Recertification Programme, all oral health practitioners are required to create and maintain an individual Professional Development Plan (PDP) and complete activities that contribute toward this.

By registering your courses and meeting activities with NZDA, you will provide an easy recording process for NZDA members, for the completion of their Professional Development Plans.

Course Provider Registration

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By registering as a course provider, access will be granted to submit courses and events designed to support professional development for NZDA members and their team.

The application will be reviewed by NZDA. Upon approval, submissions of courses and events will be accepted for further review. Approved submissions will be featured on the NZDA's course and events page, accessible to both members and the public.

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Certificate in Dental Assisting

Course Outline

The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) recognises the important role dental assistants play in the successful day to day running of the dental practice. We are proud to offer the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting course to dental assistants working alongside our NZDA members, who wish to further their knowledge and develop their skills within this profession. Annually 150 – 200 students throughout New Zealand graduate with our certificate.

The NZDA course has been structured over one academic year commencing in February and concluding in November. It is a modular, online, correspondence course which includes a combination of self-directed learning activities, lectures, online assessments and practical workplace experience.

Students completing this course will gain formal recognition from NZDA in having developed the skills to work competently and safely assisting a dentist, oral health therapist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist during oral health care procedures.

Note: As of 2022 the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting course is no longer NZQA accredited.

Enrolment

Enrolments for the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting are open from October to early December, for course commencement in February the following year.

To qualify for enrolment in the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting, students must be permanent residents of New Zealand, and be employed as a dental assistant by an NZDA member for a minimum of 20 hours per week at the time of enrolment and for the duration of the course year.

All students require a supervising dentist, who is ultimately responsible for their progression on the course and is able to conduct their practical workplace observation assessments. Supervising dentists must be NZDA members who are willing and able to support their dental assistant throughout the course.

Students must have use of a computer with internet access.

Course Structure

The NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting is an online correspondence course, meaning that module assessments are completed online through a specially designed website.

Students enrolled on the course will receive a personalised username and password to access their nine online learner guide modules, online assessments, learning tutorials, crosswords, and charting scenarios.

At the beginning of the course year, students will have access to nine online learner guides, which are to be completed concurrently with their online assessments and workplace observation tasks, set throughout the year. These learner guides provide students with competency based learning, as listed:

Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
Process reusable medical devices and equipment
Communicate and work effectively in health or community settings
Diversity in the workplace
Participate in workplace health and safety
Prepare for and assist with oral health care procedures
Assist with dental radiography
Assist with administration in dental practice
Assist with oral hygiene instruction

Additionally, an online assessment for the sub-module ‘Instrument Identification’ is to be completed as part of module DA006 ‘Prepare for and assist with oral health care procedures’. No learner guide will be available for ‘Instrument Identification’ as it tests students’ applied learning covered within the day to day running of the practice.

Course Completion

To successfully complete the course, students must complete all self-assessments and assessments within the prescribed timeframe.

As the course is competency-based, students must achieve 100% in assessment tasks and will receive a second and third opportunity to achieve this, if unsuccessful in their first and second attempts. Each ‘re-assessment’ will only require students to re-answer questions that have been marked incorrect in their previous attempts.

At the completion of the course year, all students must provide evidence that they have participated in a NZ Resuscitation Council Certificate in Resuscitation and Emergency Care CORE Immediate (or equivalent), which is to have been completed no more than two years prior to the end date of the course.

Students are required to complete the online MauriOra courses when completing module DA004 ‘Diversity in the workplace’. The course coordinator will advise of a voucher code in order to access a separate online assessment portal and gain their certificates; ‘Foundation course in cultural competency (Māori)’ and ‘Māori healthcare and the Treaty of Waitangi’. Certificates of completion for these courses are to be printed out from the student’s account on the MauriOra website and retained in their Evidence Portfolio. The fee for completing these certificates is included in the Certificate in Dental Assisting course fee.

Course Support

The NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting course is coordinated by the NZDA Education Team, based at NZDA House in Ellerslie, Auckland.

Each student participating in the course will be assigned to one of five Regional Facilitators who provide support and guidance to their students. Facilitators are based within the regions of Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.

Two lectures are given in the five regional centres during the year. These cover topics relevant to the course units and are held on a Saturday, so that students outside the major centres are able to travel and attend. These lectures are free to course participants and although not compulsory, are highly recommended as a great way to interact with peers.

1. When can I enrol for the course?

Enrolments will be open from October to December, for course commencement the following February.

2. When does the course start?

Course material will be sent out to students for the course starting 1st February.

3. How long does the course go for?

The course runs for nine full months with completion in early November.

4. Do I have to be working in order to enrol/complete this course?

Yes, you must for a NZDA member a minimum of 20 hours per week at the time of enrolment and for the duration of the course.

5. Can I complete the course if I am on a work visa?

No, you must be a permanent resident of New Zealand in order to enrol/complete this course.

6. Do I have to be working as a dental assistant within the practice?

Yes, you must be working as a dental assistant for a minimum of 20 hours per week.

7. Can I work for any dentist?

No, you must be working for an NZDA member. Please check this before sending in your enrolment forms.

8. Do I need to have access to a computer/internet?

Yes, as all of your assessments will need to be completed online, an easily accessible and reliable computer/internet is a must.

9. Will I need to attend any classes?

There are two lectures held throughout the year for students, these however are optional and will not disadvantage a student in any way if unable to be attended. All of the assessments for this course are accessed and completed online.

10. Do I need to complete the necessary resuscitation certificate before enrolment/starting the course?

No, your CORE Immediate Resuscitation Certificate needs to be completed before the end of the course. This can be done at any stage throughout the course year, with an opportunity provided by NZDA for students to complete this during the second lecture of the year.

11. What will I gain from completing the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting?

The NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting is formally recognised by NZDA and its members as having developed the skills to work competently and safely assisting a dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist during oral health care procedures.

Note: As of 2022 the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting course is no longer NZQA accredited.

Introduction to Dental Assisting

The NZDA Introduction to Dental Assisting is a one-month module offered to dental assistants as a basic overview to dental assisting. It provides the introductory skills and knowledge necessary to work safely and effectively in a dental practice with patients, staff, visitors and suppliers.

The one-month module is recommended for dental assistants that have either commenced work in a dental practice without any prior training or for those re-entering the workplace after having spent time away from dental assisting.

The Introduction to Dental Assisting can be completed at the beginning of any month, between the months of April and October. This course is available to staff working for NZDA members and can be used and an introductory platform for those interested in completing the yearlong NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting course.

Note: This course is not a prerequisite for the certificate course nor is it recognised as prior learning for the certificate course.

The Introduction to Dental Assisting covers the following topics:

Work ethically
Communicate effectively
Maintain personal hygiene
Use personal protective equipment
Limit contamination
Handle sharps safely
Identify hazards and control risk
Identify teeth and assist with charting

Students enrolled in this course will receive one learner guide booklet with written self-assessment tasks to be completed. Students will also be provided a username and password for completion of the related online assessment, accessing learning tutorials and online charting scenarios.

Students will have one month to read their learner guide and complete their online assessment. Upon conclusion of the module, completed course material needs to be sent into NZDA within the stipulated time frame for review. Students will be issued with a certificate of completion once materials have been received by NZDA.

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