Charles Darwin University
3 years full-time
Become an oral health therapist through this three-year degree combining clinical training, health promotion, and community care. Ideal for students passionate about dental health and serving diverse populations across Australia's regional and remote areas.
Applicants must meet one of the following: successful completion of Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training with an ATAR of at least 70; completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher; at least 0.5 year of full-time higher education study with a GPA of at least 5.0; equivalent overseas qualifications; STAT Multiple Choice score of 147; or completion of a tertiary preparation course. Pre-clinical requirements include communicable disease screening, immunizations, Senior First Aid certification, Working with Children Check, and National Police Check clearance. English language proficiency is required with minimum IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0) for domestic students and IELTS 6.0 for international students.
The curriculum comprises 240 credit points across 21 core units organized into three years. Year 1 covers foundational knowledge including Introduction to Oral Health Science, Oral Health Practice, Anatomy and Physiology (Parts 1 and 2), Microbiology for Healthcare Professionals, Communication for Patient Care, and Fundamentals of Oral Health. Year 2 focuses on applied clinical skills including Oral Health Concepts and Principles, Applied Skills and Techniques, Clinical Practice (20 credit points), Pharmacology for Clinical Practice, Health Promotion, and Research and Evidence-Based Practice. Year 3 emphasizes advanced practice with Advanced Topics in Oral Health, Advanced Clinical Practice (20 credit points), Professional Practice, Global and Environmental Health, Rural and Remote Health, and a Capstone Clinical Experience (20 credit points). Students complete 1100 hours of work-integrated learning through clinical placements in simulated and real healthcare settings.
Charles Darwin University is a top 100 university globally for quality education (THE Impact Rankings 2021) and ranked five-star for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024). CDU offers a unique educational experience deeply connected to Central and Northern Australia's distinctive health challenges, providing personalized support and mentorship. The university has extensive experience delivering flexible, supportive learning environments and maintains strong partnerships with health and community organizations across regional, rural, and remote NT locations for authentic clinical placements.
Graduates work as Oral Health Therapists independently and with dental and healthcare teams, providing culturally sensitive clinical care in diverse settings including public dental clinics, community centers, private practices, and specialist dental facilities. Career opportunities extend beyond clinical practice to teaching, health education, research, management, and health policy development. The qualification enables registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Dental Board of Australia, opening pathways to employment across Australia with particular demand in regional and remote communities.
Course fee
Start date
You will be redirected to the training provider to enquire directly. Workinitiatives is not the course or training provider. We aggregate and list courses only.