Looking to the future: qualifications and career pathways

The General Dental Council's (GDC) Scope of Practice (GDC, 2013) has had a great impact on the role of the dental nurse. It has allowed nurses to take on more duties, which helps them to further their career and to become a great asset within the dental practice.

In order to carry out these extended duties, the GDC has stipulated that further training is needed. This article discusses the additional qualifications that dental nurses can take, and the different roles that dental nurses can progress into.

At present, there are five additional qualifications that dental nurses can obtain in order to further their careers. Before long, we are likely to see a sixth being added dealing with dental implants. In some practices, the principal will cover the cost of the course and the first sitting of the examination, while other practices may expect the dental nurse to self-fund the course and exam fees. Extensive information on the courses and assessment methods are given on the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) website (www.nebdn.org). Therefore, only a brief outline is given in the following sections.