Dental Nursing (4238)

Last Updated: 30 Oct 2024
The 4238 suite includes the:
4238-03 Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing which is a standalone qualification for those learners who work outside of England, or where they do not wish to use the apprenticeship. 

4238-22 Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing. In response to the changes in the ST0113 Dental Nurse (integrated) apprenticeship standard assessment plan, City & Guilds has designed a NEW qualification to meet the requirements of AP05.  The content and assessment requirements are the same as 4238-12, however,  the assessment and apprenticeship outcome is Pass/Fail.

The qualification is recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) as meeting the GDC Learning Outcomes for Dental Nurses.  In addition, the qualification meets the requirements for those learners who wish to apply to the GDC Dental Nurse professional register.

This qualification is ONLY available in England. 

4238-12 Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing (England) will be closed for registrations within the next few months.  Learners who are already registered on the 4238-12 can be assured that the qualification will remain open for a period of 3 years after the revised end registration date.

These qualifications are aimed at learners aged 16 – 18; 19+.

Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

Both qualifications cover the required content to meet the General Dental Council Learning Outcomes.  Content themes covered in the qualifications include:

  • Preparing for practice as a dental nurse
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Health & Safety
  • First Aid and medical emergencies
  • Oral Health Assessments
  • Dental anatomy
  • Safe use of ionising radiation
  • Supporting a range of dental treatments
What Careers Can This Lead To?

This qualification can help you to progress in, or to, a number of roles, once you have gained more experience. These could include qualifications such as: 

  • ILM Leadership and Management qualifications
  • City & Guilds 6317 Training and Assessment qualifications (TAQA)
  • City & Guilds 9200 Professional Recognition Awards at levels 3-6
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

4238-03 Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing

To deliver this qualification centres will need to provide their learners with a suitable learning environment and the resources they need to complete the practical and theoretical aspects of the qualification.  The learners MUST have access to a regulated dental setting, where the learner will usually be employed on a full or part time basis.  On confirmation of approval to deliver the qualification in Wales and Northern Ireland it is anticipated that the qualifications will be added as part of an apprenticeship framework.

Learning support materials will be available to facilitate delivery of this qualification.

Download the qualification handbook from the Centre documents section for full delivery requirements.

4238-12 Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing
 
Our teaching and learning resources for Dental Nurse will give you the tools you need to support apprentices through their on-programme learning, build their confidence and competence and ensure a quality learning experience in preparation for EPA.  Our high-quality, rigorous end-point assessment (EPA), can be delivered at a convenient time for your apprentice.  Our EPA service includes a suite of guidance documents and preparation tools to get you ready for EPA.  

On-programme
City & Guilds has designed delivery content that will equip apprentices with the competence and confidence to perform their best in assessment.  Including; 

Mandatory qualification: The qualification included in this apprenticeship standard is completed in 2 stages.  This qualification will only be awarded on successful completion of the end point assessment, as it forms part of the qualification.

Maths & English: Our Functional Skills qualifications cover the core maths and English requirements for this standard.  Our support package, e-Functional Skills is an online teaching and learning platform that guides learners from an initial diagnostic assessment, through to meeting the requirements for this standard.

End-point assessment
As one of the biggest EPAOs in England, we pride ourselves on our first rate customer service.  Our EPA team is on hand to support you every step of the way, guiding you through gateway and ensuring your apprentice has all the tools they need to prepare for the assessment.   

Our assessment and grading is standardised and all our assessors have industry experience and have current registration with the GDC. Our assessors receive on-going training, so you can trust that we will deliver a fair and robust assessment.

Assessment events for this standard are: 

  • Synoptic knowledge test
  • Observation of practice followed by questioning
  • Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio

All of the end point assessment events are part of the qualification itself.

For further guidance, please refer to our handbook and end-point assessment pack. The handbook provides more detail behind the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard and the range of content within the standard. The end-point assessment pack includes detailed guidance on grading criteria for the EPA and the evidence you’ll need to produce for knowledge, skills and behaviours at gateway.  You’ll find them in the documents section above.   

EPA preparation and gateway guidance for this standard:  Upon registration for the qualification and  simultaneously for EPA, through our EPAPro End Point Assessment Management Tool, you will have access to a range of support material for the Dental Nurse apprenticeship standard to help prepare for end-point assessment.  

EPA exemplar materials: Available for tutors, providing real assessment exemplars for each assessment type, such as transcripts and model answers.  This will help you to prepare apprentices and ensure they feel ready for assessment.  

Sample knowledge test: A sample of the EPA assessment paper to use with apprentices for formative or mock papers.  The pack includes the paper, the mark scheme and a mark sheet. 

Recording forms: Supporting you to complete key stages of EPA readiness, we have prepared forms to give you peace of mind and confidence that everything is covered.  These packs include a gateway declaration form that is needed during the booking process and assessment forms, if required, that apprentices might need during assessment. 

LIEPA reports: Our lead independent end assessors (LIEPAs) produce a regular report with insight into the EPA results and findings across all centres.  These reports can help you refine your apprenticeship delivery to improve success rates.  

Click here for our EPA pricelist.

Apprenticeship certification
As well as receiving their Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) apprenticeship certificate, the apprentice will receive a City & Guilds statement of achievement for end-point assessment and their qualification certificate for the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing.

Digital credentials provide an exciting new way to motivate and reward apprentices’ on-going progression. They allow achievements to be verifiable, shareable and trackable all in one click. Please add your learners’ email address during registration. A digital credential cannot be issued without the learner’s email address.

If you’re an existing City & Guilds centre, or interested in becoming a centre, make sure you’ve read our EPA manual and guidance. This will explain the process and all our terms and conditions. Our short ‘how-to’ guides and videos are a great start to help you get to grips with what to expect and how to stay on track when booking EPA and preparing apprentices for assessment.  You’ll find these resources in our EPA document library.

To use our quality-assured on-programme materials or end-point assessment service there are three ways to either find out more or to order what you need: 

1. If you’re an existing City & Guilds customer for the 5234-01 qualification and for our 9752 EPA Products, then please complete the Fast Track Approval Form on the web page under the Centre Documents Tab.  Go to Walled Garden and select the materials you need or register your apprentice for end-point assessment. (You may need to submit a request to deliver if you don’t yet have approval for that standard.)

2. Get in touch with directsales@cityandguilds.com. Our team can explain our different products and services and start getting you set up as a customer or give existing customers support on the new apprenticeship arrangements. 

3. Speak to your City & Guilds Business Manager about how to access our products or how to register your apprentices with us.

Level 3

Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing (4238-03)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing

  • Accreditation No: 603/7221/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £205.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing (4238-12)
Last Registration Date: 29 Jan 2024 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing

  • Accreditation No: 603/7099/3 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Other This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 02/01/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £968.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 End-point Assessment for ST0113/AP03 Dental Nurse

  • Accreditation No: Data unavailable This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Other This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/07/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing (4238-22)
Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2025 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing

  • Accreditation No: 610/1177/0 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 367 - 367 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 586 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £968.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

Learning Assistant

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form