Diploma of Dental Technology

The Diploma of Dental Technology at Canberra College of Management and Technology trains you to make the things that go in a patient's mouth: dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances and mouthguards. It's a hands-on trade qualification. Most of your time is spent in a dental lab, not a lecture theatre, pouring impressions, waxing up, casting metal, trimming acrylic, finishing a denture so it fits and looks right. You'll learn dental anatomy and materials, infection control, and how to read a dentist's prescription and turn it into a working appliance.

The diploma runs two years full time and is registered on CRICOS (course code 116922E). Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework and are usually built from units of study, each carrying credit points. Expect a mix of lab-based practical units, theory units and at least one supervised work placement in a dental laboratory or clinic, because that's how this trade is taught here. Assessment is mostly practical, you make things and they get marked, plus written work and a final project. Confirm the unit list, placement hours and credit structure on the official course page before you apply.

You'll come out able to work with a range of materials, gypsum, wax, acrylic, cobalt-chrome, ceramics, and to use the hand and bench tools of the trade safely. You'll also pick up the habits employers want: accurate record-keeping, meeting deadlines for a dentist who needs an appliance by Thursday, and working as part of a small clinical team. English requirements for international applicants are an IELTS Academic overall of 6.0–6.5 for most courses at this level, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. The Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the Student visa, which is separate from the college's entry requirement.

This course suits people who like working with their hands, are good with fine detail, and want a practical health-sector job without a long university degree. It also suits dental assistants or lab assistants already in the field who want to move into the technical side. If you're an international student, a Student visa usually lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available once you finish, depending on your circumstances. Check the official page and the CRICOS register for current tuition, intake dates and entry details.

• Dental technician, commercial dental laboratories, making dentures, crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances to a dentist's prescription.
• Dental laboratory assistant, supporting technicians with casting, trimming, polishing and materials handling.
• Orthodontic technician, making retainers, plates and other appliances for orthodontic practices.
• Prosthetics technician, working on removable prosthetics such as full and partial dentures.
• Dental practice technician, some practices employ technicians on site to do repairs and simple appliance work.

Hiring industries in Australia include private dental laboratories, dental clinics and group practices, orthodontic practices, and hospital dental departments. Some technicians go on to run their own small lab or specialise in one area such as ceramics or orthodontics.