Apprentices

Thinking of joining us as an apprentice dental nurse?


Learn more about building your future with Bupa Dental Care

Our Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship is your opportunity to develop your skills in a hands-on role, gaining a nationally-recognised qualification and earning whilst you learn.

As one of our dental nurses, you’ll be there as vital and reliable chair-side support to our clinicians. You can also expect to work in other areas of the practice, including reception. Whether you’re dealing with patient queries, answering the phone, taking payments or booking appointments, you’ll play a vital part in ensuring our patients lead longer, happier and healthier lives.

Ready to search our apprenticeship vacancies, click here..

We run this apprenticeship with our partner Tempdent and it takes between 18 and 24 months to complete. It’s fully funded and has three main components:

  • A Diploma in Dental Nursing Level 3
  • Functional Skills English & Maths Level 2 qualifications (unless you’re exempt, e.g. you already have Maths and English GCSEs at grade A-C)
  • An End Point Assessment – this consists of an in-practice observation and an interview covering the knowledge, skills and behaviour competencies covered throughout the programme

The qualification is accredited by City & Guilds and is delivered through a blended learning programme. That includes an innovative, interactive eLearning platform that will enable you to access the course from anywhere in the UK. This is a great alternative to university – at the end of the apprenticeship you’ll already have a job (your salary will increase once you’re qualified too) and you’ll be debt free.

What are the entry requirements?

If you’re over the age of 16, eligible to work in the UK and not currently in full time education you will be able to join our dental nurse apprenticeship.

  • Applicants should have Maths & English GCSE grade A-C/ 4-9 or keyskills/ functional skills level 2. However, if applicants have attained qualifications of a similar level, Tempdent will review this on a case by case basis.
  • Applicants with Maths & English GCSE grade A-C/4-9 or key skills/ functional skills level 2 will be exempt from the functional skills components.
  • You should be employed as a dental nurse for a minimum of 30 hours per week to complete the apprenticeship in the minimum times. In some circumstances the learner can work shorter hours, but the length of the qualification would need to be extended accordingly.
  • You must have regular access to a computer or laptop with internet connectivity, microphone and speakers as you will be required to attend live webinars access online material, and prepare coursework.

What does the interview process look like?


An insight into life at Bupa Dental Care

After introductions, the Practice Manager and co-assessor (where there are two interviewers), will provide you with an insight into the job role and its day to day tasks, along with your responsibilities as an apprentice dental nurse within our practices.

Interview questions

You will then be asked a series of questions relating to the skills and qualities you believe make you a good fit for the role. You will also be asked some clinical questions relating to becoming a dental nurse and a series of non clinical questions relating to customer service, patient journey, cooperation and collaboration within the team.

On average you should expect to spend 5 minutes on each question. We would advise that you do some prior research into dental nursing to help you prepare.

Your questions

This is your chance to ask any questions you may have about the role, company or interview process. Please feel free to be open and honest with anything you’re unsure of.

At this point we’ll also ask you to provide the relevant right to work documentation and cover any housekeeping questions you may have relating to working hours, annual leave, professional registrations etc.

Apprentice Dental Nurse smiling

Thaisia, Apprentice Dental Nurse


"The more I've studied the more I've found my interests"

Apprentice Dental Nurse smiling

“Before I started I didn’t actually know what career paths there were after becoming a dental nurse. But the more I’ve studied the more I’ve found my interests and paths I can follow afterwards.”

Take the first step on your apprenticeship journey

Bupa Dental Care work in partnership with Tempdent in order to ensure we offer a best in-class trainee scheme. You can search all our apprenticeship vacancies by clicking below.

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Reasons to join us on a Dental Nurse Apprenticeship

High Quality Training – a minimum of 30 hours per week on-the-job training and top quality teaching and support, including a online learning, regional workshops, a workplace mentor, and a tutor to help you build your knowledge and prepare for exams

Great prospects – this apprenticeship scheme’s pass rates are consistently over 85% (compared with the national average of 68%)

Wages – ‘earn while you learn’, we pay all our apprentices national living wage

Holiday pay – entitled to a minimum of 20 days per year

Qualification – you will achieve a nationally recognised qualification and become a GDC registered Dental Nurse

Career progression – excellent progression opportunities in the dental field; through completing post registration Dental Nursing courses or other courses within the Dental profession

Increased earning potential – when you complete your qualification, you will get a marked salary increase

Help with travel costs: If you live in London, you may be eligible for help with travel costs through the Department of Transport local Sustainability Transport fund, click here for details

What future pathways are available?

As our dental nurses, you’re at the heart of everything we do. We are working with the top learning providers to offer you the very best in educational training and to help you achieve your development goals and fulfill your career aspirations.

Once you start your career with us as an apprentice dental nurse, the world really is your oyster and there are plenty of career pathways for you to move into once you have completed your training.

On qualifying you will be become a qualified dental nurse and registered with the GDC (fully paid through Bupa Dental Care).

We can then support you with further qualifications in:

  • Radiography (2D in practice)
  • Fluoride Varnish Application
  • Special Care
  • Perio
  • Impression Taking and Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS)
  • Sedation
  • Implants
  • Ortho
  • Oral Health Education

Our pay banding structure allows you to develop within the nurse role and be financially rewarded for the additional qualifications gain and utilise in practice.

Future job roles include:

Various opportunities in practice to be promoted to Lead Nurse, Practice Coordinator and Practice Manager or we have progression opportunities within our Support Centre and field roles.

Our main aim is to support you in creating a long and meaningful career that is thoroughly rewarding.

Read more:

Life after an apprenticeship

Former dental nurse apprentices discuss what happened next after they completed their apprenticeships at Bupa Dental Care.

Find out more

Apprentice Shadow Days

Our Apprentice Shadow Days provide an opportunity for you to gain an insight into the patient journey and what it’s like to work in a dental practice.

They are designed to help you make a fully informed decision if the Trainee /Apprentice Dental Nurse role in Bupa Dental Care is definitely the right role for you.


What to expect during your shadow day

Your Apprentice Shadow Day will cover all practice roles, predominately in surgery, whilst providing an insight into our decontamination process. It will also give you an insight into reception and the general running of a dental practice.

Towards the end of your day

The Practice Manager will talk through what you enjoyed and which aspects of the role you’d find most challenging or feel you’d enjoy the least. We really do appreciate any feedback you have on the day – both positive and areas to improve.

Want to find out more?

To learn more about our Apprentice Shadow Days, please contact [email protected]

Meet Tiegan


Apprentice Dental Nurse smiling

Belief in You

Meet an Apprentice Dental Nurse

Higher Apprenticeships for Dental Technicians

The Dental Technology foundation degree (FdSc) is a part-time vocational course designed to give you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you need to become a skilled dental technician. Over two years, you’ll experience face-to-face training sessions as well as undertaking online learning. Practical workshops, demonstrations and critiques will give you the chance to build your skills and apply the theory you’ve learned.

This Higher Apprenticeship has been developed with industry input and is aligned to the requirements of the General Dental Council. You can expect to build skills in everything from oral anatomy and physiology through to biomaterial science, dental appliance design, and dental technology.

We’ll cover professionalism, ethics, legislation and regulation, as well as analysis, decision making and reflection. We’ll also help you to develop your practical abilities in areas like biomechanical design and dental device production. This is a great opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment in our specialised laboratories and learning areas.

Reasons to join us on a Dental Technician Apprenticeship

  • Our course tutors are highly qualified professionals from the areas of health, dentistry and engineering
  • You’ll be based in our purpose-built dental laboratories with access to specialist equipment and the latest dental technology
  • Our Higher Apprenticeship for Dental Technicians was developed following consultations with employers and industry bodies, including the Dental Laboratory Association and the Dental Technicians Association
  • The course leads to an FdSc in Dental Technology
  • Industrial work placements will help to boost your understanding of the industry – you’ll have work-based mentors too

How to apply:

You can apply for our Dental technician Apprenticeships through this website, when there’s a position open we’ll add it to this page too. Alternatively, register for job alerts below

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