Apprenticeship ยท Level 6 ยท Healthcare

Dental Nursing

An apprenticeship where you work as part of a dental team supporting dentists and patients. It suits caring, organised people with good communication skills.

How apprenticeships work: you are hired by an approved employer and paid while you learn, mixing work with blocks of training in a college or training centre. You don't apply through the CAO and you don't need CAO points.

Key facts

Where you train
  • Cathal Brugha Street / City of Dublin ETB (Kevin Street, North Strand and Marlborough Street campuses listed as contacts)
Pay
You earn a salary from your employer while training on and off the job. The rate is agreed with your employer.
Costs
No tuition fees or student contribution.

Entry requirements

  • You must be employed by an approved apprenticeship employer
  • Full eligibility criteria are in the Dental Nursing Apprenticeship Handbook

How to apply

You must be employed by an approved employer. Search the Apprenticeship Jobs page, ask your local ETB, or contact the programme coordinator.

Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Preparing treatment rooms and equipment
  • Assisting during dental procedures
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Managing patient records and appointments
  • Giving patients oral health advice

Where it can lead

  • Dental nurse in general or specialist dental practices
  • Hospitals, community dental services or education settings

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Biology, Chemistry

These help with the content of the programme; they are not entry requirements unless listed above.

Other Healthcare apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in Health

Not sure which route suits you?

Our CAO Interest Test matches you to course areas, and now shows apprenticeships and tertiary degrees in your strongest areas too.

Take the CAO Interest Test โ†’ Try the free 3-minute test

Information from apprenticeship.ie, checked November 2026. Details can change, so always confirm on the official page before applying.