PDA Dental Nursing SCQF level 7

The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Dental Nursing has been developed following consultation with the field in Scotland and key stakeholders around the UK including the NHS Education for Scotland Dental Directorate.

The qualification may be delivered through a blended learning format which could include distance, open or e-learning.

The PDA in Dental Nursing is aimed at trainee dental nurses working within general dental practice surgeries, hospitals or in the community. Candidates are likely to be seeking registration with the GDC, looking to improve on their professional practice, keeping up-to-date with oral health practice developments, and developing best practice within their own working environment.

Access

There are no pre-entry qualifications for this award although it is likely that candidates will be undertaking the SVQ in Dental Nursing concurrently. Entry will be at the discretion of the centre. However, due to the nature of the award, candidates should be in employment within an oral health care environment or have access to a suitable placement which will allow them to achieve the required competencies. In addition, it would beneficial if candidates have an adequate level of Communication and/or a science or numeracy subject which could be evidenced by achievement of, for example, Communication, English or equivalent at SCQF level 5 or above and Maths, Numeracy or a science-based course at SCQF level 4 or above (or equivalent).

There is direct articulation and progression to other awards in the SQA framework as follows:

• SVQ Level 3 Dental Nursing
• PDA Oral Health Care: Dental Administrators at SCQF level 6
• PDA Oral Health Care: Dental Managers at SCQF level 8
• PDA Facilitating Learning, Training and Assessment in the Workplace at SCQF level 8

Specific subject expertise is required to deliver this qualification which is detailed in the Group Award Specification (Arrangements Document). To gain approval for this qualification centres should complete and submit a Qualification Approval Application Form. The Business Development Team can provide guidance in completing this form.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements as outlined in the guide to approval.

Assessment guidelines and Evidence Requirements are contained within each Unit. With the exception of the Dental Nursing Assessment Unit, each Unit may be assessed holistically using short-question papers to cover the knowledge and skills in each Unit.

Assessment of the Dental Nursing Assessment Unit takes the form of a question paper which is set under closed book conditions. Centres must ensure that appropriate accommodation is available for the examination. The examination is of 1.5 hours duration and is currently available at two points in the year: on the first Friday of June and the first Friday of December.

Full details of the assessment procedure for the Dental Nursing Assessment Unit can be found in the Arrangements document.

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