PDA Dental Care Professionals: Dental Laboratory Skills SCQF level 8

The Professional Development Award in Dental Care Professionals: Dental Laboratory Skills at SCQF level 8 has been developed in partnership with NHS Dental Education for Scotland so is fit for purpose.

It will help employers meet skills gaps and provide continuing professional development for staff, while learners will gain knowledge and skills needed for progression in the workplace.

The Unit-based structure aids timetable flexibility. Units are typically 40 hours of learning and they can be delivered on a full-time or part-time basis.

This PDA provides progression routes to further study (see Progression).

The target audience is experienced dental nurses who are registered with the regulatory body the General Dental Council (GDC) and who are seeking to extend their clinical duties within their professional scope of practice and to contribute towards their continued professional development.

Where appropriate, other GDC-registered Dental Care Professional (DCP) groups (for example, orthodontic therapists) may also wish to undertake an HN Unit to extend their clinical duties within their professional scope of practice, or for the purposes of continued professional development.

Access

Entry to this qualification is at the discretion of the centre. Learners must be registered with the General Dental Council as a Dental Care Professional. The learner must be working in a dental environment and have the opportunity to gain regular experience in supporting and recording oral health assessment.

Learners undertaking this PDA must also be disclosed under the PVG scheme (2011) standard or enhanced.

The Units in the PDA have been mapped against the National Occupational Standards for Dental Technology and Dental Nursing.

Learners would have the opportunity of progressing to other PDAs in the oral health care sector or to the HND in Dental Nursing. 

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.

Each individual Unit specification gives detailed information on the Evidence Requirements and approaches to assessment for the Unit.

Ongoing course assessment will apply.  Learners may be required to produce a report based on the practical aspect of their learning, undertake assessments and complete a work-based portfolio. 

There are opportunities to integrate assessment within each Unit.