Nitec in Dental Assisting (Traineeship)
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Overview
Course Duration
12 months
Type of course
Traineeship
Campus where course is offered
Others
Course Certification
Nitec
This 12-month course, conducted by ITE Approved Training Centres (Singapore Dental Association and National Dental Centre Singapore), prepares you for a career as a Dental Assistant / Dental Surgery Assistant.
This programme equips you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and professional attributes to provide effective patient care. Dental Assistants / Dental Surgery Assistants support dentists by providing chairside assistance, preparing patients, mixing materials, and offering oral health education in dental clinics.
The course combines:
- Full-time work: On-the-job training at dental clinics, completing a standard list of skills.
- Part-time study: Off-the-job training at NDCS, including theory, practical lessons and assessments. Conducted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings (6pm – 9pm) for the entire duration of the 12 months programme.
Prerequisite
- Meet academic qualification requirements.
- Secure employment and course sponsorship with NDCS /participating Dental Clinics.
- Singapore Citizen and Permanent Residents only.
Application Process
Next intake:
- Information for 2026 intake will be published here from December 2025
For individuals:
- This programme requires full-time employment and sponsorship with National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS). Whether you are a fresh GCE 'N' or 'O' Level graduate or exploring a career switch, visit NDCS's careers portal: www.ndcs.com.sg/careers/sponsorships
For Dental Clinics:
- Interested in sponsoring your current employees? contact Mr Jerry Choo at nitec@sda.org.sg
Important Note
For individuals:
- Course placement requires securing full-time employment and sponsorship from national Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS)
- Selection process may include dexterity tests and work trial period to assess job suitability
- NDCS sponsorship includes:
- 1 year of training while employed at NDCS
- Followed by a 2-year post-training bond with NDCS
- Total commitment: 3 years full-time employment with NDCS
For current Full-Time Dental Employees:
Existing staff may be sponsored by their dental clinic
Please refer to the Application Process section above for details
For other course-related enquiries, please e-mail: ibt@ite.edu.sg
What you'll learn
- Set up the instrument tray
- Prepare the patient for treatment
- Mix the dental material when required
- Act as chaperon and witness for consent and procedures performed
- Sterilise and disinfect the instruments
- Assist in dental X-ray taking, procedures and perform dental charting
- Assist in the prevention and management of dental emergencies
- Perform administrative duties and maintain clinic inventory
- Record patient information and health histories
- Give oral health education and post-operative instructions
Download Core module details (PDF 195 KB)
Entry Requirements
Subject | Grade |
GCE ‘O’ level grades in any 2 subjects | 1 – 8 |
or |
GCE ‘N’ level Passes in English Language and 2 other subjects | A – D or 1 – 5 |
Entry requirements for in-service workers nominated by employers (dental clinics):
- Relevant full-time work experience
- Strong employer endorsement
- Equivalent N/O level qualifications, or Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) at the following levels:
- Reading Level 4
- Listening Level 5
- Speaking Level 5
- Writing Level 4
- Numeracy Level 4
Progression Opportunities
Nitec in Dental Assisting graduates with a minimum GPA of 2.0 may apply for progression to the following Work-Study Diploma courses at ITE:
Career Opportunities
Graduates from Nitec in Dental Assisting can look forward to employment opportunities in the industry as Dental Assistants.