Apprentice FAQs – how can we help you?

A dental apprenticeship is a powerful way to launch your career. With Tempdent, you’ll gain nationally recognised qualifications while training both in a dental practice and through structured learning. You’ll develop essential clinical skills, work alongside experienced dental professionals, and earn a wage as a valued team member.

As a dental apprentice, you’re not just learning – you’re employed. That means you’ll receive a salary, holiday entitlement, and all the rights of a regular employee. And when you complete your apprenticeship, you’ll have hands-on experience in a real dental setting, a strong foundation of industry knowledge, and valuable references to boost your CV and future career prospects.

 

At Tempdent we have four entry points each year, called ‘cohorts’. Each of our apprenticeships begin in January, April, July and October. Apprentices need to be working in a dental practice and fully enrolled on to their apprenticeship with the support of their employer before these intake points, so it’s vital that you register to start this process as soon as you can to ensure you can get a space on your preferred start date.

 

For our Level 3 Dental Nurse apprenticeship, no prior dental experience is required – but you must already be employed in a dental practice to enrol. All Tempdent apprenticeships require English and Maths qualifications, though the specific entry requirements can vary depending on the programme. To find the exact criteria for each apprenticeship, please visit the dedicated course page where full entry requirements are listed.

There is no age limit, though you do need to be 16 to start your apprenticeship; your age does have an influence over the level of funding that can be claimed by your employer to support your training.

 

If you are not currently working in a dental practice and would like to begin the Level 3 Dental Nursing apprenticeship, you will be required to interview for a new role and this is something our specialist Apprenticeship Recruitment Team can help you with. To begin this apprenticeship, you must first be working in a dental practice. Take a look at our latest vacancies here (LINK)

If you’re already employed in a dental practice, it’s unlikely you’ll need to have an interview, however when enrolling on to any of our apprenticeships, a member of the Tempdent team will organise a call with you and your line manager to ensure you are fully aware of the expectations of the course, and to check if you will have the necessary support in place to be able to succeed.

While a CV isn’t always required, it’s highly recommended – especially when applying for dental apprenticeship vacancies with employers. A well-prepared CV helps showcase your interest in dentistry and your potential as a future dental professional.

At Tempdent, our specialist Apprenticeship Recruitment team is here to support you. We can help you create a professional CV tailored to the dental sector and offer guidance on interview techniques to help you feel confident and prepared.

Absolutely! If you’re already working in a dental practice then an apprenticeship is a fantastic way to upskill and grow professionally.

Our team is happy to speak directly with your practice to explain how the apprenticeship process works. And if you’re not currently employed, don’t worry – our specialist Apprenticeship Recruitment team can help you find a suitable dental role and support you with CV writing and interview preparation.

A. Yes – as a dental apprentice, you’ll be officially employed by a dental practice. You’ll receive a contract of employment or apprenticeship agreement, which outlines your working hours, wage, and holiday entitlement.

You’ll be entitled to the same employment rights as other team members in similar roles, including access to workplace benefits and support. This means you’ll be learning and earning while being a fully integrated part of the dental team.

 

A. Dental apprentices typically work a minimum of 30 paid hours per week, though in some cases, you may work slightly fewer hours – but no less than 16 hours per week.

Your exact working hours will be agreed with your dental practice and outlined clearly in your apprenticeship agreement or employment contract. This ensures you have a structured schedule that supports both your practical training in the dental setting,
your Tempdent tutoring and your off-the-job learning.

Yes – as a dental apprentice, you are officially employed by a dental practice, which means you may need to pay tax if your earnings exceed the current tax threshold.

All tax and National Insurance contributions are handled through your employer’s PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system, so deductions will be made automatically from your wages. Our team can help guide you through what to expect based on your individual circumstances.

No – there is no cost to you as an apprentice.

 

 Yes – as a dental apprentice, you are a contracted employee of the dental practice, which means you’re entitled to the same employment benefits as others in similar roles. This includes paid holiday leave, sick pay, and any additional benefits your employer may offer, such as workplace perks.

Your holiday entitlement and other employment terms will be clearly outlined in your contract of employment or apprenticeship agreement, provided by your dental
employer.

 Yes! As a dental apprentice, you’re eligible for an NUS Apprentice Extra card through the National Union of Students.

For just £12, this card gives you access to a wide range of discounts at popular high street and online retailers – perfect for saving on everything from scrubs and supplies to everyday essentials.

It’s a great way to enjoy student perks while you train and work in the dental profession.

Learn more and apply at: apprenticeextra.co.uk

‘Protected apprenticeship time’, more commonly known as ‘off the job training’, is a statutory requirement for an apprenticeship. It’s learning that you complete during your normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving new knowledge, skills and
behaviours. Apprentices must use this time to complete learning activities that are outside of their usual working role, such as completing projects, shadowing a colleague or industry exhibitions.

 The End-Point Assessment (EPA) is the final stage of your dental apprenticeship. It’s an impartial evaluation of whether you’ve gained the skills, knowledge, and behaviours outlined in your apprenticeship.

At Tempdent, we support you every step of the way. During your EPA, the e-portfolio you’ve built throughout your apprenticeship will be quality assured by Tempdent and compliance checked by City & Guilds, ensuring it meets the required standards.
Our goal is to prepare you thoroughly so that when you reach your EPA, you’re confident and ready to succeed.

 

The apprenticeships we offer take 14 – 18 months to complete. The specific length of each apprenticeship can be found in the key information on each of our apprenticeship pages.

 

Once you successfully complete your Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship, you’ll become a GDC-qualified Dental Nurse, officially registered with the General Dental Council — a key milestone in your dental career.

While your employer is not obligated to offer you a permanent role, most dental practices choose to retain apprentices who have demonstrated commitment and capability throughout their training. If you’re offered a permanent position, it opens the door to exciting career development opportunities.

At Tempdent, we’re here to support your next steps. As a GDC-registered dental professional, you’ll be eligible to progress onto higher-level apprenticeships such as:

• Level 4 Oral Health Practitioner Apprenticeship
•  Level 4 Dental Practice Manager Apprenticeship

You can also expand your clinical expertise by enrolling in our post-registration
courses, including:

• Certificate in Dental Radiography
• Certificate in Orthodontic Nursing

We’ll work closely with you to explore your options and help you plan your future in
dentistry.