TUT Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting
DENTAL ASSISTING HIGHER CERTIFICATE
Code: HCDA01
Level: NQF Level 5 (120 credits)
SAQA ID: 73492
CHE NUMBER: H16/2519/HEQSF
Location: Pretoria Campus
Admission & Selection
- Senior Certificate Holders (Pre-2008):
- Requirements: Senior Certificate or similar with a D grade in English at standard grade.
- Preferred Subjects: Biology, Mathematics, Physical Science, and Physiology.
- Selection Process: Based on TUT potential assessment and personal interview.
- National Senior Certificate Holders (Post-2008):
- Requirements: National Senior Certificate with higher certificate endorsement or similar. A minimum achievement level of 4 is essential for English (home or first additional language).
- Selection Process: Minimum APS of 23. Those scoring at least 23 will undergo an assessment and departmental interview. Applicants with at least two years of relevant dental experience or a dental assisting certification from another institution may be considered with an APS between 20 and 23.
Additional Information
- Duration: One year full-time; two years for students employed at a dental clinic with block-mode classes.
- Start Date: January only.
- Further Guidelines: Refer to Chapter 2 & 30 of Students’ Rules and Regulations for information on readmission and RPL.
- Additional Requirements: A valid first-aid certificate and Hepatitis B immunization. First-aid training is available through the University.
Curriculum & Modules
| Module Code | Module Name | NQF-L | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAP105C | Dental Assisting Practical I | 5 | 21 |
| DPM105C | Dental Practice Management I | 5 | 21 |
| OAP105C | Oral Anatomy and Pathology I | 5 | 20 |
| TDA105C | Dental Assisting Theory: Dental Assisting I | 5 | 12 |
| TDR105C | Dental Assisting Theory: Dental Radiography I | 5 | 10 |
| WDA105C | Work-Integrated Learning | 5 | 36 |
| Total | 120 |
Module Overviews
- DAP105C: Introduction to dental surgery, clinical dental practices, X-ray film processing, and dental material preparation. (~110 hours)
- TDA105C: Dental vocabulary, sterilization, anesthetics, dental practices, and materials. (~80 hours)
- TDR105C: Basics of X-rays, radiographic examination methods, and preventative measures. (~80 hours)
- DPM105C: Basics of dentistry, workspace arrangement, phone etiquette, scheduling, record-keeping, finances, human interaction, ethics, and basic computer literacy. (~80 hours)
- OAP105C: Dental anatomy, salivary glands, blood and nerve supply, oral microbiology, oral pathology, basic pharmacology, emergency procedures. (~80 hours)
- WDA105C: Practical application of first-year theoretical subjects in a real-world setting. (~365 hours)
Note: The curriculum may be adjusted to meet industry demands. For a comprehensive syllabus, contact the Department or refer to the module-specific study guide. Curriculum content was last defined on 01 August 2017.
