Key details
Duration
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
240Course code
Overview
The Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy prepares graduates for a career as an oral health therapist. This program will help you become a dental professional who can meet the oral health needs of communities in the Northern Territory and across Australia with an emphasis on being adaptable, culturally safe, fair, and sustainable.
You will develop skills in health promotion, communication, clinical decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking for person-centred care. The program also focuses on social and professional responsibility, leadership, and scientific and clinical knowledge.
The program aims to develop work-ready skills through simulation and clinic-based learning. It will equip you with the skills needed to perform treatments such as fillings and tooth removals, and periodontal care. You will also play a crucial role in educating patients to maintain healthy oral habits.
CDU arranges all placements via partnerships with health and community organisations across regional, rural and remote NT locations. Students are responsible for the cost of attendance, including travel and accommodation. CDU cannot guarantee placements near your residential location. We encourage you to investigate scholarship opportunities.
There are inherent requirements for this course. You must read and understand these before enrolling.
Career opportunities
Oral Health Therapists work independently and with dental and healthcare teams to help clients and communities with their oral health.
They offer culturally sensitive clinical care and promote good oral health in places like public dental clinics, community centres, and private and specialist dental practices. They can also be involved in teaching, health education, research, management and developing health policies.
Practical experience
You'll gain skills and practical experience by completing 1100 hours of work-based learning.
This includes practising in simulated clinic-based scenarios before you go on clinical placements. These placements will help you develop the professional and clinical skills you need to graduate.
Professional recognition
This course is currently undergoing accreditation process with the Australian Dental Council. Once accredited by the Australian Dental Council and approved by the Dental Board of Australia, graduates of this course will be eligible to apply for registration as an Oral Health Therapist.
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline, subject to meeting criteria. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia.
Further information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study in 2026 is AUD $35,584.00. This equates to $ $4,448.00 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL).
These fees are subject to increases annually, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.
Why study medicine at CDU?
Embark on a transformative journey in medicine at CDU, where innovation meets opportunity.
Enjoy a unique educational experience that is deeply connected to Central and Northern Australia’s distinctive health challenges and opportunities, all while benefiting from personalised support and mentorship.
- Pioneering new perspectives: Join the next generation of NT medical professionals to make a real difference in Indigenous health, tropical medicine, and rural and remote healthcare.
- Immersive learning experience: Enjoy a highly personalised, face-to-face, supportive and immersive educational experience at CDU’s campus and partnered health services.
- Real-world experience: Gain hands-on experience with clinical placements throughout the NT.
- Community impact: Join a program committed to improving health outcomes in some of the most challenging environments.
Why study an undergraduate course at CDU?
Study an undergraduate course at Charles Darwin University to turn your passion into a profession. Choose from hundreds of certificates, diplomas and degrees and enjoy a flexible, supportive learning environment. Whatever you're interested in, there's a place for you at CDU.
- Top 100 university globally for quality education
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
Why study an undergraduate course at CDU?
Study an undergraduate course at Charles Darwin University to turn your passion into a profession. Choose from hundreds of certificates, diplomas and degrees and enjoy a flexible, supportive learning environment. Whatever you're interested in, there's a place for you at CDU.
- Top 100 university globally for quality education (THE Impact Rankings 2021)
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
What will I study?
The Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy is a three-year, full-time degree. You'll need to attend classes on campus and complete 1100 hours of work experience in different healthcare settings. Clinical supervisors and teachers will support your learning. You will also have special opportunities for placements in local, rural and remote parts of the NT.
Course structure
Students are required to complete a total of 240 credit points to graduate.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core Units (21 units) | 240cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 240 credit points as detailed below. OHT101 Introduction to Oral Health Science |
| 240cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
## Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.
Study plan
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a full-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the assumed knowledge, pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements for each unit.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit |
Full-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| OHT101 Introduction to Oral Health Science | CO | OHT103 Fundamentals of Oral Health | CO |
| OHT102 Introduction to Oral Health Practice ## | CO | OHT104 Foundational Skills and Techniques in Oral Health Therapy ## | CO |
| SBI161 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI162 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| SCL200 Communication for Improved Patient Care | CO | SBI190 Microbiology for Healthcare Professionals | CO |
Year 2 | |||
| OHT201 Oral Health Concepts and Principles | CO | OHT203 Oral Health Strategies and Practices | CO |
| OHT202 Applied Skills and Techniques in Oral Health Therapy ## | CO | OHT204 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Practice ## (20cp) | CO |
| SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | CO | OHT205 Health Promotion for Health Care Professional | CO |
| NUR256 Research and Evidence Based Practice | CO | ||
Year 3 | |||
| OHT301 Advanced Topics in Oral Health | CO | OHT303 Professional Practice in Oral Health Therapy | CO |
| OHT302 Advanced Oral Health Therapy Clinical Practice ## (20cp) | CO | HSC318 Rural and Remote Health | CO |
| HSC312 Global and Environmental Health | CO | OHT400 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Experience (20cp) ## Capstone | CO |
## Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.
_____________________________________
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 2
This course is not available for Semester 2 commencement.
Entry requirements
Quota
The Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy is a highly competitive course with a limited number of places. This means that although you may meet the minimum entry requirements for the course, you may not be ranked high enough to receive an offer. Subquotas are in place for First Nations applicants, NT Residents, and applicants who have completed a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting or Certificate IV in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Work.
Admission criteria
Admission requirements are met by one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 70*.
- Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher.
- Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma with a GPA of at least 5.
- Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
- Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 147.
- Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program or the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses or other recognised tertiary preparation course
* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.
Essential requirements
Pre-clinical Requirements
Students must provide proof that they have met all university and State/Territory pre-clinical requirements before they can undertake those units that include clinical placements. These requirements include, but are not limited to, communicable disease screening and immunisation requirements, Senior First Aid qualification, annual criminal record checks and/or working with children clearances and/or fitness-to-practice requirements.
Students are responsible for the cost of meeting their pre clinical requirements.
Working with Children Check
A Working with Children Check is required before you can undertake your practical placements. If your Working with Children Check is not cleared, you will not be able to undertake practice teaching placements and therefore, will not meet the requirements of the course.
National Police Check
You must have cleared a Police Check before you can undertake your practical placements. If your Police Check is not cleared, you will not be able to undertake placements and therefore, will not meet the requirements of the course.
Senior First Aid
A current senior first aid certificate is required before you can undertake practical placements.
Communicable disease screening and Immunisations
As part of the course of study students will be required to complete clinical placements and undertake exposure prone procedures, prior to commencing clinical placements students will be required to be screened for and vaccinated against a number of communicable diseases. Students who are carriers of blood-borne viruses are not permitted to perform some procedures on patients, this will prevent progression in the course.
A current evidence of screening for communicable diseases and vaccination status is required before students can undertake practical placements.
Incidental fees
Students will be required to purchase clinical instruments in the first year of the course. The instruments will be used over the 3 years of the program and costs approximately $2500. There will also be additional costs for clinical attire to meet industry work health and safety standards.
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. All applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidencing of one of the following:
| Year 12 | Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). |
| 0.5 FTE Higher Education Study | Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years. |
| CDU Enabling Course | Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points). |
| TAFE Qualification | Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia. |
| AHPRA Registration | Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement. |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below. |
^ Minimum Requirements for English Tests:
| Postgraduate requirements | Undergraduate requirements | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP004 | Successful completion of EAP003 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below 169 |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 58 No score below 50 | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign language | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 |
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.
CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:
- Both tests were under the same testing system; and
- The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum; and
- The applicant achieved the section minimum for each section in at least one test.
Recognised English-speaking countries:
| Standard List | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. |
| Extended List | Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education from an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| CDU English for Academic Purposes 3 (ZEAP30) | Successful completion of EAP003 English for Academic Purposes 3 |
| IELTS Academic Module (including One Skill Retake) | A minimum overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 169, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of B2. |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 60 and a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
ATAR profile
There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
Assumed knowledge
Human Biology advantageous
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Michelle
CDU student
CDU graduates have the best career and employment prospects. International students have ranked CDU 1st in Australia for learning and living experience
Hema
CDU student
CDU has been doing online study for so long they're really good at it. At CDU, everyone, online and on campus, is just a student.
Michelle
CDU student
CDU graduates have the best career and employment prospects. International students have ranked CDU 1st in Australia for learning and living experience
Hema
CDU student
Course details
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Student profile
There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
You make CDU
Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
You make CDU
Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.
How to apply
There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.
Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.
SATAC
SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.
International applications
Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.
You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.
Apply through StudyLink or through an Agent.
International applicants currently studying year 12 in Australia should apply via SATAC.
If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.
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