Program Overview

Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy

The Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy degree is a world-class program that provides students with dual qualifications in dental hygiene and dental therapy. This degree has a strong focus on disease prevention, world-class simulation, and an advanced restorative scope.

Degree Overview

Our oral health therapy students graduate with dual qualifications in dental hygiene and dental therapy. The program focuses on teaching students valuable skills from professional dental practitioners, making a real difference in shaping a healthier future for children and adults. Students learn how to perform a range of preventive and minor restorative tasks, educate their community, and discover emerging methods for controlling and treating oral diseases.

Career Opportunities

As an Oral Health Therapist, graduates will work independently within the dental team to provide preventive and restorative dental care within the scope of practice of an oral health therapist. Dual qualification in dental hygiene and dental therapy, and adult scope of practice, makes our graduates very attractive to employers. Professional career opportunities include:

• Oral Health Therapist
• Dental Hygienist
• Residential Aged Care Facility Preventive Practitioner
• Health Promotion Officer
• Public Health Practitioner

Program Details

• UAC Code: Central Coast
• Program Code: 12390
• Selection Rank: 95.00
• Duration (FT): 3 years
• Next Start Date: 2027
• CRICOS Code: F
• Indicative Fee 1: AUD 48,535

Admission Info

• Selection Rank: 95.00
• Duration (FT): 3 years
• Next Start Date: 2027
• Start Dates (Central Coast): Semester 1 27 Jan 2026
• English Proficiency Requirements: IELTS overall minimum - 7, IELTS section minimum - 7

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy degree will build students' scientific knowledge and clinical skills, using a population-based approach to oral health care. Students will learn how to provide preventative and simple restorative treatments to individuals, discover how oral health and general health are intertwined, and develop critical research skills.

Core Courses

Students must complete the following core courses to fulfill the requirements of this program:

• HLSC1000 Transition to Health Sciences Education and Practice (Central Coast, Newcastle)
• HUBS1106 Head and Neck Anatomy (Central Coast)
• HUBS1401 Human Bioscience (Central Coast, Newcastle)
• INDH2490 Foundations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Online)
• ORHL1101 Oral Health Sciences I (Central Coast)
• ORHL1102 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills I - Introduction to the Clinical Environment (Central Coast)
• ORHL1104 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills II (Central Coast)
• ORHL1105 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills III - Dental Hygiene (Central Coast)
• ORHL1106 Introduction to Oral Health and Therapeutics (Central Coast)
• ORHL2102 Oral Health Sciences III (Central Coast)
• ORHL2103 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills IV - Dental Therapy (Central Coast)
• ORHL2104 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills V - Dental Hygiene (Central Coast)
• ORHL2106 Oral Health and Community (Online)
• ORHL2107 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills VI - Clinical Practice (Central Coast)
• ORHL2108 Introduction to Oral Health Promotion (Online)
• ORHL3101 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills VII - Adult Clinical Practice (Central Coast)
• ORHL3102 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills VIII - Clinical Practice (Central Coast)
• ORHL3103 Oral Health Promotion II (Online)
• ORHL3104 Oral Health Therapy Clinical Skills IX - Clinical Practice (Central Coast)
• PSYC2505 Foundations of Psychology and Sociology for Health Professionals (Online)
• PUBH1080 Studies in Population Health and Health Promotion (Central Coast, Newcastle)

Electives

Students must complete 10 units of electives to fulfill the requirements of the program. Electives can be used to extend and complement core studies with more courses in the same field of study or from areas of interest.

Accreditation

This program is accredited with conditions by the Australian Dental Council. Graduates will be eligible to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Dental Board of Australia as Oral Health Therapists and to practise as dental hygienists and therapists in private and public dental practice and work in oral health promotion in a range of clinical settings.