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Dental technicians

See below for your:

  • scope of practice - the health service a practitioner is permitted to perform
  • competencies - the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to deliver the scope of practice
  • prescribed qualifications - the qualifications that have gone through a formal accreditation or approval process and recognised by the Council.

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act) describes a scope of practice as the health service that a practitioner registered in that scope of practice is permitted to perform, subject to any conditions for the time being imposed by the responsible authority.

The Dental Council publishes a scope of practice as a Notice in the New Zealand Gazette under section 11 of the HPCA Act.

The practice of dental technology involves the processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral and extra-oral appliances and prostheses prescribed by a practising dentist, dental specialist, clinical dental technician or other health practitioner when allowed within their scope of practice, and carried out in accordance with a dental technician’s approved education, training, experience and competence. 

The scope of practice encompasses the dental technology competencies.

Practice in this context goes wider than dental technology practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical and technical practice and public safety. Areas of dental technology practice that were not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practices to the standard required by the Standards framework for oral health practitioners.

The Dental Council defines competence as the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours (‘competencies’) an oral health practitioner must have to practise safely, competently, and professionally in their scope of practice.

The dental technician competencies describes the minimum competencies a graduate of dental technology must achieve through their education and training to be registered in the scope of dental technology. 

The competencies prescribe the scope of practice for dental technology.

The competencies are presented in the following domains:

  • Ngaiotanga - Professionalism
  • Whakawhiti kōrero - Communication
  • Kaiakatanga ahurea – Cultural competence
  • Haumarutanga ahurea - Cultural safety 
  • Ngā whakaaro kaikini - Critical thinking
  • Mōhiotanga pūtaiao me te haumaru - Scientific and clinical knowledge
  • Ngā ratonga hangarau mō te whare tiaki niho - Dental technology services

The competencies broadly describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of a dental technician; and are outcomes focussed. The learning curriculum will provide the level and extent of detail needed to facilitate graduates’ achievement of these competencies, for registration in the scope of practice for dental technology.

It is assumed that all competencies are performed with a degree of quality consistent with patient and whānau well-being, and that dental technicians can self-evaluate the quality of the services they provide.

There is also a clear link between a number of the competencies and the standards embodied in the standards framework that registered oral health practitioners must meet.

The attached word version includes English hover text for Kupu Māori.

The Dental Council has prescribed the following qualifications for the scope of practice for dental technology.

New Zealand accredited programmes

  • Bachelor of Dental Technology, University of Otago.
  • Bachelor of Dental Technology with Honours, University of Otago1.
  • Diploma in Dental Technology, issued by a New Zealand educational institution2.

1   Accreditation ended 31 December 2023.

2   Training commenced prior to 18 September 2004.

Competent authority – registration (from 1 November 2026)3

  • Current full/unrestricted/unconditional dental technology or equivalent registration with a competent authority(s) recognised by the Dental Council4.
  • Dental technology practice in the recognised competent authority(s) for at least 33 months (working 20 hours per week or more) during the 48 months prior to application.

3   Upon commencement of practice in New Zealand, practitioners registered under the competent authority registration pathway will practise under the oversight of a Dental Council approved practitioner for a period of at least six months under the terms of the oversight protocol.
4   United Kingdom (General Dental Council), United States of America (state dental boards) for the purposes of dental technology.

New Zealand examination

  • A dental technology or clinical dental technology qualification and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Technology Registration Examination.

Limited registration: Teaching and research (from 1 November 2026)5, 6

Current registration with a recognised overseas oral health registering or licensing body in a Dental Council recognised scope of practice, that allows the practitioner to conduct oral health research and/or teaching relevant to the oral health profession.

5  To apply for registration in the teaching and research scope of practice, the practitioner must have confirmation of employment by a New Zealand tertiary education and/or research provider for New Zealand accredited oral health programmes.

6  Upon commencement of practice in New Zealand, the practitioner must work under the supervision of a Dental Council approved practitioner. Supervision is a permanent feature of the teaching and research scope of practice; this pathway does not lead to unconditional registration and the practitioner cannot undertake any individual or private clinical practice, including under supervision.