Bachelor of Oral Health

An oral health therapist is a registered health professional who performs preventive and operative dentistry on patients of all ages. The scope of practice of an oral health therapist includes examination, risk assessment, diagnosis of dental caries and periodontal diseases, scaling and cleaning, application of preventive medicaments, oral hygiene instruction, impressions, whitening, administration of local anaesthesia, periodontal debridement, orthodontics, restorations, stainless steel crowns, pulpotomies, extractions and oral health promotion. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills are also required.

What am I studying?

An oral health therapist is a registered health professional who performs preventive and operative dentistry on patients of all ages. The scope of practice of an oral health therapist includes examination, risk assessment, diagnosis of dental caries and periodontal diseases, scaling and cleaning, application of preventive medicaments, oral hygiene instruction, impressions, whitening, administration of local anaesthesia, periodontal debridement, orthodontics, restorations, stainless steel crowns, pulpotomies, extractions and oral health promotion. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills are also required.

Why Study Health at CQUniversity

The Bachelor of Oral Health program at CQUniversity Australia is a three year undergraduate degree. In the first year of the program you will have the opportunity to study some courses on-campus and some courses by distance education with your choice of either full-time or part-time study. In the second and third years of the program you will be required to study full-time, on-campus.

The program includes a large amount of work integrated learning time in pre-clinical and clinical settings such as CQUniversity Rockhampton's purpose-fit oral health laboratory and dental clinic. You will also have the opportunity to learn with and from students in other health programs in facilities such as the new allied health clinic, also being built in Rockhampton in 2012.

English Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA you are required to meet the English Language Prerequisite by:

An academic IELTS completed within the last 2 years (from the term you are applying to start) with a minimum achievement of 7.0 in each band and overall or secondary or university qualification which is not more than 5 years old (from the term you are applying for entry into) with a satisfactory level of achievement of at least 2 years in duration from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA.

The English Language Proficiency requirements may also be satisfied by (results are to be no older than 2 years from the start of term):

- Occupational test: Result of 'A' or 'B'

Career Opportunities

Oral health therapists work in a variety of settings including school and community dental clinics as well as private general and specialist dental practices. Graduates usually work within a dental team environment as an employee, contractor, associate, partner or owner. Oral health therapists can earn high starting salaries of approximately $50 per hour in the private sector. There is a high demand for graduates particularly in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

Work Intergrated Learning

The Bachelor of Oral Health introduces you to work integrated learning in dental surgeries in year one and builds up to work integrated learning in general dental practice, paediatrics, orthodontics, prosthodontics and periodontics in years two and three. You are able to build on scientific and theoretical foundations to demonstrate safe and competent clinical practice in oral health therapy. Off-campus clinical placement(s) may be required. 

Program Structure

To meet the requirements you must complete 18 courses totalling 144 units of credit. The two 18 credit point courses in the third year provide you with an opportunity to work with a wide range of patients in order to develop competent and safe practice in operative and preventive dentistry.

Course Information

For example courses you could study as part of the Bachelor of Oral Health program please click here.

As CQUniversity is committed to providing quality, up-to-date and relevant education, please note courses are refreshed regularly and may not be an exact indication of course availability for your study. Please call 13CQUni 13 27 86 if you have specific questions regarding course information regarding your specific application.

Professional Recognition

After successful recognition of the Bachelor of Oral Health program, a graduate will be able to apply to the Dental Board of Australia for registration as an oral health therapist, or a dental therapist and a dental hygienist. 

The University has been officially informed that the new Bachelor of Oral Health program at CQUniversity was approved by the Australian Dental Council Board for acceditation on 24 February 2012 in accordance with s48 of the National Law.