The NEBDN Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing is for trainee dental nurses aged 16+ who are working as trainee dental nurses and registered with an NEBDN training provider. It is designed to prepare learners for dental nursing practice and, once achieved, allows them to apply to register with the GDC as a dental nurse.

Yes. NEBDN states that learners must be employed as trainee dental nurses and able to meet the work-based clinical requirements of the Portfolio of Evidence.

The qualification is assessed in three parts: a Portfolio of Evidence, an online Knowledge Test, and an online Professional Discussion.

For the current Level 3 Diploma route, the Knowledge Test contains 65 multiple-choice questions.

The Knowledge Test lasts 90 minutes.

The Professional Discussion lasts 60 minutes, with 10 minutes of reading time.

Officially, NEBDN structures the qualification into 10 units. These cover areas such as professional practice, teamwork, communication, inclusive practice, clinical practice, oral health, professional development, and responding to risks and medical emergencies. Revision providers may break those units down further into smaller study topics or subjects.

The qualification is graded pass or fail. NEBDN states that to achieve the qualification overall, learners must pass all three assessments: the Portfolio of Evidence, the Knowledge Test, and the Professional Discussion.

In the public qualification materials, NEBDN presents the diploma as a pass/fail qualification rather than publishing a single overall percentage score on the main qualification page or specification.

Yes. You must pass the Portfolio of Evidence, the Knowledge Test, and the Professional Discussion to achieve the qualification.

Yes. NEBDN states that learners are permitted three additional resits for the Knowledge Test and three additional resits for the Professional Discussion.

NEBDN assigns the qualification 457 Total Qualification Time (TQT) hours and 340 Guided Learning Hours (GLH). The Portfolio of Evidence must be assessed over a minimum of six months.

Yes. NEBDN says the Knowledge Test is taken online through the MaxExam App, and the Professional Discussion is also carried out online.

Once you achieve the qualification, you can apply to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental nurse.

Only for some learners. NEBDN says learners registered up to 30 June 2025 remain on the National Diploma route, while learners registered from 1 July 2025 onwards are on the new Level 3 Diploma route. Legacy National Diploma learners still have OSCE and written exam dates published for 2026.

Only if you are on the older National Diploma route. The current Level 3 Diploma is assessed through a Portfolio of Evidence, Knowledge Test, and Professional Discussion instead.

No. NEBDN is the awarding organisation. Learners take the qualification through an NEBDN training provider.