SCOPE OF PRACTICE
REGISTRATION STANDARD
June 2014
DBA 1406 01
SCOPE OF PRACTICE REGISTRATION STANDARD
This registration standard sets out the National
Board’s requirements for the scope of practice for
Guidelines for scope of practice
dental practitioners. The Guidelines for scope of practice provide guidance
about the expectations and how to meet the requirements
Does this standard apply to me? of this registration standard. Dental practitioners are
expected to understand how to apply these guidelines
This registration standard applies to all registered together with this registration standard.
dental practitioners except those with student or non-
practising registration.
What happens if I don’t meet
this standard?
What must I do?
The National Law establishes possible consequences if
1. All dental practitioners are members of the dental team you don’t meet this standard, including that registration
who exercise autonomous decision making within their standards, codes or guidelines may be used in disciplinary
particular areas of education, training and competence, proceedings against health practitioners as evidence of
to provide the best possible care for their patients. what constitutes appropriate practice or conduct for the
health profession (section 41 of the National Law).
2. Dental practitioners must only perform dental treatment:
a) for which they have been educated and trained
in programs of study approved by the National Authority
Board, and
This registration standard was approved by Australian
b) in which they are competent. Health Workforce Ministerial Council on 11 April 2014.
3. Dentists1 are independent practitioners who may Registration standards are developed under section 38 of the
practise all parts of dentistry included in the definition National Law and are subject to wide ranging consultation.
of dentistry2. Where there is a structured professional
relationship or referral relationship then the dentist is
the clinical team leader.
Definitions
4. Dental prosthetists are members of the dental team. Definition of dentistry and practitioner descriptions are
They work as independent practitioners in a range of included in the Guidelines for scope of practice. Restricted
activities included in the definition of dentistry. dental acts (section 121 of the National Law) also apply to
this definition.
5. Dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health
therapists are members of the dental team. They Independent practitioner means a practitioner who may
practise in a range of activities included in the practise without a structured professional relationship.
definition of dentistry. They may only practice within
a structured professional relationship with a dentist. National Law means the Health Practitioner Regulation
They must not practise as independent practitioners. National Law as in force in each state and territory.
6. A dental practitioner must not direct any person Programs of study approved by the National Board for
whether a registered dental practitioner or not to the purpose of this standard include:
undertake dental treatment or give advice outside that
• approved programs of study are programs accredited
person’s education or competence. by the accreditation authority for the profession and
approved by the National Board under the National
Law. The approved programs are those which,
upon successful completion lead to registration or
1 The term dentist refers to dentists, dental specialists and / or a group of dentists endorsement as a dental practitioner in the division or
2 Refer to the Definitions section of this standard specialty in which study was completed
2 Scope of practice registration standard | Dental Board of Australia | June 2014
SCOPE OF PRACTICE REGISTRATION STANDARD
• other assessment, examination or qualification
that qualifies a practitioner for general registration
(section 53 of the National Law), specialist registration
(section 57) limited registration with the Board
(section 65) or endorsement (section 99), or
• programs to extend scope (formerly known as
add-on programs) are programs which can extend a
dental practitioner’s scope of practice by undertaking
educational programs that the National Board has
reviewed and approved. The programs to extend
scope cover a range of skills which allow dental
practitioners to extend their education, training and
competence in certain areas and within the division
in which they are registered.
Structured professional relationship means the
framework for referral and management to the dentist
when the care required falls outside of the scope of
practice of the dental hygienist, dental therapist, oral
health therapist and/or dental prosthetist and the referral
of patients from a dentist to a dental hygienist, dental
therapist, oral health therapist and/or dental prosthetist.
References
Dental Board of Australia, Specialist registration standard
Dental Board of Australia, Guidelines for scope of practice.
Review
This registration standard will be reviewed at least every
three years.
Effective from: 30 June 2014
Review date: 30 June 2017
This registration standard replaces the previously
published registration standard from 30 June 2014.
3 Scope of practice registration standard | Dental Board of Australia | June 2014
