ADC Written (Dental Therapy)

It is part of the ADC assessment pathway for internationally qualified dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists, sitting between the Initial Assessment and the Practical Examination. The ADC also runs written examinations for dentists and dental prosthetists, which are separate pathways with their own requirements.

The ADC states that the written and practical examinations are delivered in English. You do not need to complete an English test for any stage of the ADC dental practitioner assessment process, but your ability to communicate effectively is assessed as part of the practical examination.

No. The ADC states that you do not need to complete an English test for any stage of the ADC dental practitioner assessment process. Separately, successful candidates applying for registration must meet the Dental Board of Australia English language skills registration standard, so check that standard on the Board's website.

The ADC page content available to us does not state the number of questions, the duration, the pass standard or the fee for this written examination. We have not guessed these figures. Confirm current details with the ADC directly before you plan your sitting or your study timetable.

Start with the areas you cannot practise without: biomedical and dental sciences, then assessment and treatment within the dental therapist, hygienist and oral health therapist scope. Add dental hygiene and oral health promotion, then professional, legal, ethical and communication standards including cultural safety. Finish with integrated case scenarios that combine all four.

Shift from reading to retrieval. Work through scenario questions under timed conditions, then review every wrong answer to find the underlying gap rather than memorising the option. Practise explaining preventive advice and consent conversations aloud, because communication is assessed in the practical examination that follows.

Typical weak spots are shallow preventive and health-promotion reasoning, unfamiliarity with Australian legal and ethical expectations such as consent, confidentiality and cultural safety, and answering from habit rather than reading the whole scenario. Candidates also lose marks by studying only clinical sciences and neglecting professional practice.

The source material available to us does not describe the retake policy, sitting limits or waiting periods for this examination, so we cannot state them. The ADC publishes policies, review and appeals information, and candidate news; check those pages or contact the ADC for the current rules.

No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ADC. Use it alongside the ADC's own published information, including its assessment standards, handbooks and materials, policies, and frequently asked questions, which remain the authoritative source for process and requirements.