Is ethics CPD required for Australian dental practitioners?
No National Board requires a standalone ethics course. What is required is CPD relevant to your context or scope of practice, based on identified learning needs. Ethics and professionalism learning can sit within that, and it addresses the areas that generate the most regulatory concern.
Can an ethics course count toward my CPD?
Generally yes, as an educational activity, provided it is relevant to your scope of practice and you record it correctly. The Dental Board of Australia does not pre-approve activities, so the classification and record are yours to make.
How many CPD hours do dental practitioners need?
A minimum of 60 hours over each three-year cycle, of which at least 48 hours (80%) must be clinically or scientifically based and a maximum of 12 hours (20%) may be non-scientific. The Board encourages you to spread activity across the cycle rather than accumulate it at the end.
Do ethics courses count as scientific or non-scientific?
Ethics, professionalism, communication and practice conduct education generally falls within the non-scientific category, which is capped at 12 hours per three-year cycle. We say this plainly because it affects how much of this education is claimable. Check the Board's current standard and classify your own activities accordingly.
Do dental practitioners need a CPD home?
No. The CPD home requirement applies to medical practitioners under the Medical Board's standard. Dental practitioners record their own CPD against the Dental Board's registration standard.
Is this course Ahpra accredited?
No. Ahpra does not accredit CPD courses, and neither does any National Board accredit individual commercial activities. Treat any provider claiming an Ahpra-accredited or Ahpra-approved course with caution.
Is this course approved by the Dental Board of Australia?
No. The Dental Board of Australia sets registration standards and publishes codes and guidelines. It does not approve or endorse individual commercial courses. Our content is written with reference to its published standards, which is a different thing from approval.
How long does each course take?
Each course is designed as approximately two hours of self-paced learning, including the assessment and reflection activity. Record the time you actually spend, according to your own Board's rules.
Can this course support learning related to a complaint or notification?
It can support your own structured reflection and learning, and the certificate documents what you completed and when. It does not satisfy, discharge or resolve any regulatory requirement, condition or undertaking. If a notification has been made about you, contact your dental indemnity insurer before taking any step, including enrolling in education.
What evidence do I receive after completion?
A dated certificate showing your name, course title, course version, completion date, nominal duration and assessment outcome, plus a permanent course record in your account and a downloadable reflection document.
Who wrote and reviewed the course?
The courses are written and reviewed by Dr Richard, a practising clinician with postgraduate training in healthcare law and ethics. His qualifications, profile and the review date are published on this page.
How often is the course updated?
Every course carries a version number and a last-reviewed date. Regulatory content is reviewed at least annually, and sooner when the Dental Board of Australia publishes a new or amended standard, code or guideline affecting the material.
