EPA Standard
Oral Health Practitioner
Oral health practitioners work directly with patients to deliver preventative oral health care. They perform procedures in the mouth and support other dental professionals. This role sits above dental nurse level and below dental hygienist, therapist or dentist. Under a dentist’s direction, oral health practitioners take plaque indices and debris scores, apply fluoride varnish, take clinical photographs and impressions, and carry out tooth brushing in the mouth. They also prepare and maintain the clinical environment, follow infection control procedures and handle biomaterials. Oral health practitioners often work independently in community settings such as schools, care homes, mental health services and hospitals. To take on this role, you must be a registered dental nurse or another dental care professional with the General Dental Council.
Level 4 
£9,000 
14 months
Why NCFE?
We’re an approved End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) specialising in EPA delivery across health, education, early years, digital, social care, and business apprenticeship standards. We offer flexible and reliable EPA solutions supported by sector expertise, guidance documents and proactive service and support.
Entry: apprentices will undergo all the checks as per the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements to ensure suitability to work with children.
End-point assessment
The EPA for Oral Health Practitioner contains three methods of assessment:
Multiple Choice Question Exam
The Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Exam is a 60 minute, closedbook exam, comprising of 40 equally-weighted, multiple-choice questions. The MCQ Exam is appropriately structured to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and cover the knowledge criteria assigned to this assessment method.
Grading: Fail, Pass or Distinction.
Observation of Practice
The Observation of Practice allows the Independent End-Point Assessor (IEPA) to see the apprentice during their normal everyday work. This assessment method is undertaken in the apprentice’s workplace and will be a total of 90 minutes. The observation itself will last 60 minutes, followed by a 30 minute question and answer session to check the understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) observed.
Grading: Fail or Pass.
Professional Discussion
The Professional Discussion is a structured discussion designed to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and excellence and cover the KSBs assigned to this assessment method. It is a two-way discussion which involves both the IEPA and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. The apprentice will utilise their completed clinical activity log and continuing professional development plan to provide evidence of their practice during the discussion. The assessment duration is 45 minutes.
Grading: Fail, Pass or Distinction.