Apprentice Dental Nurse

Bupa Dental Care; Perkinsville; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great Place to Work

Career progression

Training access

Wellbeing support

Flexible hours

Job summary

Bupa Dental Care Pelton offers an Apprenticeship as a Dental Nurse, with paid training and hands-on experience in a warm, supportive team.

You’ll learn clinical skills, infection control and patient care while working toward a Level 3 Dental Nurse qualification over 18–24 months, with English and Maths support if needed.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Dental Nurse qualification completed over 18–24 months
• Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE A*–C equivalents) required before your end point assessment, support available

Responsibilities

• Gains hands-on experience chairside providing patient care
• Builds core skills in infection prevention, safety and clinical management

Skills

Dental nursing

Infection control

Oral procedures

Patient care

Safety compliance

Education

Level 3 Dental Nurse qualification

Level 2 English and Maths

Job description

Looking to train as a Dental Nurse? Take your first step with a Bupa Dental Care Apprenticeship.

• Salary: £12.71
• Working hours: Full-time
• Location: Bupa Dental Care Pelton
• Why join us: A fantastic opportunity to earn while you learn, supported by an experienced team, with exposure to specialist treatments, implant training opportunities, fully computerised Dentally software and dedicated decontamination support.

As an Apprentice Dental Nurse with Bupa Dental Care, you can feel at ease knowing we’re fully invested in you, at the start of your dentistry career. You’ll work in a warm, welcoming environment where you are not only valued, but supported to grow. And with our flexible working patterns, you can make work-life balance a reality.

Benefits that help you feel at ease in your career

• Proud to be a Great Place to Work® Certified employer and recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces for Women™ and UK's Best Workplaces for Development™ 2026, reflecting our commitment to an inclusive, supportive culture where people can thrive.
• Industry-leading progression and pay framework, based on your skills and experience.
• Bupa Dental Care ranks 15th in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list for 2025, and 93% of our Dental Nursing Apprentices are on track to complete on time.
• Exclusive access to unique training and development opportunities with 300+ online courses available through Bupa Learn, access to Tempdent’s CPD platform and LinkedIn Learning.
• Market-leading wellbeing support, including remote GP services, physiotherapy and mental health support. You’ll receive a fully funded period and menopause plan, a free health assessment and a £350 allowance to use on selected Bupa products.
• Paid‑for essentials such as registration, DBS checks, professional indemnity and vaccinations, plus access to financial wellbeing support through Stream.
• Flexible working patterns designed to support your life outside of work.
• And much more, from colleague discounts and financial wellbeing support to health and lifestyle benefits designed to support you every day.

What to expect from the Dental Nurse Apprenticeship

Our apprenticeship gives you the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to become a GDC‑registered Dental Nurse. You’ll earn while you learn, gaining hands‑on experience as you provide great patient care and support clinicians chairside.

You’ll also build core skills in areas such as:

• Oral anatomy and dental procedures
• Infection prevention and control
• Patient care and health promotion
• Safety, compliance and managing clinical situations

Qualification you’ll achieve

Level 3 Dental Nurse qualification completed over 18–24 months

Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE A*–C equivalents) required before your end point assessment — we’ll support you if you need to achieve these.

About our Pelton practice

Bupa Dental Care Pelton is a welcoming and supportive practice where you'll begin your dental nursing career as part of an experienced and friendly team. As an Apprentice Dental Nurse, you'll receive hands-on training and support from knowledgeable colleagues while gaining valuable experience in a busy clinical environment. The team is committed to helping you learn, develop new skills and build confidence, creating a positive and encouraging workplace from day one.

• Supportive and experienced team dedicated to your learning and development
• Excellent opportunity to gain practical experience while working towards your qualification
• Friendly, collaborative environment focused on high-quality patient care
• Convenient location in Pelton with easy access to Chester-le-Street, Durham and surrounding areas
• Accessible by local bus routes, with nearby parking options and straightforward commuting links

Curious about life at Bupa Dental Care?

Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to explore real team stories, career tips, and behind the scenes moments from our practices.

Here you’ll be welcomed. We champion diversity and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. You’ll find an inclusive environment where you can be yourself and where everyone is driven by the same purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.

Bupa takes pride in being a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will aim to offer an interview/assessment to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. We are committed to ensuring you are treated fairly during the recruitment process and offer reasonable adjustments to anyone who may benefit from accommodations to the recruitment process.

Bupa Dental Care is an equal opportunities employer.