2026 DA Certificate III – Workplace Traineeship

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Train while you work — start your Certificate III in Dental Assisting in 2026

DAPA is now accepting Expressions of Interest for upcoming intakes of the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting, delivered as a workplace traineeship. This flexible model allows dental assistants to gain a nationally recognised qualification while remaining fully employed.

Delivered by DAPA, Australia’s peak body for dental assistants, this program is known for its high-quality training, strong completion rates, and positive outcomes for dental practices. DAPA oversees all training and assessment requirements, supporting both trainees and workplaces throughout the program.

Upcoming intake dates

29 January 2026
19 February 2026
19 March 2026

Eligible NSW participants may access NSW Government funding, significantly reducing or, in most cases, removing training costs for both employers and employees. A comment from a recent graduate: I thank everyone for supporting me through it all; you are all very amazing at your jobs.

⚠️ Places are limited for each intake. With January's intake closing on the 15th of January 2026. If you have questions about training, contact Mark or Marty at office@dapa.asn.au

Complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form as soon as possible to confirm eligibility and secure your place. https://forms.gle/6pEbfMFMsWLCnjAZ6

The Dental Assistants Professional Association is an approved NSW Smart and Skilled* provider, and more information on this can be found at the smart and skilled website https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw
*'This training is subsidised by the NSW Government.'