Oral Health Therapists

Salary

• Oral Health Therapists have a 9-step progression salary scale. Salaries range between NZD$65,000 and NZD$98,000.
• Experienced or senior Oral Health Therapists may be placed at higher steps based on responsibilities and service length.
• Overtime and penal rates apply for work outside normal hours, including weekends and public holidays.

Allowances

• Higher duties allowance for acting in senior roles.
• On-call allowance if applicable.

Leave

• 4 weeks of paid annual leave, increases to 5 weeks after 5 years of service.
• Shift employees may receive up to an additional 5 days’ annual leave after 12 months of shift work.
• Minimum of 10 days of paid sick leave per year.
• 6–12 months of parental leave, depending on length of service.
• Up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave provided by the New Zealand Government.

Additional benefits

• Reimbursement of your professional registration fees.
• Professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health New Zealand.
• Time and funding for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• If eligible, at least a 3% superannuation contribution from Health New Zealand.
• 12 paid public holidays, plus time in lieu or an alternative holiday if rostered on.

Oral Health Therapists' collective agreement

In New Zealand, the salary and other benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers. The full Oral Health Therapists collective agreement can be found on the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website.

Employment agreements — Health NZexternal link

Oral Health Therapist qualification

You must hold an approved qualification in oral health therapy. Common pathways include:

• a Bachelor of Oral Health from a New Zealand institution, for example the University of Otago or Auckland University of Technology
• an overseas qualification assessed as equivalent to New Zealand standards by the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ).

Registration with the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ)

All Oral Health Therapists must be registered with the DCNZ to practise legally in New Zealand.

Applicants must submit proof of their qualifications, identification, and evidence of fitness to practise.

Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

To work as an Oral Health Therapist, you must hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC), which must be renewed annually.

To maintain your APC, you must:

• meet the Dental Council’s recertification requirements
• complete regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Governance and professional standards

• Work within the scope of practice defined by the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ).
• Maintain competence in line with DCNZ recertification and CPD requirements.
• Comply with supervision requirements if newly qualified or overseas-trained.
• Hold a recognised qualification and a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).

Cultural competency and community engagement

• Understand and apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
• Deliver equitable care and engage respectfully with Māori and diverse communities.
• Support health promotion and prevention activities in schools and community settings.

Clinical assessment and treatment

• Assess oral health status and develop treatment plans for children, adolescents and adults.
• Provide routine dental care including examinations, radiographs, fluoride treatments and sealants.
• Diagnose and treat dental caries and periodontal conditions within your scope.
• Restore primary and permanent teeth using appropriate restorative materials.

Preventive care and oral health education

• Provide oral health education and promote self-care practices.
• Deliver health promotion messages in schools, whānau settings and clinics.
• Support early intervention and prevention of oral disease.

Infection control and clinical safety

• Follow best practice in sterilisation, disinfection and infection prevention.
• Maintain a clean, safe and well-prepared clinical environment.
• Comply with all Health New Zealand safety and hygiene protocols.

Interprofessional collaboration

• Work closely with Dentists, Dental Assistants, Therapists, and other health professionals.
• Refer patients to other providers where care is outside your scope.
• Participate in school-based dental programmes and mobile clinics.

Health records and documentation

• Record clinical findings, treatments and education provided.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and timely patient records.
• Use digital health systems in line with Te Whatu Ora documentation standards.

Teaching, mentoring and quality improvement

• Support the education of dental students or new graduates in clinical settings.
• Participate in service development, audits and health quality initiatives.
• Contribute to ongoing service improvement and community engagement efforts.

Expanded scope and advanced practice

• Undertake additional training to deliver extended services such as adult care or radiography.
• Support specialist services where appropriately trained and authorised.

International candidates

Internationally qualified Oral Health Therapists include practitioners who hold a recognised overseas qualification and:

• have relevant post-qualification experience in oral health therapy
• are registered or eligible for registration in their home country.

Overseas-trained applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis by the DCNZ. You may be required to complete a competence assessment or pass an examination to meet New Zealand registration requirements. Learn more about registering with the Dental Council.

I want to practise in New Zealand — Dental Councilexternal link

International accredited training programmes

Australia

• Dental Board of Australia-approved programmes that allow graduates to register in the Oral Health Therapist Scope of Practice in Australia. For those Australian programmes where the adult restorative treatment is not accredited as part of the undergraduate programme, a Dental Council New Zealand-accredited programme is required to remove the Adult restorative treatment exclusion.
• New Zealand Oral Health Therapist Registration Examination and a Dental Council New Zealand-accredited Adult restorative programme.
• Dental Council-accredited Adult restorative programme.
• Graduate Certificate in Dental Therapy (Advanced Clinical Practice), University of Melbourne.

Internationally qualified candidates

• Crown and Bridge/Prosthodontic Hygienist
• Orthodontic Hygienist
• Periodontal Hygienist
• Community Dental Therapist
• School Dental Therapist
• School Dental Nurse

Find out more about life in New Zealand

We have pages dedicated to providing information to candidates about our recruitment process, what you need to work in New Zealand and key details about moving here.

Our recruitment process

Visas and settling in New Zealand