Curtin's Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) is a 3-year qualification registering graduates as Oral Health Therapists — NOT general dentists (the scope of practice differs from a BDS/DMD). The program serves outer-metropolitan Perth and rural WA public dental workforce needs.
What makes it different
IMPORTANT: Curtin does NOT offer a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). The only dental-track program at Curtin is the Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) — a 3-year qualification accredited by the Australian Dental Council and Dental Board of Australia, leading to registration as an Oral Health Therapist (separate AHPRA scope from a general dentist). Clinical training: 750+ hours across Oral Health Centre of WA (Nedlands), community clinics, private practices, and Dental Health Services clinic (Mt Henry).
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 3-year Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) accredited by the Australian Dental Council and Dental Board of Australia. 750+ clinical training hours across Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (Nedlands), community clinics, private dental practices, and the Dental Health Services clinic (Mt Henry). Graduates register as Oral Health Therapists — a separate AHPRA scope from general dentists; the role is restricted in procedural scope compared to a BDS/DMD-trained dentist. Curtin does NOT offer BDS or DMD; UWA is the only WA university offering a registrable general-dentistry qualification.
Research strengths
Curtin Oral Health Therapy has notable research strength in Oral health therapy, Public dental health, Community dental services.
Interview
Curtin Oral Health Therapy interviews via Academic results only — ATAR-based selection rank. Curtin's Bachelor of Science (Oral Health Therapy) selects on ATAR / selection rank only. UCAT-ANZ is NOT required. CASPer is NOT used. The program registers graduates as Oral Health Therapists (NOT general dentists) — a distinct AHPRA scope from dentistry. UWA remains the only WA university offering a registrable general-dentistry qualification (DMD).
Intake
Not publicly disclosed by Curtin. Year-on-year selection rank not in publicly extracted TISC data.
At a glance
Founded in 2014, based in Bentley. Programmes offered: Oral Health Therapy, Community Oral Health, Public Dental Health.