Advanced Diploma in Community Dentistry
PRIMARY PURPOSE
Source: SAQA official qualification record. Yiba Verified does not own the underlying qualification data shown on this page.
Qualification type
Advanced Diploma
Credits
120
Sub-framework
HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
Providers listed
1
Qualification snapshot
Official qualification identity fields captured from the qualification record.
Originator
University of Limpopo
Quality assurance functionary
CHE - Council on Higher Education
Field
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services
Subfield
Curative Health
Qual class
Regular-Provider-ELOAC
Recognise previous learning
N
Important dates
These dates are carried directly from the qualification record.
Registration start
2024-07-01
Registration end
2027-06-30
Last date for enrolment
2028-06-30
Last date for achievement
2031-06-30
Purpose and entry context
Official SAQA text formatted for easier reading.
Purpose and rationale
PRIMARY PURPOSE
- To provide qualifiers with specific knowledge, skills and competence in the field of Community Dentistry that will enable them to be appointed to managerial positions in the Public Health services.
- To provide the public health services of South Africa with an adequate supply of auxiliary personnel who can function at an administrative level as well as the clinical level.
SUBSIDIARY PURPOSE
To provide future teaching staff for the dental schools of South Africa.
Entry requirements and RPL
Applicants who want to register for the Advanced Diploma in Community Dentistry must
be either a registered dental therapist or an oral hygienist.
Structure and assessment
Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.
Exit level outcomes
A newly qualified person must
- Know how and be able to determine the prevalence and incidence of diseases and abnormalities in a well-circumscribed community.
- Know how and be able to identify the factors involved in the natural history of diseases and abnormalities in that community.
- Know how and be competent to use the above knowledge and skills to develop a preventive programme that will prevent diseases and abnormalities to that community to the maximum extent possible.
- Know how and be competent to manage public health services in that community within the mission and mode of the primary health care systems in the public health services in South Africa.
- Know and be able to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the public health services in that community.
- Be able to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up to date techniques and procedures.
- Know the laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling the practice of the health professions in South Africa, with specific reference to the scope and nature of dentistry as set out by the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
- Know how to engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills.
Associated assessment criteria
Integrated assessment.
In order to assess whether the exit-level outcomes have been achieved a range of formative and summative assessments are done throughout the two years of study. These include seminars, research projects, practical work in the public oral health services, portfolios, and written and oral tests and examinations. In the case of knowledge assessment samples of the qualifier's knowledge is tested for depth and width of knowledge.
A qualifier must have, through the above assessment procedures, proved that s/he has achieved the NQF level 7 standards.
Progression and comparability
Articulation options
- Articulation with qualifications at other institutions
Presently none
- The qualifications toward which the advanced Diploma in Community Dentistry may proceed is the BDS degree.
- Exit level outcomes articulating with other qualifications are:
None
International comparability
This diploma is comparable to diplomas in Community Dentistry offered in most foreign countries.
Notes
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.
Providers currently listed
This reflects provider names published on the official record. It is useful for qualification discovery, but it should not be treated as a substitute for checking the relevant quality body’s latest provider status.
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