Oral Health NOS

Skills for Health champions the benefits of workforce learning and development based on competences / National Occupational Standards (NOS). As a Sector Skills Council, we develop and maintain NOS for healthcare occupations.

Statements of competence

NOS describe the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to undertake a particular task or job to a nationally recognised level of competence. They focus on what the person needs to be able to do, as well as what they must know and understand to work effectively. They cover the key activities undertaken within the occupation in question under all the circumstances the job holder is likely to encounter.

Each NOS contains an agreed set of knowledge and understanding and performance criteria that must be met before someone can be deemed competent. They describe the minimum standard to which an individual is expected to work in a given occupation.

NOS in development

During 2025-2026, Skills for Health is working with the oral health sector to develop NOS for additional skills carried out by Dental Nurses post-registration. This project is governed by a UK-wide Steering Group which provides sector specific advice and guidance on the content of the NOS.

Background

This project has arisen following the review of the Dental Nursing NOS (National Occupational Standards) in 2024/2025. The Dental Nursing NOS were reviewed in 2024/2025 to ensure alignment to the General Dental Council Safe Practitioner Framework.

There were nine Dental Nursing NOS contained within this suite, SFHOH1 – SFHOH9. Out of this nine, SFHOH09 (Take a direct oral impression of an individual to produce an analogue or cast) was identified as being out of scope of the Safe Practitioner Framework and an additional skill. The purpose of this work is to ensure that NOS are available to describe the main additional skills carried out by Dental Nurses. This will include a review of SFHOH9 as well as creation of new NOS as required.

How can I be involved?

Skills for Health carried out a public consultation for these Dental Nursing NOS which closed on 12/12/2025. The Steering Group are now reviewing the results of this public consultation with the aim of using insights from across the UK to inform the final standards which will be submitted for approval.

We expect that the updated NOS will be available for use in April 2026.

If you have any immediate questions, please contact competences@skillsforhealth.org.uk