Practical examination handbook for dental hygiene, dental therapy and combined dental hygiene/therapy now available

Following changes to the examination blueprints, which we announced in the last edition of the Candidate Lounge, we have updated the practical examination handbook for dental hygiene, dental therapy and combined dental hygiene/therapy. A copy of the handbook can be found here on the ADC website.

Candidates planning to sit the practical examination June, should refer to this handbook as it contains information about the new structure and duration of the examination.

Please note updates to the examination task lists since they were last reported in December 2025. The handbook contains the confirmed task lists for June 2026 which has some additions across the dental hygiene and dental therapy examinations. Other tasks announced in previous editions of The Candidate Lounge, such as writing comprehensive treatment notes and extraction, will be included in future examinations.

Assessment rubrics for dental hygiene tasks in the simulation clinic are included in the handbook. Rubrics for dental therapy simulation clinic tasks will be released in coming weeks.

The Practical Examination Information Package, which contains a list of instruments and materials available to candidates during the examination is also being updated to increase the number of instruments/materials available to candidates. A copy of the previous version (with an amended timetable) is still available on the ADC website and candidates will be notified when the revised version is published.