POSTGRAD FAQ
WILL I GET LETTERS AFTER MY NAME?
Yes, pending passing course requirements. The PGCert and PGDip awards are formally accredited by the regulated UK awarding body, EduQual, as a Level 7 postgraduate qualifications. You would be entitled to use the letters PGCert (Dent Imp) or PGDip (Dent Imp) after your name upon successful completion of the respective program. In addition, if you are also admitted to and complete the MSc research modules, you would earn the MSc (Dent Imp) degree from Aston University.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
You must be a licensed dentist in Australia or New Zealand with at least 12 months experience in dental practice or dental hospital. You must have proof of your Hepatitis B status and professional indemnity insurance. Dentists from other countries are encouraged to contact us to discuss pathway options.
DOES THE PRACTICAL SKILLS WEEK INCLUDE ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD?
The Practical Skills Week includes lunch for each day. Accommodation is not included. If you are not familiar with the area, we can advise on suitable local accommodation.
DOES THE COURSE MEET ANY SPECIFIC STANDARDS?
Yes, the PGCert/PGDip course teaches the syllabus approved by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The PGCert is a formal postgraduate qualification that is accredited by the regulated UK awarding body, EduQual, allowing use of the letters PGCert (Dent Imp) after your name. This Masters Degree in Advanced Dental Implantology is awarded by Aston University, allowing use of the postnominals MSc (Dent Imp).
WHAT ARE THE COURSE'S AIMS & OBJECTIVES?
Our aim is to take dentists, with little or no previous implant experience, and provide a high level of training to enable these practitioners to safely and confidently provide straightforward implant treatment in their own practice. Our experience shows that experienced practitioners also dramatically extend their knowledge and skills through our PGDip program.
WHAT IS THE COST?
Following an initial registration securing fee of $1500, the PGCert program costs A$17,300 plus GST and the PGDip program costs $25,950 plus GST. Registration is secured by a $1500 securing fee. Course fees can then be paid in up to 2 instalments for PGCert, and 3 instalments for PGDip. 12 month payment plan options of $1699 per month (PGCert), and $2500 per month (PGDip) are available (after the securing fee). PGDip students may choose the "Advanced Practical Skills Path", benefiting from an extra-curricular 6 Day Advanced Grafting module, totalling $3350 per month for 12 months. Clinical Treatment costs of the Clinical Cases Module are covered by the patient and forwarded to the case's Clinical Tutor or Accredited Local Mentor who supervises and guides the cases, unless the student is eligible for exemption from direct supervision due to sufficient prior experience (a minimum of 20 cases placed and restored). In such cases, the Tutor still mentors, guides and remotely supervises your progress.
WHAT IS EDUQUAL?
EduQual is a regulated UK awarding body, approved by SQA-Accreditation, a globally-recognised national qualifications framework aligned to other recognised frameworks such as the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Ofqual Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
WHO IS THE CAMBRIDGE ACADEMY OF DENTAL IMPLANTOLOGY?
The Cambridge Academy of Dental Implantology (UK) is an established and reputable provider of accredited Level 7 postgraduate qualifications in dental implantology under the Directorship Dr Stuart Ellis. It provides the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) program and the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) program/award, accredited by the internationally recognised UK postgraduate awarding body EduQual, in delivery partnership with The Implant Institute, Pert WA.
WHO IS ASTON UNIVERSITY?
Aston University (Birmingham, UK) was recently named by the Guardian as the UK’s University of the Year. Aston University is in the Russell Group, an Ivy League equivalent of universities, and one of only eight in the group ranked gold in the Tertiary Excellence Framework, a prestigious list including Cambridge and Oxford Universities. Its College of Health and Life Sciences holds an established position as a leading provider for health sciences education and research.
The collaboration of Cambridge Academy of Dental Implantology & The Implant Institute with Aston University now provides an exciting and unique opportunity for Australian & Kiwi dentists to advance their learning with a 1 Year extension research program to earn a Master of Science in Advanced Implant Dentistry university degree - MSc (Dent Imp).
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE IMPLANT INSTITUTE IN THE PGCERT & PGDIP?
The Practical Skills Week and Clinical Cases of the PGCert and PGDip are delivered in Australia under the direction of Cambridge Academy of Dental Implantology's Australian Program Director and Deputy Chief Examiner, Dr Misagh Habibi and Academy of The Implant Institute.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE MY CLINICAL CASES?
You have up to 2 years to complete your supervised clinical cases (extensions beyond two years are feasible and incur an administration fee for PGDip). To be eligible for MSc progression, you must generally complete your PGDip clinical casework within 12 months of the Practical Skills Week Module, in the absence of time challenges caused by the pandemic or extraneous factors.
HOW ARE CASES SUPERVISED FOR THE CLINICAL COMPONENT?
There needs to be direct supervision (in attendance) by a Course Tutor of The Implant Institute in your region, or an Accredited Local Mentor. You can nominate a suitably experienced Local Mentor in any Australian locality, to be approved for accreditation by the Director of the Implant Institute. Exemption for supervision can be obtained for suitably experienced dentists.
I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN IMPLANT DENTISTRY. DO I STILL NEED PERSONAL SUPERVISION FOR MY CASES?
If you have experience with a minimum of 20 cases that can pass our accreditation criteria (by submission), then you can apply for exemption from personal supervision under the APEL scheme (Approved Prior Experiential Learning). In this case, you can have each stage of treatment approved and supervised remotely by our Program Director or a Module Director, and undertake the procedures independently, OR you may submit at the PGDip level, 6 case presentations independently for grading.
HOW MUCH STUDY DOES THE PGCERT AND PGDIP COURSE INVOLVE?
On average, you should expect to undertake approximately 6-8 hours per week study (reading, posting on the online platform, etc.) As this is online, it can be spread to suit you over the week. Some students require more time and others less. The PGCert in total, is 600 notional hours (the learning time that it would take an average learner to meet the outcomes) including 200 CPD hours. The PGDip is 900 notional hours. These figures are inclusive of all Elements, ie. Element 1 (Online Theory), Element 2 (Practical Skills) and Element 3 (Clinical). It is our experience that Element 1 (Online Theory) requires on average above 6 hours per week for the average student to meet the required study and assessment submissions, whilst Element 3 on average requires considerably less.
HOW AM I ABLE TO CONTINUE TO THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ADVANCED DENTAL IMPLANTOLOGY?
PGDip (Dent Imp) students are able to move directly into Year 2 of the MSc (Dent Imp) program with Aston University under the Approved Prior Learning scheme (APL). All PGDip modules would need to be completed with a minimum 60% grade.
I ALREADY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN DENTAL IMPLANTOLOGY. IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR ME?
The PGCert/PGDip courses are well suited to dentists with little (or even no) previous experience of dental implantology. Some registrants are experienced implant dentists and wish to gain a formal postgraduate qualification or award. Experienced students find that they often gain considerable insight into evidence based practice, critical appraisal of their work, and improved diagnostic, planning and treatment skills. We do recommend the PGDip stream for experienced dentists and those who are more motivated to increase their knowledge and skills, and to have the option of the 1 year MSc (Dent Imp) award extension from Aston University.
HOW MUCH CPD WILL I GAIN?
Each module (whether theory or practical) of the PGCert and PGDip program provides 50 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The PGCert course incorporates 200 CPD hours, including for any students who do not meet graduation requirements. PGDip incorporates a total of 300 CPD hours.
WHEN IS THE NEXT INTAKE?
The next intake for the PGCert (Dent Imp) or PGDip (Dent Imp) program is January 8th 2024. The program is online except the Practical Skills Week module will be held from February 5-10, 2024 in Perth. Enrolments will close December 17th, or when spots are filled. Late enrolments cannot be accepted.
CONTACT US / REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
116 Churchill Ave Subiaco WA 6008 Australia
(08) 6380 5899