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Dental Nurse Reserve

Dental Nurse Reserve

As a Dental Nurse (Reserve), you’ll be a central part of a professional dental practice – one that travels the world looking after the health of our people.

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As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.

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  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Surface Fleet
  • Royal Naval Reserve
  • Rating level
A colour image shows a Royal Navy dental nurse examining a patient's mouth with specialist tools. She wears light blue scrubs, sterile gloves, and a protective face mask. A bright light shines on the patient who wears protective glasses.

Role details

As a Dental Nurse (Reserve), you’ll be a central part of a professional dental practice – one that travels the world looking after the health of our people. Your team will be led by the Dental Officer, who will rely on your support to deliver first-class dental healthcare everywhere from a shore establishment in the UK, to a portable dental unit in the Middle East. 

You only need to commit 24 days a year, but when you do, you’ll work alongside the rest of the Medical branch, ensuring our personnel are fighting fit at all times.

  • Deliver world class healthcare as part of a highly skilled and motivated team.
  • Provide vital support to maritime and wider military operations across the globe.
  • Provide support in a range of challenging conditions at sea, on land or in the air. Adapt to a variety of platforms including state of the art warships such as the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
  • Travel the world as part of the front line medical services team.
 
  • Daily rates of pay equivalent to those of full-time personnel
  • Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
  • Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
  • Automatic membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  • Expenses and allowances when undergoing training
  • Access to sports and fitness facilities
  • Opportunities for Adventurous Training (AT)

Qualifications you'll gain

  • The opportunity to undergo formal management training on reserve staff and command courses
  • Attain NHS accredited qualification through military service that transpose directly to your civilian medical occupation e.g. Immediate Life Support (ILS) and any specialisation course to your specific clinical area

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn to adapt your skills to a range of challenging and changeable environments
  • Develop your clinical and administrative skills through world-class training
 

 

  • You must be aged 20 and up to 52, (or 56 if you're serving or an ex-regular), when you start training
    5 GCSEs grades C/4, which must include English Language and Mathematics
  • A diploma/degree in Dental Nursing
  • You need to be registered with the General Dental Council, without restrictions
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National. Dual nationality restrictions do apply
  • You need to be within the healthy range for Body Mass Index (BMI) 
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     
  • A passion for helping people
  • A sense of adventure
  • Enthusiasm for new challenges
  • A team player who thrives on working with others
     
 

 

I’ve been a Dental Nurse for a while, but I never experience the level of professionalism – and adventure – that I get in the Royal Navy.

Sally

Dental Nurse Reserve

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

  • Register your interest
  • Complete your application
  • Presentation
  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and interview
  • Join your local unit
  • Medical and fitness test
  • Phase 1 training
  • Training
  • Confirmation course

Register your interest

Find the right profession and entry level for you, make sure you meet the basic eligibility criteria, and register your interest online.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive an email with more details about your chosen profession, along with an invitation to speak with our friendly recruitment team about any questions or concerns you might have.

Start your application

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