Last updated on July 26th, 2023 at 01:56 pm
If your passion is medicine, taking a dental technology course may help you land a lucrative job in the medicine field.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Dental Technology Courses in Kenya including:
- Colleges and universities offering Dental Technology Courses in Kenya.
- Requirements to study dentistry in Kenya for various Dental Technology Courses in Kenya .
- Fees payable for the course.
- Job prospects for holders of Dental Technology Courses In Kenya.
And more.
Let’s dive in:
All Dental Technology Courses In Kenya – what you need to know including dental course requirements and the best dental schools in Kenya
First, what is dental technology?
In short, dental technology is a course that teaches you skills that will enable you make a variety of dental appliances such as crowns, dentures, bridges, orthodontic appliances, etc.
Having said that, it is important to note that as a dental technician, you’ll be working under a dentist- your work involves improving patients’ teeth, for example, by repairing dentures, replacing lost teeth, carrying out prescribed dental bridge procedures, and more.
Keep reading to learn how you can become a dental technologist in Kenya…
The best Dental Technology Courses in Kenya
Now, if your dream is to work as a dental technologist, you should take any of these courses- the course you’ll eventually pursue depends on your KCSE grades..
Bachelor of Science in Dental Technology (degree in dental technology)
A Bachelor of Science in dental technology degree is offered by MKU (Mt Kenya University) and you can be admitted as long as you have met the minimum entry requirements outlined below:
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Mean Grade- C+ (plus) or its equivalent. In addition, you must have at least a C+ in: Physics or Mathematics, Physical sciences/chemistry, Biology/Biological Science, Kiswahili or English.
Holders of a Bachelor of Science degree in in health related area may also be accepted.
In both instances, you must have undergone a 1-year internship and gained 1 year working experience (at least) to be accepted.
Alternatively, you may get admission if you hold a Diploma course in a health linked field or a similar qualification as specified by the University Senate.
The course takes 8 semesters for those who are admitted directly and 5 semesters for those who join with a diploma in dental technology.
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Diploma in dental technology / diploma in dental surgery in Kenya
KMTC offers a well-recognized Diploma in dental technology course in some of its campuses. Again, you must have attained the basic entry grades listed below:
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Mean Grade- C (plain). Besides, you are required to have scored a C plain in English/Kiswahili, and one of Physical Science/Physics/Chemistry
Lastly, prospects must have a C- (minus) in Biology and a similar grade in one of Mathematics, Metal work, Physics, or Chemistry.
The diploma takes 3 years including practical attachment.
You may also take the Diploma in Dental Technology at MKU.
In short, the only two colleges offering diploma in dental technology we recommend are KMTC and MKU and the entry requirements are as above.
Certificate in dental technology
Unfortunately, the certificate in dental technology course is not accredited locally meaning there are no colleges offering certificate in dental technology in Kenya.
Indeed, like many medicine courses in Kenya, you are unlikely to be licensed to practice as a dental technologist even if you obtain a certificate from a foreign institution- many dental technology jobs in Kenya require at least a Diploma.
Tuition fees and other costs
The fee for the Bsc. (Bachelor of Science) in Dental Technology at MKU is Ksh.79550 per semester.
You should add accommodation and your other day-to-day expenses to the above fee.
Diploma students at MKU pay Ksh.49550 per trimester (3 months) for the 3 years.
On the other hand, those who intend to enroll for the Diploma qualification at KMTC should be prepared to pay about Kshs.120000/- per year as fee if self-sponsored and about Kshs.80000/- if you’re joining the regular program.
There could be a few extra thousands (most of them paid once) to cater for important activities such as internship. Again, budget for your expected living costs.
When and how to apply
To apply to MKU, head over to their website and download the application form. You can fill and then take it physically to MKU’s main campus at Thika.
Alternately, you can submit the application online via the website.
On the other hand, to apply to KMTC, you should create an account on the KMTC application portal and fill the common online application form. For the course, indicate Diploma in Dental Technology.
Keep in mind that there are two intakes annually- in March and September so ensure you apply before the advertised deadline (KMTC advertises its intakes through the national media- newspapers, radio, TV stations, etc).
Career prospects for holders of dental technology courses
For the most part, the above courses set you up for entry-to-middle-level positions as a dental technician in both public (county-run hospitals) and private health facilities.
In a nutshell, your potential employers are:
- Privately-owned dental clinics
- County health centers
- Established dental technology laboratories
Regarding your future prospects, even if not many people appreciate the importance of what dental technicians do- since they don’t interact with patients directly- dentists and orthodontists recognize that their jobs would not be possible without receiving a helping hand from a dental technician.
In fact, you can specialize in a range of areas as a dental tech.
The primary ones are:
- Crowns and bridges
- Complete/partial dentures.
- Dental ceramics
- Orthodontics- you exclusively work with orthodontists
- Implants
Any of these dental technology specialties can set you up for a great career as a licensed dental lab technician and help you make a good living throughout your life.
Diploma In Dental Technology Salary In Kenya
Dental technicians can make a significant income in Kenya- a dental technician earns about 40000- 90000 KES (or thereabouts) in a month.
Of course, the pay can rise to over 100k or fall to about 30k depending on the entity you’re working for.
That said, this is the run-of-the-mill monthly salary without including housing, transport, and other reimbursements/allowances.
Needless to say, the final earnings mainly differ based on experience, expertise, gender, or even locality.
Dental Technology Courses in Kenya – Frequently asked questions
1. Is dental technology marketable in Kenya?
Dental Technology is one of the best dental courses you can take in Kenya because of the ever-increasing demand for qualified dental technicians.
Not only are more Kenyans relying on professional dentists for basic dental care but also, more and more Kenyans are nowadays opting to pay for dental procedures such as teeth alignment (Orthodontics) and tooth filling for aesthetics reasons or better dental health.
2. Where can I find dental technology in Kenya?
The best institutions to study dental technology in Kenya are the government-owned KMTC for the Diploma and MKU for the bachelor’s degree course in dental technology.
These two have amazing facilities not to mention that their graduates tend to be preferred by employers.
3. What are the minimum dental surgery requirements?
If you’d rather take a dental surgery course, you must have attained a minimum of C+ (mean Grade) in your KCSE. In addition, a C+ is needed in the dental surgery (bachelor) cluster subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics/Mathematics, and English /Kiswahili.
These are the typical requirements at the University of Nairobi and most of the universities in Kenya.
4. Can a dental technician become a dentist?
Short answer: Yes. But, you need to pursue further qualifications. Specifically, you may need to join a university that has been accredited by the medical practitioners and dentists board of Kenya for a bachelor of dental surgery course.
The good news is that institutions such as the University of Nairobi admits holders of a Diploma in Dental Technology to the degree in dental surgery course as long as one had a C+ mean grade in KCSE.
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thanks for the amazing article.
I had earlier applied but haven’t get any information
Contact the college directly