3 Reasons a Record Number of Dental Practices Are Training Their Staff in 2026
January 2026 has already become a record month for dental training course enrolments across the UK. More practices than ever are investing in training their existing teams — and this shift is being driven by very real operational pressures facing dentistry in 2026.
Dental practices are no longer training staff “as a bonus”. Training is being used as a strategic safeguard, a growth lever, and a way to meet rising patient expectations in an increasingly competitive market.
The three courses seeing the highest enrolments in January 2026 are:
1. Certificate in Dental Practice Management
2. CQC Compliance Mastery for Dental Practices Program
3. Certificate in Treatment Coordination
Here’s why.
1. Senior Dental Staff Are Harder to Find — So Practices Are Building from Within
One of the biggest drivers behind record training enrolments is the ongoing difficulty in recruiting experienced senior dental staff.
Practice Managers, Compliance Leads, and Treatment Coordinators are in short supply. When roles do become available, practices are often competing on salary alone — which isn’t sustainable long term.
As a result, many practices are choosing to promote from within.
We’re seeing:
- Dental nurses progressing into Practice Manager roles
- Dental nurses taking on assistant or dual Practice Manager responsibilities
- Receptionists, Nurses and Practice Mangers being developed internally into Treatment Coordinators rather than recruited externally
Some of these are direct role changes, while others are dual-role arrangements, giving practices flexibility and built-in cover.
This is why the Certificate in Dental Practice Management has become the most popular enrolment. It allows practices to pre-train loyal, high-performing team members, creating both a succession plan and a safety net if a senior staff member leaves.
2. Compliance Pressure Is Rising — and Practices Want Control
CQC expectations continue to tighten, inspections are increasing, and the cost of getting compliance wrong has never been higher.
Rather than relying on all-too-infrequent compliance update news, practices are internalising CQC responsibility with a nominated member or members of the team. This has driven strong demand for the CQC Compliance Mastery for Dental Practices Program.
Practices are enrolling:
- Dental nurses
- Practice managers
- Treatment coordinators
- Dental receptionists
Anyone responsible and trusted can be trained to understand CQC expectations and help maintain compliance day to day.
This approach:
- reduces inspection anxiety
- prevents last-minute panic
- creates shared accountability
- protects the practice if key staff leave
Compliance is no longer something practices want to “hope is fine” — they want visibility, structure, and confidence.
3. Patient Expectations Are Changing — and Practices Must Deliver More
UK dental patients are thinking more carefully than ever about where, how, and even if they proceed with dental care.
This has made communication, clarity, and patient experience critical — not optional.
The Certificate in Treatment Coordination is seeing record enrolments as practices respond to this shift. Dental nurses and dental receptionists are increasingly being trained as Treatment Coordinators — either moving fully into the role or operating in a dual capacity.
This allows practices to:
- guide patients more effectively through treatment options
- improve understanding and trust
- support decision-making without pressure
- increase acceptance while improving experience
As patient expectations rise, practices that deliver more value — and often over-deliver — are the ones patients choose to stay with.
Why Training Is No Longer Optional in 2026
Beyond these three core reasons, practices investing in training are seeing wider benefits:
- stronger staff retention
- reduced reliance on recruitment
- improved morale and loyalty
- clearer career pathways
- greater operational resilience
Training reinforces team skills while simultaneously helping practices rise to growing patient expectations.
The Bigger Picture
As we move through 2026, dental practices are operating in a market where patients are more selective, compliance expectations are higher, and experienced staff are harder to replace.
That’s why January’s record training enrolments aren’t a trend — they’re a signal.
Practices already benefiting from upskilling their teams aren’t just preparing for today. They’re protecting their future, strengthening their teams, and delivering the level of care patients now expect.
In a climate where UK patients are thinking twice about dental care, delivering more value has never been more important.