ADC Infection Control: What Candidates Need to Know

Infection prevention and control is an important part of the Australian Dental Council practical examination. Candidates are expected to demonstrate safe clinical practice throughout relevant technical and OSCE tasks, not simply answer infection-control questions in isolation.

The ADC currently publishes an infection prevention and control marking rubric for practical examination candidates. The rubric is designed to help candidates understand how infection control is assessed, but the ADC also makes clear that candidates should not rely on the rubric alone and should understand the broader Australian standards and guidelines that apply to dental practice.

Why infection control matters in the ADC practical examination

Infection prevention and control is part of safe clinical practice.

During the practical examination, candidates may be assessed on how they:

• present themselves clinically
• perform hand hygiene
• select and use personal protective equipment
• maintain aseptic technique
• manage contaminated items
• reduce cross-contamination risks
• respond to task-specific infection-control requirements

The published ADC rubric includes criteria covering clinical presentation and attire, personal protective equipment, and correct infection-control processes.

What does the ADC infection control rubric assess?

The current rubric includes specific expectations around areas such as:

Clinical presentation and attire

Candidates may be assessed on whether they are appropriately prepared for clinical activity.

The ADC rubric includes expectations relating to:

• appropriate clinical attire
• enclosed footwear
• hair and facial hair being controlled
• avoiding jewellery or items below the elbow that interfere with hand hygiene
• short, natural nails without coating

These details may seem small, but they form part of the candidate’s overall clinical presentation.

Personal protective equipment

The ADC rubric also assesses correct use of PPE.

This includes:

• gown use
• appropriate mask positioning
• protective eyewear
• correctly sized and intact gloves
• applying and removing PPE in the correct sequence

Candidates should practise PPE procedures until they are routine rather than something they have to consciously remember under exam pressure.

What changed from January 2026?

From January 2026, general dentistry candidates are specifically instructed to demonstrate hand washing at one technical OSCE station during the Clinical Skills Day.

For other technical OSCE stations, candidates may have the choice between hand washing and alcohol-based hand rub, depending on the task.

This is important because candidates should not assume that using hand rub will always be sufficient.

The ADC also notes that individual OSCE stations may contain additional infection-control criteria that are specific to that task and are not all included in the general published rubric.

Which infection control guidelines should candidates use?

The ADC advises candidates to use current Australian infection-control guidance.

In late 2024, the ADC specifically advised candidates to refer to the Australian Dental Association Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control, Fifth Edition, 2024.

Candidates should therefore avoid relying solely on:

• old course notes
• outdated videos
• previous exam recollections
• informal candidate advice

Official and current guidance should remain the primary reference point.

How should you prepare for ADC infection control?

A useful way to prepare is to integrate infection control into every relevant practical scenario rather than studying it as a separate theoretical topic.

1. Learn the principles

Understand the reasons behind:

• hand hygiene
• PPE
• surface protection
• instrument handling
• contamination control
• waste management
• safe clinical flow

Knowing the principles makes it easier to adapt when a station differs from what you expected.

2. Practise the sequence

Some infection-control errors happen because candidates know the correct actions but perform them in the wrong order.

Repeatedly practise:

• preparation
• hand hygiene
• PPE placement
• task setup
• clinical procedure
• contamination management
• PPE removal
• final hand hygiene

The goal is to make the sequence automatic.

3. Practise under time pressure

The practical examination is timed.

Candidates should practise maintaining infection-control standards while still working efficiently.

Rushing should never result in unsafe technique.

4. Review task-specific risks

Different tasks create different contamination risks.

Ask yourself:

• what surfaces might become contaminated?
• which instruments become contaminated?
• what needs to remain clean?
• when should gloves be changed?
• when is hand hygiene required?
• what would constitute a breach?

This helps turn infection control from memorisation into clinical reasoning.

Common infection control preparation mistakes

Treating infection control as a checklist only

A checklist is useful, but candidates still need to understand why each action matters.

Learning from outdated materials

The ADC has updated both its rubric and practical-exam requirements, including the hand-washing requirement introduced in 2026.

Forgetting clinical presentation

Hair, jewellery, nails, footwear and attire are all part of the published rubric.

Performing correct actions in the wrong sequence

PPE and hand-hygiene procedures need to be performed in a logical and safe order.

Practising infection control separately from technical tasks

The strongest preparation comes from incorporating infection control into every realistic technical or OSCE practice session.

Can you prepare for ADC infection control online?

Yes.

Online preparation can help candidates understand:

• the current rubric
• key infection-control principles
• hand-hygiene expectations
• PPE sequencing
• common errors
• how infection control applies to technical and OSCE-style tasks

However, candidates should still practise these behaviours physically until they become routine.

Preparing for ADC Infection Control?

Aurora Academy offers self-paced Infection Control preparation designed to help candidates understand the principles, processes and practical application of infection control in ADC Part 2 preparation.

Explore the ADC Infection Control Course →

How infection control fits into Technical Tasks and Skilled OSCE

Infection control should not be treated as its own isolated module once preparation begins.

It should become part of the candidate’s normal workflow.

For example, during a technical task you should be thinking about:

• clean and contaminated zones
• instrument handling
• hand hygiene
• PPE
• cross-contamination
• task setup
• safe completion

Similarly, during Skilled OSCE preparation, infection-control decisions may be part of the station itself.

This is why Aurora’s broader Part 2 preparation includes infection control alongside Technical Tasks, Skilled OSCE and Communication OSCE.

Frequently asked questions

Does the ADC assess infection control?

Yes. The ADC publishes an infection prevention and control marking rubric for practical examination candidates.

Do candidates need to demonstrate hand washing?

Yes. From January 2026, general dentistry candidates are specifically required to demonstrate hand washing at one technical OSCE station during the Clinical Skills Day.

Can alcohol-based hand rub be used?

For other technical OSCE stations, candidates may have the option of either hand washing or alcohol-based hand rub, depending on the task.

Does the published rubric contain every infection-control criterion?

No. The ADC states that individual stations may contain additional task-specific infection-control criteria that are not included in the general public rubric.

Which infection-control guidelines should I use?

The ADC has advised candidates to refer to the Australian Dental Association’s Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control, Fifth Edition, 2024.

Can online preparation replace practical infection-control practice?

No. Online education can help candidates understand the principles and expectations, but the physical processes should still be practised until they become routine.