Dental Therapist
StableHealthcare
Registered dental professional who examines and treats schoolchildren and preschoolers in MOH school and community dental clinics (fillings, extractions of baby teeth, fissure sealants and oral health education), trained after SPM through a 3-year MOH diploma at ILKKM Georgetown and appointed as Juruterapi Pergigian U5.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
Picture the job
Where you'd usually workA dental clinic
An illustration of a typical workplace, not a photo. Real workplaces vary.
In Malaysia
- How people get into it here
- SPM with credits in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and English plus a pass in one other subject → apply on SPA9 for Latihan Juruterapi Pergigian (April or October intake) → 3-year diploma at the Children's Dental Centre and ILKKM Georgetown (Pergigian) → register with the Malaysian Dental Therapists Board → appointed as Juruterapi Pergigian U5 in MOH dental clinics.
Sources:spa.gov.mydocs.jpa.gov.myhq.moh.gov.myppkkklpm.moh.gov.my
Pay in the private market
Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.
Entry
Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.
Job demand outlook
Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.
Your readiness
How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.
Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.
Add my gradesHow to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
TVET
Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.
Asasi / Foundation
One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.
Diploma
Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
Quick answers
How do you become a Dental Therapist in Malaysia?
SPM with credits in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and English plus a pass in one other subject → apply on SPA9 for Latihan Juruterapi Pergigian (April or October intake) → 3-year diploma at the Children's Dental Centre and ILKKM Georgetown (Pergigian) → register with the Malaysian Dental Therapists Board → appointed as Juruterapi Pergigian U5 in MOH dental clinics. Registration with Malaysian Dental Therapists Board (Lembaga Juruterapi Pergigian Malaysia) registration and annual practising certificate under the Dental Act 2018 [Act 804] is required to practise.
Can I become a Dental Therapist straight after SPM?
Yes. This career can be started with a certificate, diploma or TVET training straight after SPM, without a degree.
What should I study to become a Dental Therapist?
Related fields of study: Dentistry and Allied Health. SPM subjects that help most: Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
How much does a Dental Therapist earn in Malaysia?
Published figures put starting pay at RM1,974 a month (source: SPA scheme: Juruterapi Pergigian U5 starting pay (SSPA, effective 1 Dec 2024), Sep 2026).
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
Skills to build
What beginner adverts asked for
We read 20 internship and fresh-graduate adverts in related fields (August 2026). A small sample from one job site, not every vacancy.
9 of 20 were internships
Allowance or pay, when stated
RM800 – RM2,000
16 of 20 adverts printed an amount: usually between RM800 and RM2,000 a month. Many print none.
Languages named
Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin
An empty line means the adverts did not say, not that employers have no requirement. Check each employer's own advert before you plan around it.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
Source: SPA scheme: Juruterapi Pergigian U5 starting pay (SSPA, effective 1 Dec 2024) · as of Sept 2026
Check the salary figures yourself:JPA (SSPA schedule)SPA
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org