ABSTRACT
The financial implications of vocational training can be divided into three categories, which are: arrangements for vocational dental practitioners (VDP), arrangements for trainers, and practice income and expenditure in relation to vocational training. Dental practices are small businesses and must contend with the commercial pressures common to all other small businesses. The placement of a VDP into this environment is a test not only of teaching skills, but also of the business skills essential to run and manage a successful practice. Trainer assistance should be available for this exercise, which is a useful mechanism for learning about aspects of dental practice finance. An alternative way to discuss this subject is to analyse practice costs as a proportion of gross fee income. In this method, the absolute costs for a year are recorded. This information is easily obtainable from the practice accounts.
