Onboarding plan

Dental Lab Technician Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new dental lab technician from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Dental Lab Technician onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: Certified Dental Technician (CDT), Recognized Graduate (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: CAD/CAM software; milling machines; 3D printers; porcelain furnaces
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Dental Lab Technician training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Use dust extraction and masks
  • Handle chemicals safely
  • Use eye protection
  • Follow infection control on incoming cases
  • Shadow an experienced dental lab technician through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: design a crown in CAD
  • Supervised practice: stain and glaze a crown
  • Supervised practice: set denture teeth
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Read prescriptions from dentists: independently
  • Pour and trim models: independently
  • Design restorations with CAD software: independently
  • Mill or 3D print crowns: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, Certified Dental Technician (CDT))
  • Discuss the career path: Lab Trainee → Dental Technician → Specialist (Ceramist or CAD)
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Design a Crown in CAD
Stain and Glaze a Crown
Set Denture Teeth
CAD/CAM design
Model work
Porcelain layering
Denture setup

How to measure onboarding success

  • Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
  • Competency sign-offs completed on time
  • Documentation or charting error rate
  • 90-day retention

How Dental Lab Technician training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Dental Lab Technician Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Dental Lab Technician Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Dental Lab Technician Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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