Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a medical or dental technician?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a medical or dental technician (SOC 3213). It is only open to people who already had a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and have kept it without a break.
What you need
You must have:
- a job offer from a UK employer that's allowed to sponsor visas (check the sponsor list)
- a "certificate of sponsorship" from that employer: a reference number with details of your job
- a salary that meets the NHS or teacher pay scale for your role, and is at least £25,000 a year (see the pay scales)
- English at level B2: you can usually prove it with an approved test or a degree taught in English (ways to prove it)
- £1,270 in savings, unless your employer covers your first month or you've been in the UK for 12 months or more
- a criminal record certificate, if you're applying from outside the UK
Based on the UK Immigration Rules and the Skilled Worker visa guide on GOV.UK. This is a summary, not advice about your own situation.
The rules in detail
SOC 2020 code 3213 (Medical and dental technicians) is Medium Skilled (RQF level 3–5). It is listed in Table 3a of Appendix Skilled OccupationsT3a · 29 Oct 26: health and education jobs at RQF 3–5. Except for 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants, only for people granted Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously.
Source: Appendix Skilled Occupations and eligible occupations and codes, GOV.UK.| Occupation | Medical and dental technicians |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Medium Skilled |
| Going rate | National pay scale (see below) |
| Appendix table(s) | Table 3a |
| Immigration Salary List | No |
| Temporary Shortage List | No |
| Equivalent SOC 2010 code(s) | 3218, 5224 |
| SOC 2020 group | 32 Health and social care associate professionals › 321 Health associate professionals |
Agenda for Change pay bands (Table 4)
| Band | England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3 | £24,071 | £26,869 | £24,433 | £22,816 |
| Band 4 | £26,530 | £29,116 | £26,928 | £25,147 |
| Band 5 | £29,970 | £31,892 | £30,420 | £28,407 |
| Band 6 | £37,338 | £39,912 | £37,898 | £35,392 |
| Band 7 | £46,148 | £48,788 | £46,840 | £43,742 |
| Band 8a | £53,755 | £60,126 | £54,550 | £50,952 |
| Band 8b | £62,215 | £70,986 | £63,150 | £58,972 |
| Band 8c | £74,290 | £83,837 | £75,405 | £70,417 |
| Band 8d | £88,168 | £99,534 | £89,491 | £83,571 |
| Band 9 | £105,385 | £117,732 | £106,967 | £99,891 |
Band 1 and band 2 jobs are not eligible to be sponsored. Except for 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants, band 3 and band 4 jobs can only be sponsored for people granted Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously (Table 4 notes).
Rule changes that named 3213
- HC 997: Skilled Worker changes laid on 1 July 2025 (1 July 2025)
Job titles under SOC 3213
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Cardiac technicians
- Dental hygienists
- Dental technicians
- Hearing aid dispensers
- Hearing screeners
- Nursing associates
- Orthotic and prosthetic technicians
- Medical and dental technicians not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (7)
- Cardiographer
- Dental hygienist
- Dental technician
- Medical technical officer
- Ocularist
- Orthopaedic technician
- Radiography assistant practitioner
What the job involves
Medical and dental technicians operate, calibrate and maintain cardiographic and encephalographic testing equipment, assist in the conduct of post mortems, give simple dental treatments, fit artificial limbs and hearing aids, and undertake a wide range of related medical and dental tasks.
Typical tasks
- Operates equipment to diagnose and record or treat hearing, heart, brain, lung and kidney ailments
- Undertakes scaling and polishing of teeth, applies medicaments, carries out post-operative hygiene work and advises on preventative dentistry
- Makes dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic and other dental appliances according to individual patient requirements
- Measures patients for, and fits them with, surgical appliances, hearing aids and artificial limbs
- Performs related medical tasks including treating hair and scalp disorders and conducting tests on glaucoma patients
- Takes samples for clinical examination
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades, BTEC/SQA awards, an Intermediate GNVQ/GSVQ level II or A levels/H grades. Training may last up to five years depending upon the field and method of study. Professional qualifications and NVQs/SVQs at level 3 are available in some areas.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 3213
Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a medical or dental technician?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a medical or dental technician (SOC 3213). It is only open to people who already had a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and have kept it without a break. SOC 2020 code 3213 (Medical and dental technicians) is Medium Skilled (RQF level 3–5). It is listed in Table 3a of Appendix Skilled Occupations: health and education jobs at RQF 3–5. Except for 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants, only for people granted Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously.
What is SOC code 3213?
3213 is the SOC 2020 code for Medical and dental technicians. Medical and dental technicians operate, calibrate and maintain cardiographic and encephalographic testing equipment, assist in the conduct of post mortems, give simple dental treatments, fit artificial limbs and hearing aids, and undertake a wide range of related medical and dental tasks.
What job titles use SOC code 3213?
GOV.UK lists: Cardiac technicians, Dental hygienists, Dental technicians, Hearing aid dispensers, Hearing screeners, Nursing associates, Orthotic and prosthetic technicians, Medical and dental technicians not elsewhere classified.
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes (GOV.UK, updated 29 April 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations (GOV.UK, updated 29 October 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker (GOV.UK, updated 29 October 2026)
- ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups
Compiled by SWC Editorial Team from the sources above. An information summary, not immigration advice. Report an error on this page.