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Points to Ask Dental Hygienist Schools
Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Bettendorf IA, you can start the procedure of comparing programs and schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students start by looking at the location and the cost of the schools. Perhaps they look for some online options as well. Although these may be significant initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you should ask of the schools you are looking at in order to arrive at an informed decision. To start that process, we have provided a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and ultimate selection of the right dental hygienist school for you.
Is the Dental School Accredited? There are many good reasons why you should only pick an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are going to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in virtually all states. To qualify to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental college must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps ensure that the education you get is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Bettendorf IA employers typically desire or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited colleges. And finally, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, often they are not offered for non-accredited programs.
Is Enough Clinical Training Included? Clinical or practical training is a vital portion of every dental training program. This holds true for the online school options as well. A number of dental hygienist programs have partnerships with area dental offices and clinics that furnish clinical training for their students. It's not only important that the program you enroll in provides sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you ultimately would like to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, confirm that the school you choose offers clinical rotation in a local Bettendorf IA dental office that specializes in dental treatment for children.
Are Internships Available? Find out if the dental programs you are exploring have internship programs. Internships are undoubtedly the best way to get hands-on, practical experience in a professional dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students build professional relationships in the Bettendorf IA dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Support Provided? Many graduating students of dental hygienist colleges need assistance obtaining their first job. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with higher job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Bettendorf IA dental community in addition to extensive networks of contacts where they can refer their students for employment or internships.
Are the Classes Smaller? Check with the programs you are looking at how big on average their classes are. The smaller classes usually provide a more intimate setting for training where students have increased access to the teachers. Conversely, large classes often are impersonal and provide little individualized instruction. If practical, find out if you can monitor a couple of classes at the Bettendorf IA dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the amount of interaction between instructors and students before enrolling.
What is the Total Expense of the Program? Dental hygiene colleges can differ in cost depending on the length of the program and the volume of clinical training provided. Other variables, for example the reputations of the colleges and whether they are private or public also come into play. But along with the tuition there are other significant costs which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when comparing the cost of programs, remember to add all of the expenses associated with your education. The majority of colleges have financial aid departments, so make sure to find out what is offered as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Bettendorf IA area.
Are the Classes Convenient? Before selecting a dental hygienist college, you need to verify that the hygienist or assistant program provides classes that suit your schedule. This is especially true if you continue working while acquiring your education and must attend classes near Bettendorf IA at nights or on weekends. And even if you select an online school, you will still be required to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up protocol is if you should have to miss any classes because of illness, work or family responsibilities.
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