It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Dental Hygienist Career Below
Questions to Cover With Dental Hygienist Programs
Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Nashville TN, you can start the process of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students begin by checking out the location and the cost of the colleges. Perhaps they look for some online options as well. Even though these may be important initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you should address to the schools you are looking at in order to arrive at an informed decision. To start that process, we have supplied a list of questions to help you with your due diligence and final selection of the best dental hygienist college for you.
Is the Dental College Accredited? There are many valid reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist program. If you are going to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a condition in almost all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, your dental college must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps establish that the education you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Nashville TN employers typically desire or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited colleges. And finally, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, often they are not offered for non-accredited programs.
Is Adequate Practical Training Included? Clinical or practical training is an essential component of any dental training program. This is true for the online college options as well. Many dental hygienist colleges have partnerships with local dental offices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It's not only important that the college you select offers sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you ultimately want to work in. For example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, confirm that the program you select offers clinical rotation in a local Nashville TN dental office that focuses on dental services for children.
Is There an Internship Program? Ask if the dental schools you are looking at have internship programs. Internships are probably the best means to obtain hands-on, practical experience in a real dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students establish working relationships in the professional dental community. And they look good on resumes too.
Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Many graduating students of dental hygienist colleges need help obtaining their first job. Check if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with high job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Nashville TN dental community as well as broad networks of contacts where they can place their students for employment or internships.
Are the Classes Small? Find out from the programs you are looking at how big typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes usually offer a more personal atmosphere for learning where students have greater access to the instructors. Conversely, larger classes tend to be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If practical, ask if you can monitor a few classes at the Nashville TN dental hygienist school that you are most interested in so that you can witness first hand the amount of interaction between teachers and students before making a commitment.
What is the Overall Cost of the Program? Dental hygiene training can differ in cost based on the duration of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other factors, such as the reputations of the colleges and if they are public or private also have an impact. But besides the tuition there are other substantial costs which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when analyzing the cost of programs, don't forget to include all of the costs associated with your education. Most schools have financial aid offices, so be sure to ask what is offered as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Nashville TN area.
Are the Classes Accessible? Before enrolling in a dental hygienist school, you need to confirm that the assistant or hygienist program provides classes that suit your schedule. This is especially true if you continue working while getting your education and must go to classes near Nashville TN at nights or on weekends. And even if you choose an online program, you will still be required to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up procedure is if you should need to miss any classes due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Learn More About Training to Become a Dental Hygienist in Nashville