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What Should I Look for in Colleges?
I'm a high school Junior looking to become a dental hygienist. What classes are important to take and what degree do I need? I'm also wondering what certifications I will need and if colleges offer any type of certification courses. #dental-hygienist #dental-hygienist #dentist #college
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Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Lydia! I don't have too much expertise in dental hygienist education but below I attached a link that describes how to become a dental hygienist. I believe that a bachelor's is optional, one of my classmates recently got her certification in becoming a dental hygienist. She had completed her bachelor's and had a degree in biology. I believe however she decided to become a dental hygienist later on and therefore found a program to complete her credentials. Different levels of education however can provide you with more area to work with. For coursework, I do believe it is going to be heavily math and science related; below is another additional link to provide about coursework information.
For college selection, I would definitely ask advisers and counselors about their programs in dental hygienist, there could be colleges that can provide more to their students in pre-dental programs. In addition, college selection also factors around financial aid and tuition cost, location ( in state or out of state), class and campus size, along with being able to feel comfortable on campus. My teacher in high school said if you aren't happy on the campus then it isn't the right college for you, I think this holds some truth because feeling happy and comfortable on campus can really make a difference in your education and career.
I hope this has helped and I hope someone with more information can provide more details.
I wish you the best!
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-a-dental-hygienist
https://www.pacificu.edu/academics/pacific-pathways/professional-preparation/pre-dental-hygiene
For college selection, I would definitely ask advisers and counselors about their programs in dental hygienist, there could be colleges that can provide more to their students in pre-dental programs. In addition, college selection also factors around financial aid and tuition cost, location ( in state or out of state), class and campus size, along with being able to feel comfortable on campus. My teacher in high school said if you aren't happy on the campus then it isn't the right college for you, I think this holds some truth because feeling happy and comfortable on campus can really make a difference in your education and career.
I hope this has helped and I hope someone with more information can provide more details.
I wish you the best!
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Ken’s Answer
Lydia- you will want to look for a Dental Hygienist program when choosing a college. This is a specific program that includes classroom and clinical work. Many community colleges offer these programs as well as 4 year colleges. You will want to weigh the benefits of attending a program at a community college to that of the programs offered by 4 year schools. One major difference that impacts the decision of many folks is the overall cost of the schooling. The community college route is typically significantly less expensive and many times these programs have connections with local dentists to help with finding a job after the completion of the program.
Best of Luck.
Best of Luck.