Issues to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Phoenixville PA, you can begin the procedure of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of students start by looking at the location and the cost of the schools. Maybe they search for several online alternatives also. Although these are significant initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you should ask of the programs you are reviewing in order to reach an informed decision. Toward that end, we have provided a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and ultimate selection of the right dental hygienist college for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental Program Accredited?<\/strong> There are several valid reasons why you should only choose an accredited dental hygienist school. 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 Examination, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Phoenixville PA employers typically prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited colleges. And finally, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, often they are not available for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Enough Clinical Training Included?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is a necessary portion of every dental training program. This holds true for the online school options as well. A number of dental hygienist programs have relationships with local dental offices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only important that the school you select provides sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you subsequently would like to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, check that the college you choose offers clinical rotation in a local Phoenixville PA dental practice that focuses on dental treatment for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Verify if the dental colleges you are evaluating have an internship program. Internships are undoubtedly the best method to obtain hands-on, clinical experience in a real dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students develop professional relationships in the Phoenixville PA dentistry community. And they look good on resumes too.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Support Furnished?<\/strong> Many graduating students of dental hygienist programs require assistance obtaining their first job. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with high job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Phoenixville PA dental community in addition to broad networks of contacts where they can position their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Smaller?<\/strong> Find out from the schools you are evaluating how big typically their classes are. The smaller classes generally provide a more personal environment for training where students have greater access to the instructors. On the other hand, bigger classes tend to be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If practical, find out if you can sit in on a couple of classes at the Phoenixville PA dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the degree of interaction between students and teachers before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Overall Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can differ in cost dependent on the duration of the program and the volume of clinical training provided. Other variables, for instance the reputations of the schools and whether they are private or public also come into play. But besides the tuition there are other significant costs which can add up. They can include costs for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school equipment, materials and supplies. So when comparing the cost of schools, remember to include all of the expenses related to your education. Most schools have financial assistance departments, so make sure to find out what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Phoenixville PA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you need to make sure that the hygienist or assistant program furnishes classes that suit your schedule. This is particularly true if you will be working while acquiring your education and need to attend classes near Phoenixville PA in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you choose an online college, you will still be required to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up policy is if you should need to miss any classes due to work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Phoenixville PA?<\/h3>\nPhoenixville, Pennsylvania<\/h3>
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, 28 miles (45\u00a0km) northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. It is located in the Philadelphia Metro Area. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.[4]<\/p>
Originally called Manavon, Phoenixville was settled in 1732 and incorporated as a borough in 1849. In its industrial heyday early in the twentieth century, it was an important manufacturing center and it was the site of great iron and steel mills such as the Phoenix Iron Works, boiler works, silk mill, underwear and hosiery factories, a match factory, and the famous (and now highly collectible) Etruscan majolica pottery. Like many American towns and cities, Phoenixville owes its growth to its waterways. It is not only situated on the broad Schuylkill River, a historic thoroughfare to Native Americans and early settlers alike, but it is bisected by the fast-flowing French Creek, which was quickly harnessed for water power.<\/p>
Much of this history was recognized by the creation of the Phoenixville Historic District, the largest National Register of Historic Places site in Chester County. The Black Rock Bridge, Gay Street School, and Schuylkill Navigation Canal, Oakes Reach Section are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]<\/p>
The first nail factory in the U.S., the French Creek Nail Works, was established in Phoenixville (then called Manavon) in 1790. In 1813, a bridge builder, Lewis Wernwag, became part owner and renamed it the Phoenix Iron Works. In 1840, new owners added a blast furnace. In 1855, a new group of owners incorporated as the Phoenix Iron Co. When the borough was incorporated in 1849, it incorporated the name of its major employer. After several ownership changes, the plant was completely shut down in 1949 and later acquired by the Barium Steel Corp. and renamed the Phoenix Iron & Steel Company, later The Phoenix Steel Corporation. The entire plant was shut down for the last time in 1987.[6]<\/p><\/div>\n