Topics to Ask Dental Hygienist Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Scranton PA, you can start the process of comparing programs and schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many students begin by looking at the cost and the location of the colleges. Possibly they look for some online options as well. Even though these are relevant initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you need to address to the schools you are looking at in order to arrive at an informed decision. Toward that end, we have provided a list of questions to assist you with your evaluation and final selection of the best dental hygienist program for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental College Accredited?<\/strong> There are a number of good reasons why you should only enroll in an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are planning to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a condition in nearly all states. In order 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 get is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Scranton PA employers often prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited programs. And last, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, usually they are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges.<\/p>\nIs Adequate Clinical Training Included?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is an essential portion of every dental training program. This holds true for the online school options also. Many dental hygienist programs have associations with area dental offices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only imperative that the school you choose provides adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you ultimately would like to work in. As an example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, verify that the school you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Scranton PA dental practice that specializes in dental treatment for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Find out if the dental programs you are looking at have internship programs. Internships are probably the ideal way to receive 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 establish working relationships in the professional dental community. And they look good on resumes as well.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Help Offered?<\/strong> Most students that have graduated from dental hygienist schools need assistance getting their first job. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Scranton PA dental profession in addition to extensive networks of contacts where they can position their students for employment or internships.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Smaller?<\/strong> Check with the programs you are reviewing how large typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes usually provide a more personal environment for learning where students have greater access to the teachers. Conversely, large classes tend to be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If feasible, ask if you can attend a couple of classes at the Scranton PA dental hygienist college that you are most interested in in order to witness first hand the level of interaction between students and instructors before making a commitment.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Total Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can fluctuate in cost dependent on the duration of the program and the amount of practical training provided. Other variables, such as the reputations of the schools and whether they are public or private also have an impact. But in addition to 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 materials, equipment and supplies. So when examining the cost of programs, don’t forget to add all of the costs associated with your education. Most schools have financial aid offices, so be sure to ask what is available as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Scranton PA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before enrolling in a dental hygienist college, you must confirm that the hygienist or assistant program provides classes that fit your schedule. This is especially true if you will be working while acquiring your education and need to go to classes near Scranton PA in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you select an online program, you will still be required to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up practice is if you should have to miss any classes because of work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Scranton PA?<\/h3>\nScranton, Pennsylvania<\/h3>
Scranton is the sixth-largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie and Reading. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley and hosts a federal court building. With a population of 77,291, it is the largest city in the Scranton\u2013Wilkes-Barre\u2013Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of about 570,000.[4]<\/p>
Scranton is the geographic and cultural center of the Lackawanna River valley, and the largest of the former anthracite coal mining communities in a contiguous quilt-work that also includes Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, and Carbondale. Scranton was incorporated on February 14, 1856, as a borough in Luzerne County and as a city on April 23, 1866. It became a major industrial city, a center of mining and railroads, and attracted thousands of new immigrants. It was the site of the Scranton General Strike in 1877.<\/p>
People in northern Luzerne County began to seek a new county in 1839 but the Wilkes-Barre area resisted losing its assets. Lackawanna County did not gain independent status until 1878. Under legislation allowing the issue to be voted by residents of the proposed territory, voters favored the new county by a proportion of 6 to 1, with Scranton residents providing the major support. The city was designated as the county seat when Lackawanna County was established in 1878, and a judicial district was authorized for it in 1879.<\/p>
The city \"took its first step toward earning its reputation as the Electric City\" when electric lights were introduced in 1880 at Dickson Locomotive Works. Six years later, the nation's first streetcars powered exclusively by electricity began operating in the city.[dubious \u2013 discuss] Rev. David Spencer, a local Baptist minister, later proclaimed Scranton as the \"Electric City\".[5]<\/p><\/div>\n