Subjects to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Killeen TX, you can begin the process of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the start of this article, a number of potential students start by checking out the location and the cost of the schools. Possibly they search for some online options as well. Even though these may be relevant initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you need to address to the colleges you are looking at in order to make an informed decision. Toward that end, we have included a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and final selection of the best dental hygienist school for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental Program Accredited?<\/strong> There are a number of valid reasons why you should only enroll in an accredited dental hygienist program. If you are intending to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a prerequisite in almost all states. To qualify to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps guarantee that the education you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Killeen TX employers often desire or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited schools. And last, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, often they are not available for non-accredited programs.<\/p>\nIs Enough Clinical Training Provided?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is an essential part of any dental training program. This holds true for the online school options as well. Most dental hygienist programs have partnerships with local dental offices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only imperative that the program you enroll in provides adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you subsequently would like to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, confirm that the school you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Killeen TX dental office that specializes in dental treatment for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Ask if the dental programs you are considering sponsor internship programs. Internships are probably the most effective way to receive hands-on, practical experience in a real dental practice. They make it easier for students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students build professional relationships in the Killeen TX dentistry community. And they look good on resumes also.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Help Offered?<\/strong> Most graduating students of dental hygienist schools need help landing their first job. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Schools with higher job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Killeen TX dental community as well as broad networks of contacts where they can refer their students for employment or internships.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Small?<\/strong> Check with the programs you are reviewing how big on average their classes are. The smaller classes tend to offer a more personal setting for training where students have greater access to the teachers. Conversely, large classes often are impersonal and provide little individualized instruction. If feasible, find out if you can monitor a couple of classes at the Killeen TX dental hygienist school that you are leaning toward so that you can experience first hand the level of interaction between teachers and students before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Total Expense of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can vary in cost depending on the duration of the program and the amount of practical training provided. Other factors, such as the reputations of the schools and whether they are private or public also have an impact. But along with the tuition there are other significant costs which can add up. They can include costs for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when analyzing the cost of colleges, don’t forget to include all of the costs related to your education. Most schools have financial aid offices, so make sure to ask what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Killeen TX area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before enrolling in a dental hygienist school, you need to make sure that the hygienist or assistant program offers classes that accommodate your schedule. This is particularly true if you will be working while getting your education and must go to classes near Killeen TX at nights or on weekends. And even if you choose an online college, you will still have to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up practice is if you should need to miss any classes because of illness, work or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Killeen TX?<\/h3>\nKilleen, Texas<\/h3>
Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. According to the 2010 census, its population was 127,921,[3] making it the 21st-most populous city in Texas. It is the principal city of the Killeen\u2013Temple\u2013Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.<\/p>
Killeen is directly adjacent to the main cantonment of Fort Hood. Its economy depends on the activities of the post, and the soldiers and their families stationed there. It is known as a military \u201cboom town\u201d because of its rapid growth and high influx of soldiers.<\/p>
In 1881, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway extended its tracks through central Texas, buying 360 acres (1.5\u00a0km2) a few miles southwest of a small farming community known as Palo Alto, which had existed since about 1872. The railroad platted a 70-block town on its land and named it after Frank P. Killeen, the assistant general manager of the railroad. By the next year, the town included a railroad depot, a saloon, several stores, and a school. Many of the residents of the surrounding smaller communities in the area moved to Killeen. By 1884 the town had grown to include about 350 people, served by five general stores, two gristmills, two cotton gins, two saloons, a lumberyard, a blacksmith shop, and a hotel.<\/p>
Killeen expanded as it became an important shipping point for cotton, wool, and grain in western Bell and eastern Coryell counties. By 1900 its population was about 780. Around 1905, local politicians and businessmen convinced the Texas legislature to build bridges over Cowhouse Creek and other streams, doubling Killeen's trade area. A public water system began operation in 1914 and its population had increased to 1,300 residents.[citation needed]<\/p><\/div>\n