What to Ask Dental Hygienist Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Now that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Norfolk VA, you can start the procedure of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many potential students start by checking out the location and the cost of the schools. Possibly they look for some online options as well. Even though these are important initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you need to address to the programs you are comparing in order to reach an informed decision. To start that process, we have provided a list of questions to assist you with your evaluation and ultimate selection of the ideal dental hygienist program for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental College Accredited?<\/strong> There are a number of good reasons why you should only choose an accredited dental hygienist school. If you are intending to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a prerequisite in virtually 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 establish that the training you get is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Norfolk VA employers often prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited colleges. And last, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, often they are not offered for non-accredited colleges.<\/p>\nIs Enough Clinical Training Included?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is an important part of every dental training program. This is true for the online school options as well. A number of dental hygienist schools have relationships with local dental offices and clinics that furnish clinical training for their students. It’s not only imperative that the college you choose provides sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you ultimately would like to work in. For example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, verify that the program you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Norfolk VA dental practice that focuses on dental care for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Verify if the dental programs you are considering have an internship program. Internships are probably the ideal means to get hands-on, clinical 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 establish working relationships in the professional dental community. And they look good on resumes as well.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Help Provided?<\/strong> Most students that have graduated from dental hygienist schools need help getting their first job. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Programs with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Norfolk VA dental community as well as broad networks of contacts where they can place their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre Classrooms Small?<\/strong> Find out from the schools you are interested in how big on average their classes are. The smaller classes generally provide a more intimate atmosphere for learning where students have increased access to the instructors. Conversely, large classes tend to be impersonal and offer little one-on-one instruction. If practical, ask if you can monitor a few classes at the Norfolk VA dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the degree of interaction between instructors and students before making a commitment.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Overall Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene programs can differ in cost dependent 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 come into play. But along with the tuition there are other significant costs which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school equipment, materials and supplies. So when comparing the cost of schools, don’t forget to add all of the expenses related to your education. Most colleges have financial assistance departments, so be sure to find out what is offered as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Norfolk VA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist college, you must make sure that the assistant or hygienist program offers classes that fit your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while acquiring your education and have to attend classes near Norfolk VA in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you select an online school, you will still be required 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 work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Norfolk VA?<\/h3>\nNorfolk, Virginia<\/h3>
Norfolk (\/\u02c8n\u0254\u02d0rf\u028ak\/ NOR-fuuk, locally \/\u02c8n\u0252f\u028ak\/ NOF-uuk) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 242,803;[3] in 2015, the population was estimated to be 247,189[4] making it the second-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Beach.<\/p>
Norfolk is located at the core of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. It is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metro area, officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA. The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. Norfolk is one of the oldest cities in Hampton Roads, and is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region.<\/p>
The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point. The largest Navy base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk, is located in Norfolk along with one of NATO's two Strategic Command headquarters. The city also has the corporate headquarters of Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America's principal Class I railroads, and Maersk Line, Limited, which manages the world's largest fleet of US-flag vessels. As the city is bordered by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property, including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. It is linked to its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and three bridge-tunnel complexes, which are the only bridge-tunnels in the United States.<\/p>
In 1619 the Governor of the Virginia Colony, Sir George Yeardley, incorporated four jurisdictions, termed citties, for the developed portion of the colony. These formed the basis for colonial representative government in the newly minted House of Burgesses. What would become Norfolk was put under the Elizabeth Cittie incorporation.<\/p><\/div>\n