Issues to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Occoquan VA, you can begin the process of comparing schools and programs. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students start by looking at the location and the cost of the schools. Perhaps they search for several online alternatives as well. Although these are important initial considerations, there are a few additional questions that you need to ask of the colleges you are comparing in order to make an informed decision. To start that process, we have supplied a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and ultimate selection of the ideal dental hygienist school for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental College Accredited?<\/strong> There are a number of good reasons why you should only pick an accredited dental hygienist program. If you are going to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a condition in virtually all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, your dental college must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps establish that the instruction you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Occoquan VA employers frequently prefer or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited programs. And last, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, usually they are not available for non-accredited programs.<\/p>\nIs Sufficient 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 also. Most dental hygienist programs have associations with area dental practices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only important that the program you select provides sufficient clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you subsequently want to work in. As an example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, check that the school you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Occoquan VA dental practice that focuses on dental care for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Ask if the dental programs you are considering have an internship program. Internships are undoubtedly the best method to receive 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 Occoquan VA dentistry community. And they look good on resumes too.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Help Offered?<\/strong> Most graduating students of dental hygienist programs need assistance getting their first job. Check if the programs you are considering have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Occoquan VA dental community in addition to broad networks of contacts where they can place their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre Classes Smaller?<\/strong> Find out from the schools you are reviewing how big typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes tend to provide a more personal setting for training where students have increased access to the instructors. On the other hand, larger classes tend to be impersonal and provide little individualized instruction. If feasible, ask if you can attend a few classes at the Occoquan VA dental hygienist school that you are leaning toward in order to witness first hand the level of interaction between students and instructors before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Entire Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene colleges can vary in cost based on the length of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other variables, for example the reputations of the schools and if they are private or public also come into play. But in addition to the tuition there are other substantial expenses 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 examining the cost of colleges, don’t forget to add all of the expenses associated with your education. Most colleges have financial assistance departments, so be sure to ask what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Occoquan VA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you need to make sure that the assistant or hygienist program provides classes that fit your schedule. This is particularly true if you will be working while getting your education and must attend classes near Occoquan VA at nights or on weekends. And even if you choose an online college, you will still need to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up procedure is if you should need to miss any classes because of illness, work or family responsibilities.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Occoquan VA?<\/h3>\nOccoquan, Virginia<\/h3>
Occoquan (\/\u02c8\u0252k\u0259kw\u0252n\/)[4] is a town in Prince William County, Virginia. The population was 759 at the 2000 United States Census, but as of the census of 2010, there were 934 people residing in the town of Occoquan. The town is a suburb of Washington, D.C. and is adjacent to Woodbridge. The current mayor is Liz Quist.<\/p>
Occoquan is derived from an Algonquian Doeg Indian word, meaning \"at the end of the water\".[5] Located on the Occoquan River, Occoquan was long a site of indigenous peoples' habitation. Like the British colonists after them, they relied on the river for transportation and trade, as well as fish. Early in the 1600's Capt. John Smith sailed and explored the Occoquan River.[6] In 1608, when the first European reached Northern Virginia, the Tauxenent tribe (also known by the English as the \"Dogues\") had its main village at the mouth of the Occoquan River. This tribe was more closely associated with neighbors such as the Piscataways (located across the Potomac River in what is now Maryland) than the other Algonquian-speaking tribes to the south. The local chief was called a Tayac, who was subservient to an \"emperor\" located in Prince Georges County.[7]<\/p>
By 1765, Anglo-American colonists had established an industrial settlement at Occoquan, with grist mills and tobacco warehouses. The Merchant's Mill was the first automated grist mill in the nation. It operated for 175 years until destroyed by fire.<\/p>
During the Civil War, the post office passed letters and packages between North and South. River silting reduced ship traffic to Occoquan and ended its days as a port, as did the shift in traffic to railroads.<\/p><\/div>\n