Issues to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Stafford 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 cost and the location of the colleges. Possibly they look for several online options as well. Even though these are important initial considerations, there are several additional questions that you need to ask of the programs you are comparing in order to reach an informed decision. To start that process, we have supplied a list of questions to help you with your evaluation and final selection of the ideal dental hygienist program for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental School Accredited?<\/strong> There are many valid reasons why you should only choose an accredited dental hygienist school. If you are intending to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a prerequisite in almost all states. In order 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 instruction you get is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Stafford VA employers typically desire or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited colleges. And last, if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, often they are not provided for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Plenty of Clinical Training Included?<\/strong> Clinical or practical training is an essential component of every dental training program. This is true for the online school options also. Many dental hygienist colleges have partnerships with local dental offices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only imperative that the program you select offers enough clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you subsequently want to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, make sure that the program you select offers clinical rotation in a local Stafford VA dental office that specializes in dental care for children.<\/p>\nAre Internships Available?<\/strong> Find out if the dental schools you are looking at have internship programs. Internships are undoubtedly the best way to obtain 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 develop working relationships in the professional dental community. And they are attractive on resumes as well.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Support Offered?<\/strong> Many graduating students of dental hygienist schools require help getting their first job. Find out if the colleges 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 Stafford VA dental community as well as broad networks of contacts where they can place their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre Classes Smaller?<\/strong> Ask the schools you are interested in how large on average their classrooms are. The smaller classes generally provide a more personal setting for training where students have increased access to the teachers. On the other hand, large classes tend to be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If feasible, ask if you can monitor a few classes at the Stafford VA dental hygienist school that you are most interested in in order to experience first hand the amount of interaction between students and teachers before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Entire Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene schools can vary in cost based on the length of the program and the volume of clinical training provided. Other variables, such as the reputations of the colleges and whether they are public or private also have an impact. But in addition to the tuition there are other significant expenses which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when examining the cost of schools, remember to add all of the costs related to your education. Most colleges have financial aid departments, so be sure to ask what is offered as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Stafford VA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Convenient?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you must verify that the assistant or hygienist program provides classes that suit your schedule. This is particularly true if you will be working while getting your education and must attend classes near Stafford VA in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you enroll in an online college, you will still be required to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up policy is if you should need to miss any classes due to illness, work or family emergencies.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Stafford VA?<\/h3>\nStafford, Virginia<\/h3>
Stafford is a census-designated place (listed as Stafford Courthouse) in and the county seat of Stafford County in the northern part of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia.[1] The population of Stafford County as of the 2010 United States Census was 142,003.[2] It lies 10 miles (16\u00a0km) north of Fredericksburg, approximately 40 miles (64\u00a0km) south of metropolitan Washington, D.C., and about 60 miles (97\u00a0km) north of Richmond, the Commonwealth capital. The Marine Corps Base Quantico is located north of the community. Stafford Courthouse is located at the intersections of U.S. Highway 1, and Courthouse Road.<\/p>
English sea captain Samuel Argall abducted the Pamunkey princess Pocahontas near this area on April 13, 1613, while she was residing with her Patawomeck husband, Kocoum, in an attempt to secure some English prisoners for release and ammunition held by her father. It occurred in the northeastern part of this county, from where the colonists took her to a secondary English settlement, known as Henricus or Henrico Town. The vicar Alexander Whitaker converted Pocahontas to Christianity during her captivity. He renamed her \"Rebecca\" at her baptism. Rebecca married English colonist John Rolfe on April 5, 1614, in Jamestown.[3][4]<\/p><\/div>\n