How To Become A Dental Hygienist
Are you a high-school student? Hard times, yep
? Well, we all remember the final year at school. You constantly pressed for time. Have no time to get together with your friends or get out to have fun. Instead, you find yourself stuck in the library studying for your exams. Or even better, sitting at home and discussing your future career with your parents. Together, you look into all possible professions, go through the lists of career opportunities. Finally you settle on dental hygiene. Dental hygiene can be a worthy career path you believe. And you're absolutely right!
Your personal skills and values are perfectly in tune with the tasks of dental hygienist. So you're ready for interesting and demanding job. You're ready to give it a try. But where to start from? Here you will find some guidelines on how to become a dental hygienist.
1.Picking Dental Hygienist Program
For starters, choose the dental hygiene program that would suit you the best. If you want to start working as soon as possible, you should go for a two-year course. And when you're through, you'll get an associate's degree. Once your associate's degree is in your hands you may look for a job at private dentist offices.
However, you may decide to proceed with your education. In this case you may carry on studying to get bachelor's or master's degree. These are four-year dental hygienist programs. It prepare students to work as researchers and educators. Your choice will mostly depend on your preferences and career goals. Once you've made your choice on the program, don't forget to check it. It should be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association. You can find more information about dental hygienist programs at http://www.ada.org/.
2.Taking Prerequisite Courses
When you picked out the program, apply for it. Obviously, you will have to submit certain papers. For one thing, you'll be asked to provide your school transcript or GED. Next, you'll be required to go for the prerequisite courses. They will help you to improve your knowledge in chemistry, human anatomy and English. These are key courses on dental hygienist curriculum. That's why you need to have a good ground knowledge. Things differ a bit if you want to go for a bachelor's degree program. In this case you have to finish pre-dental hygiene courses to apply for this dental hygienist degree.
3.Enhancing Your Communication Skills
Note that you'll be working with people all day long. It's the nature of dental hygienist job. That's why it's essential to learn dental ethics and speech in addition to core subjects. If you need to improve your communication skills you can take special courses. And you should use every opportunity to work with a professional dental hygienist in clinics. It will give you a valuable experience in working with patients.
4.Looking For a Dental Hygienist Scholarship Program
The dental hygienist programs are quite costly. However, it quickly pays off as you start working. Bachelor's degree program will cost you around $25,000 for the whole course. Two-year qualification will be less expensive, it will take less then $5,000. Before asking your parents for help or taking a student's loan, look for dental hygienist scholarships. They are granted by various organizations and associations. They are aimed to help dental hygienist students to cover their college costs. If you get a scholarship your education may be covered partially or in full. And you won't have to repay it! However, you need to work hard to get a dental hygienist scholarship. But don't you think it's worth your efforts?
5.Taking Exams
To get a license for practicing as dental hygienist you have to pass certain exams. The first test is carried out by the Commission on National Dental Examinations. This exam is carried out with the aim to confirm your qualifications. It helps state boards to decide on your license. These tests assess your knowledge of the core dental hygienist subjects and biometrical science. If you pass this exam, you can take the next one. It is State's clinical exam. If you pass it successfully, you'll get your dental hygienist license! And with the license of dental hygienist you're allowed to practice in the State of your residence.
Now you know which steps you should take on your way to become a dental hygienist. If you complete them you'll get an interesting job with a good salary. So, how about that?
by: Oksana Jerusha
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