If you want to become a dental hygienist, or if you are just considering the possibility of making a career change, there are some things you should be aware of before you enroll in a program or quit your current job.
One of the first things you must understand is that you need to have an affinity for working closely with people throughout each day. One of the primary duties of a dental hygienist is promoting preventive dental health care. This is accomplished by advising patients on how best to care for their teeth and gums and providing them with the tools necessary to accomplish those goals.
Choosing a School
If you are interested in becoming a dental hygienist, you are probably already researching the different schools in your area that offer programs of study. To enter this field, you need to have either a two- or four-year degree.
While it is possible to find dental hygienist programs at four-year universities, most people who choose to enter this profession do so by attending a two-year program at a local community college. Graduation from a community college program will provide you with an associate’s degree, which is good enough to permit you to take the state board exam. It is important to note that all states within America have this requirement for dental hygienists.
If you would prefer to have greater educational credentials under your belt as you apply for and interview for jobs, then you might strongly consider pursuing a four-year degree at a college or university. If you attend a four-year institution, you will earn a bachelor’s degree. This will provide you with a more well-rounded education overall, which is likely to translate into greater job opportunities as well as greater salaries and benefit packages.
To be accepted into a dental hygienist program of study, candidates are required to:
- Have a high school diploma
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have taken high school courses in biology, chemistry, English, and math
- Have maintained at least a “C” average through high school (and any post-secondary education)
In some instances, community college programs that are particularly competitive may require applicants to already have at least one year of college courses successfully completed before they are allowed to even apply to the dental hygienist program. Four-year colleges and universities may require qualified applicants to have successfully finished at least two years of undergraduate studies before they are permitted to apply to this specialized program.
Understanding what it takes
If you go into your chosen program of study with a full understanding of the time commitments, you will be much more likely to be successful throughout your entire program of study. Even if you enroll in a two-year program through a community or technical college, you should still be prepared to complete a regimen of clinical studies in addition to your classroom and laboratory commitments.
It is also important that you take the time to choose an accredited school. Choosing a school that boasts accreditation status lends credibility and respectability to the degree you will eventually earn. Should you choose a school that is not accredited, you should be prepared to encounter some resistance from potential employers who may be reluctant to accept your degree as valid.
Acquiring a license
Regardless of the state in which you live (or plan to work), you will be required to pass an exam before you can be licensed to work. This exam consists of a written and clinical portion, and is offered by the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. While the written portion of the exam is standardized, the clinical portion is typically administered either by a local or regional governing body.