The internet is changing the way we do everyday things — even schooling!
Online schooling is more convenient for a wide variety of reasons. People can take their classes according to their personal schedules. It also allows anyone to hold down a job or take care of a family while bettering themselves through education. This same sentiment can be said for dental school. If you have ever wanted to enter the dental field, now is your chance. Continue reading to learn more about getting an accredited online dental hygiene degree.
Is it Legit?
If you think that entering a great career with an online degree is too good to be true, you’ll be happy to learn that you can absolutely earn an accredited online dental hygiene degree.
This all boils down to which school you enroll in. They are not all created equally, after all. If this is your first time enrolling in an online college, make the smart choice by using these tips.
Checking Your College for Accreditation
When weighing your options, take advantage of the Database of Accredited
Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Type in the college of your choice and check their credentials.
This step can help you avoid expensive scams, so do this before getting too excited about any of your options.
What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
When putting in all of your time and energy into something, you want to be sure you’ll be excited and happy along this chosen career path. Therefore, it’s crucial to learn what this person does in the professional sector.
A dental hygienist performs these next following duties.
- Dental hygienists perform routine cleanings. They use various sterilized tools to scrape tartar and plaque from the teeth to reveal a beautiful white smile. This process also helps prevent cavities.
- They also place preventative treatments onto the teeth like sealants.
- They also take X-rays of the mouth to make sure the patient’s teeth are straight and will not need braces down the line.
- They report their findings to the dentist — so if they find a cavity, they will relay this information back to the doctor so they may formulate a gameplan for the patient’s smile.
It’s a hands-on job. They work closely with dentists, so if you love working in a fast-paced work environment, and love meeting new people, this is an incredibly rewarding field.
Selecting the Best School for You
If this is your first time thinking about online school, ensure your college checks off all of these boxes for the best educational experience.
Check Alumni
If you’re trying to decide between schools to receive your accredited online dental hygiene degree, look into the school’s alumni. If they have some notable faces, you’ll feel more confident in the school’s ability to put you on the right path.
Check the Reviews
You should also check the school’s reviews on Google. You can see how rigorous the coursework was for previous students. You can also learn more about the professors who teach each class.
Check the School’s Requirments
Before applying, email the school asking what kind of requirements they need from you. Some may only accept the top 5% from your high school. Some may be more open towards taking in adults, looking for a career change.
Check the Cost
While online schools don’t cost nearly as much as in-person education, you should still compare and contrast prices.
Price shouldn’t be the only factor, but if you’re taking out loans, this can cut down on the amount of money you’ll have to pay the bank back after you’ve received your accredited online dental hygiene degree.
Check their Networking Program
See if your school has some sort of program where they can help you connect with different clinics in your area. No one will automatically give you a job after you graduate.
Why Become a Dental Hygienist?
While going to dental school online is significantly cheaper than taking in-person courses, it’s still a challenge. However, don’t be discouraged! There are many reasons why you should become a dental hygienist, aside from feeling passionate about the work itself.
Job Stability
You will also have a secure job when you become a dental hygienist. No matter where you decide to live, patients will always need clean and straight teeth. You can relocate anywhere — from the quiet rural towns of America to the loud and exciting bustling cities on the Coast.
If you’re a family-orientated person, you can also relocate to a clinic near some of the best schools in the nation.
Competitive Salary
On average, a dental hygienist can make upwards of 70,000 dollars annually. Not bad for a couple of years of online school!
Advance in Your Career
The sky is the limit when it comes to working in the dental field. You can get more schooling under your belt, and perhaps open your own clinic one day as an orthodontist. Never sell yourself short. Getting your accredited online dental hygiene degree can inspire you to do many other great things.
Work With a Great Staff
When you’re working as a dental hygienist, you’re never alone. A great staff and patients will surround you every day while at work. Especially if you’re working in a childrens dentist office. It will be your responsibility to make those children feel comfortable and safe!
Quick Schooling
While other careers in healthcare can take up to ten years to master, you only need a few to understand what is needed of you in your role. It can take just two years to receive your accredited online dental hygiene degree.
Other Perks of Going into the Field
If your kids or relatives need to know anything about Invisalign, you can help direct them to the best physician you know! You’ll become the authority on everything related to teeth in the family, which can feel great if you want to help your loved ones out with their smiles.
The Benefits of Online School
If you’re still on the fence about obtaining on accredited online dental hygiene degree, here are a few benefits of online school to ease any doubts or fears.
Online School is More Affordable
College can be pretty pricy — after paying for tuition, textbooks, and room and board, you might not have a lot left over in your budget. This fact can be disheartening if you already have a long list of expenses. However, online school typically charges you for simply your tuition and your application fee. Of course, this can vary. However, attending an online school will significantly cut the cost. This is fantastic news since quality education shouldn’t come with a dramatic price tag.
Most Programs are Self Paced
The next excuse people have for not going back to school is that it will take too much of their time. They are right — multiple classes in college can take up 80% of your time. However, a self-paced program allows you to complete your coursework at your convenience. For example, if you work a full-time job, you can take your classes as soon as you get home. You can also bask your tasks for the weekend and pump out those lessons in your pajamas!
Better Student-Teacher Relationships
Professors can feel overwhelmed when teaching face to face. They can have as many as 300 students in a single classroom. However, online professors may have smaller class sizes. Therefore, they’ll have more time to move through the lesson with you if you’re struggling.
Flexibility
Online school also offers you more flexibility. You can travel the world! As long as you have a laptop and an internet connection, you can attend tomorrow’s lecture.
Accessibility
Often, when people are putting off going back to school, they have a decent list of valid excuses. They are usually working full-time. They may also be parents, which is another job in it of itself! Going back to school may seem impossible, with so much going on in their lives. However, an accredited online school can make the impossible seem possible.
Sorting Your Financial Aid
If you still find that college is too expensive, financial aid can give you a boost and encourage your thirst for knowledge.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that only teens attending four-year universities qualify. Fill out a FAFSA application in accordance to your upcoming semester.
Other Ways to Pay for Online School
You can also pay for your online school using scholarship money. Don’t think that just because you’re an adult, you won’t qualify. There are hundreds of scholarships out there, specifically for adults who wish to go back to school.
You’ll also find various scholarships if you’re leaving high school.
Who Should Take Advantage of an Online Program?
Parents should be first in line! Especially if they are looking for a career change. You may not have the time and resources to attend medical school, but working as a dental hygienist is one way you can work a fast-paced job in the healthcare field!
However, you don’t have to already have an established career to get an accredited online dental hygiene degree.
If you’re a teen fresh out of high school who doesn’t believe a 4-year degree will benefit them, online school is a wonderful choice. You can begin working immediately. Not to mention, you’ll have the time and energy to maintain a social life and keep up with your hobbies.
Basically, anyone looking for a career change should take advantage of the online schooling route.
What Kind of Coursework Will You Need? Your Timeline
Requirements for earning your accredited online dental hygiene degree can vary. Some will require you to have one year of traditional college under your belt. However, more than often, you will need a high school transcript, diploma, and your college entrance exam scores.
If you’re in high school, make sure to take plenty of courses covering math and science, as this will prepare you for the rigorous coursework. For example, take plenty of courses covering basic chemistry and biology.
When applying for a program, make sure that it has been approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Passing Your American Dental Association Exam
Even after wrapping up your accredited online dental hygiene degree, you will need to take the final exam before starting work at your clinic.
Use your connections from school to help you land an internship or job after college. If it seems like no one is hiring right off the bat, don’t get discouraged as these things take time.
Conclusion
Getting an accredited online dental hygiene degree is possible with the right resources. If you wish to enter the healthcare, help change lives for the better, and find purpose through the right career path, this could be one of the best decisions you could make for yourself.
Ensure you’re following the right steps when selecting your school, and never lose your passion for the field.
Additionally, with so many office reopenings happening around the country, you want to be prepared with the perfect career.
