Online Dental Assistant Programs: 4 Factors to Consider

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There are many reasons why so many people are looking into online dental assistant
programs. With the rise in online educational opportunities, more people are able to get
the training they need to get into fields such as the dental profession or work toward a
second career in order to eventually enjoy greater financial rewards. However, there are
lots of factors to consider when looking for a good dental assistant program. Some of
these factors are directly related to dentistry while others are precautions to take with any
online program.

Make Sure the School Is Accredited

Finding accredited programs is crucial when it comes to online degree programs. Just as
there are many legitimate degree programs, there are also lots of diploma mills simply
designed to take money from hopeful students without adequately preparing them for the
fields in which they wish to work. There have been crackdowns on these diploma mills
so that prospective students do not get cheated.

Still, it is very important to find out whether or not a school is accredited. Finding
an online extension of an already established university is one way to make sure the
school is legitimate. Other programs that work strictly online have also gotten proper
accreditation and are growing in reputation as quality schools. For a dental program, it is
also essential to make sure the online program is connected with a local facility in order
to complete clinical training required in this profession.

Make Sure the School Offers Support

Good programs support students in a variety of ways. This can be from basic support
such as offering financial aid to students who cannot afford even the lower cost of online
education. However, supporting students once they have entered the program is also
important. Students should have reasonable access to professors and instructors since
they do not have the same benefits of a classroom setting.

Other support services should also be on hand. For instance, help with writing
assignments for students who may not be as confident with their skills should be an
option. Questions about the program should be answered in a timely manner. For
those in a dental assistant program, the school should have a definite plan in place to
allow access to either local schools or businesses that are willing to provide hands on
experience for students since this experience is a requirement for students who need a
license and/or certification to perform certain tasks.

Find Out the Requirements

Once a school has been established as legitimate, prospective students will need to make
sure not only that they are qualified to participate in the program but also are fit to
handle the required course load. Most programs may only require that students have a high
school diploma or an equivalent GED. However, there are others that may require a
certain grade point average and experience in certain school subjects.

Those that do get in the program will have to take many courses specific to dentistry
such as biology, anatomy and other medically related areas. However, some schools
may want their students to have a broader liberal arts based education and include other
subjects such as mathematics and English composition. Even if these are not required
courses, students will still need to have some knowledge in these subjects as they are
often required to write essays and other compositions in theory classes.

Find Out What the Top Schools Are

Prospective students should never rule out aiming for the best when they are looking into
good dental schools. Having a degree from a well regarded and recognized school can
be the first step to getting a good job and a good salary. There are a few online programs
that have gotten good reputations within the dental assistant field. Prospective students
want to look for the top online dental assistant programs that will give them the best
training.

For instance, Penn Foster has a good reputation for students looking for a legitimate
dental assistant program. The Stratford Career Institute is also known for quality. The
University of Phoenix has many physical locations as well as its online component,
so students have a very good chance at having access to a physical location for
clinical requirements. Some more examples of schools can be found on: localdentalschools.com/dental-assistant-schools/ . Students should also not rule out
local schools and community colleges for training in the dental assistant field as well.

Of course, there are other factors students will need to consider when they are looking
into online dental assistant programs that are more specific to their individual needs. A
self-paced program that allows students to work in their own time is best for many who
have other life obligations such as family and work. All these things will weigh on any
decision to partake in an online program, so each student must take the time to prioritize.

The Top 5 Community College Courses That Offer Great Job Prospects

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In today’s economy, a community college is often a better choice than a four year degree.
After all, traditional universities are expensive and the debt of a student loan can be
hard to escape. If you want a degree that can help you make a living, the degrees offered
online by community colleges can help you to fulfill your dreams. There are many great
course paths that are offered by community colleges online, and some of them can lead
to exciting work after graduation. If you want to attend community college online, you
might want to try one of the five course paths listed below.

1. Paralegal Studies

Perhaps the next best thing to being a lawyer, any course in the paralegal field can help
point you towards a rapidly growing career. Paralegals do the bulk of the work necessary
to move a case from the initial meetings to the trial phase, including working on
depositions, gathering evidence and filing most of the paperwork. The current crash in the
legal field has led to a boom in paralegal employment, as most firms are now happier to
have an experienced paralegal than a new attorney. Job growth looks incredibly good for
this field for the near future, and salaries are averaging a respectable fifty-eight thousand
dollars per year. Online paralegal programs are becoming increasingly common at most
community colleges, and more colleges are offering classes every year. A paralegal
degree is also a great stepping stone for those who want to pursue the legal path further,
and the experience of working in a real law office can come in handy if you every want to
become a lawyer or a judge.

2. Computer Science

Computers are constantly changing, but they remain essential in the business world.
If you want a job that will never be likely to go away, you might want to look into the
computer science courses at your local community college. Many of these classes are
now based online, as the bulk of the work is theoretical and can be accomplished from
home. An associate’s degree in computer science can lead to many different jobs, most of
which will require helping customers with their various computer difficulties. These jobs
may be hands-on in the field or take place over the phone at remote sites, but both types
are growing rapidly. If you would like a chance to make a decent living and to work with
computers, an associate’s degree will get you far. Not only does the degree tend to lead to
jobs that average at about fifty-four thousand dollars per year, but the average earning is
only a few thousand dollars less than those who do the same job with a four year degree.

3. Healthcare Administration

If you want to work in the medical field but do not feel like getting your hands dirty,
healthcare administration may be for you. These classes concentrate on the business
end of the healthcare industry, and most of the coursework includes classes in ethics,
accounting and legal issues. When you finish your two years, you will be primed for a
career working in the administrative side of almost any health care facility, and jobs tend
to open faster than they can be filled. As the population ages and more facilities open,
more administrators will be needed. This is one of the highest-earning course paths that
you can take online, with career possibilities averaging at least seventy-thousand dollars
and ranging well over a hundred thousand dollars per year for those who reach the top of

the field.

4. Criminal Justice

The world will always need those willing to uphold the law. Whether you want to be a
police officer, a court clerk or a government employee, the criminal justice degree can
help you learn the necessary tricks of the trade. Though online degrees have long been
popular in the field, the industry is seeing something of a boom as government hiring of
police officers and prison guards grows at a rising pace. If you graduate with the degree,
you can expect to earn around forty-five thousand dollars per year. The job security is
high once you get hired, though, and the benefits often make up for the lower levels of
pay.

5. Graphic Design and Art

Who says that a degree in the arts does not pay off? Graphic design is incredibly
important in the business world, and those with an associate’s degree in graphic design
can often find jobs in both web design and in advertising. This associate’s degree course
load will focus heavily on increasing your artistic abilities, and success will depend as
much upon innate talent as it does on your ability to learn. The field is still in its growth
stages, though it does become more competitive each year. A good graphic designer
can expect to earn about forty-five thousand dollars a year on average, one of the higher
paying careers available for those with a creative bent.

If you take an online community college course, you will have a chance to pursue a better
career than many who finish a four-year degree. The fields above are competitive, but the
jobs are available to those who excel. Whether you want to go into a traditional field like
hospital administration or wish to try something more on the cutting edge like graphic
design, a good two year degree can help you make a fulfilling living.  Many students enter the job field after completing a two year degree, and then enroll online for their four year degree, taking a class a semester.  This enables students to pay as they go, while also paying off student loan debt from the two year degree.  While your ultimate career goal may be higher than these listed, these are excellent entry level positions to start out in.  Your own planning, organization and personal drive will determine where you go from here, while minimizing student loan debt.

About The Author

Donna Yates is a careers counselor and the owner of PhlebotomyTrainingBook.com, a
site which help people start a career in phlebotomy. To find out more on how to become a
certified phlebotomist please see:  http://www.phlebotomytrainingbook.com/certification/

 

College Now! Program for High School Students

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Alan Hancock College for High School Students

Today is the first day of college for my son, age 16.  He’ll be a junior in high school in the fall, and right now he’s a freshman in college.  He was a bit timid when I dropped him off at the Lompoc campus for his Political Science class, one that he selected himself.  I decided to hang out in the cafe for awhile when he was in class.  He took a break a few minutes ago and I got a chance to ask him what he thought of the class while he wolfed down some food.  “Pretty dry.”  I didn’t know whether he meant the fish-n-chips or the lecture!  Turns out – both!  Oh well!  His quick opinion about the teacher…  “He’s great!”  That’s a relief!

Can My High School Student Attend a Community College?

If you’ve been wondering if your high school student can attend a community college course, my suggestion would be to research this question with your local community college.  Alan Hancock’s College Now! program is available for public, private and home-schooled high school students living in northern Santa Barbara county and San Luis Obispo county.  This is a program for high school juniors and seniors that have been approved for enrollment by their high school principal.  Typically a GPA of 2.5 and above is required.

What is the College Now! Program for High School Students?

High school students entering their junior or senior year begin the college enrollment process by verifying their unweight GPA is 2.5 or above.  If their grades meet the cutoff, they can then select a course or courses they’d like to enroll in from the College Now! approved course list.  College Now! students taking math or english courses must take the START (Student Testing, Advising, Retention and Transition) test.  This is a placement test to determine which english or math class a student may take.  The START test doesn’t determine whether or not you’re admitted, it only tests your skill level.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of College Now! for High School Students?

Let’s look at the advantages first.

  • High school students can take college classes that interest them that are not available at their high school.
  • With concurrent high school and community college enrollment, credits earned at the college level may also count towards high school requirements.
  • College credit units may count for more units at the high school level than regular high school courses.  More grade points may be assigned as well.
  • There are cost savings for high school students.  Wit enrollment fees currently at $46. per unit at Alan Hancock Community College, the savings for a 3 unit course would be $138.  Books and materials are not free, however.  (There are also health fees, student center fees, photo ID fees, parking fees, etc.)
  • By taking a community college course each summer between sophmore year in high school and junior year in high school and again in the summer between junior year in high school and senior year in high school, the student can reduce the number or classes needed in the senior year.  This would be an excellent time to show the high level of commitment they have and take an additional college class or two during the senior high school year.
  • CSU’s (California State Universities) and UC’s (University of California) are very expensive.  The more classes a high school student can take at the community college, the fewer they’ll have to take at the four year college level.  This will reduce not only the cost of classes, but it will reduce away from home housing fees also while the high school student lives at home.

Let’s take a look at some disadvantages of the College Now! program.

  • If a high school student takes a college course and does poorly, that class will be part of their permanent record at Alan Hancock College.  When the student transfers to a 4 year college, that class will be part of their official transcript and could impact admission to the college of their choice.
  • High school students will be taking the same courses and using the same course materials as adults in the classes.  Some of the material may expose the high school student to concepts not typically taught to high school students.  College Now! students have the option of taking classes online or on campus.  While on the Alan Hancock campus they are exposed to adults they would not interact with at their high school campus.

Where is Alan Hancock Community College Located?

Alan Hancock College’s largest campus is in Santa Maria, CA.  Lompoc Valley’s college campus is only a few years old and is located in a beautiful wooded setting just north of Lompoc.  Class are also available through Alan Hancock’s college on the Vandenberg Air Force base.  In the Santa Ynez Valley Alan Hancock College classes are held at the Solvang Center, 320 Alisal Road, Suite 306.  They are also held at the Santa Ynez High School at 2975 East Highway 246.  The course schedule for Summer 2012 also mentions a location at the United States Penitentiary (USP)/Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) for penitentiary inmates.  The summer 2012 course schedule did not list any classes scheduled in the Santa Ynez Valley or the Federal Penitentiary.  Fall 2012 classes begin August 20, 2012, and Spring 2013 classes begin January 22, 2013.  These dates will probably list additional selections for these locations.  In addition to these locations, Alan Hancock college has a large selection of courses available online.

If your high school student is interested in College Now! courses, they should meet with their high school guidance counselor to determine the best option for them.  Good luck with your advanced studies to all the students that participate in this excellent program for high school students to attend college!