How to become a Licensed Dental Hygienist in Florida
Dental Hygiene License
Are you an internationally trained dentist who has moved to the USA with the expectations of becoming a dentist in short time, but you have found out that your savings are running out too fast and you need a decent income at the same time you are pursuing your dental license? Well, you should become a Dental Hygienist first.
In some South America countries the figure of a “Dental Hygienist” is a synonym of just a dentist's helper or a dental assistant. However in the USA, a Dental Hygienist is a highly honorable independent dental professional. I will define this career as the Non-surgically trained Periodontists. So, there is a myth to imagine that your previous dental studies are too advanced to just become a dental hygienist. There are beautiful tasks and functions you are entitled to as a Dental Hygienist. Read more about Duties of a Dental Hygienist.
So if you feel lost and you don't know where and how to begin, then you have found the right website and the right person to talk with. I, myself, was in your situation 10 years ago and I would have loved someone could have helped me to not feel in that way. I honestly cried often and I lost months and years trying to figure it out alone. Some of you came with enough savings, some of you didn't, some of you have kids, and some of you don't. Some of you count on the physical, emotional and financially support of a spouse, and some of you are single parents. Some of you already know English, some of you just hear parrot noise when Americans speak, which was actually what I heard when I moved to the USA. In each specific case, your "first step" is so important for you to start your journey in the "correct direction". Your choice of "direction" will declare your success or failure. Come to see us and receive personal tutoring in both academic content and hands-on clinical instrumentation classes so you will be strong in all areas. We will train you to develop the skills you need not only to be able to pass your written and clinical exams but also to be able to shine at your job once you are hired.
So take a look at the packages below then check the calendar for the upcoming advising session, “How an International Dentist can become licensed in Florida, USA.”
- A. 2-Hours Advising-counseling: How an International Dentist can become licensed in Florida, USA.
We offer to you a detailed explanation of the different choices you have to be eligible to take the National academic dental hygiene examination and the 3 different State exams required by law in Florida. We will give you information about the approximate costs of each choice, where to go to ask for financial help, the different educational and federal organizations needs to be contacted to be eligible, the order in which they should be reached, all national and state tests needs to be passed which credentials you should get to help yourself not only to qualify in one of these choices but also to be an outstanding shining candidate over the massive amount of candidates overseas that apply yearly. We will also discuss how to become a licensed dentist and requirements for eligibility to take the National academic dental examination and the State exams required by law in Florida. Further career options as a dental assistant and an orthodontist assistant will also be discussed in depth.
- B. 2-Hours Advising-counseling. How to prepare to succeed in a Dental Hygiene Exam applications, requirements, and choosing a clinical site; Review of Resume' and job interview techniques.
We will assist you in Candidate application completion and understanding the requirements stated in this Candidate Manual as well as quide to various exam site options. We will also provide advising in how to create a Curriculum Vitae and resume' that suits to your chosen dental profession and appeals to those viewing your application for employment in the USA, tips to be successful in your job interview, and how to build an interview profile with anticipated questions that would be asked and delivery of effective communication skills.
Knowledge-Based Exam Prep Package
- C. Assessment to identify your academic National Board Dental Examination knowledge.
We will assess your weakness and strengths in each subject matter that is included in The National Board Dental Examination Test. We will let you know what subject areas you do know and which you need extra study time. Depending on the results, we will then recommend the subject-specific courses to strengthen your knowledge, to build up your confidence, and to guide you toward other resources to further explain difficult concepts. So this is our passion…to hold your hand each step of the way, to take to the proper path toward your goal and make sure your journey will not include any wrong roads.
NBDHE & CDCA-CSE Practice Tests are online exams giving access to our assessment exam that covers all the subjects covered in NBDHE or CDCA-CSE. The site will ask you to type your first name, last name, email, and to create a password. It will then provide basic info about the test and give you instructions prior to the test starting. For example:
Number of questions: 450
Amount of time available: 500 minutes (8.3 hours)
Pause/Resume is allowed to save and finish later
Keep a tally of mere guesses
One question per page
Multiple Choice/True & False
Once you finish the exam, you and the professors will immediately be able to see your "raw score" results as an overall percentage out of 100%. Do not panic about this number. We will analyze your score per "subject category" and show you where strengths and weakness lye. We will develop a tutoring plan to build any weaknesses into strengths and confidence.
Disclaimer: This exam is only an assessment tool and is in no way an actual measurement of how a candidate will do on the NBDHE. This exam is a combination of previously used exam questions, commonly addressed topics, and an accumulation of multiple board review resources. Results may give insight to subject categories and topics that could benefit from further study.
- D. 20 hours of Tutoring in academic content
Pretesting data of identified weakness will guide the selection of subject-specific courses to be strengthened. Tutoring courses will cater to all learning styles by including electronic power-points to support the verbal information along with open discussions for any questions along the way. Our tutoring also consists of advising for the best resources to study from, guiding you toward the most effective books, dental notes, booklets, question banks, software options, where to buy them, and pricing. Additional homework is NOT assigned. We provide summaries of as many areas as possible for easy access to pertinent information. Your knowledge will be expanded beyond facts…it will be developed into application of facts into clinical use and case-based scenarios.
Assessment of Instrumentation Skill
- E. 1-Hour Assessment to identify possible weakness in Periodontal Instrumentation Clinical Skills
Clinical skills in non-surgical periodontal scaling & root planning (S&RP) are highly promoted using conservative treatments, prior to the dentists' decision of aggressive options that may be sought by a periodontist. Therefore, referral of a patient is given when unsuccessful tissue response is proven post S&RP. This course assesses each students' instrumentation skills through an observation format to confirm knowledge of proper instrument A & A to match each instrument design methodology in the instruction. Assessment of skills is completed with designated one-on-one time with a clinical professor and advising would follow to discuss any identified weaknesses. Tutoring would be recommended to strengthen needed areas.
Students Pursuing Clinical ADEX-CDCA Dental Hygiene
Examination Clinical Skills-Based Exam Prep Package
The Clinical Skills-Based Exam Prep Package hones in on the ADEX-CDCA Exam Clinical Exam for Dental Hygiene Candidates. Sit with us to discuss the do's and don'ts of test preparation to completion. We provide assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses in both patient assessment knowledge and clinical skills in periodontology. We provide academic review and hands-on instrumentation course catered to individual needs. We also offer patient screening services exclusively for those participants who complete our indicated (**) Packages. You would meet and procure your patient using our screening dental office so required assessments and patient forms may be completed. This will calm nerves and give peace of mind as clinicals approach.
- F. 26-hours Hands-On & Lecture instruction on Periodontal Clinical Instrumentation.
This tutoring course is designated to improve knowledge (6 hours of lecture) and skill (20 hours of hands-on) periodontal clinical instrumentation skills. A full understanding and application of skills will fuse as students practice on periodontally involved typodonts with our professional clinical instructor. The highlights of skills will focus on the following: Patient and Clinician Positioning, instrument design, grasp, strokes, adaptation, angulation, advanced debridement and S&RP techniques, concepts in calculus removal with variable root concavities & furcations.
- G. Exclusive Patient Screening Services – optional
**Patient screening services are offered exclusively for those participants who complete our Clinical DH Prep Package (A, E-F). You would meet and procure your patient using our screening dental office so required assessments and patient forms may be completed.
Note: The brokering of patients is strictly prohibited. Our service DOES NOT broker patients. Our service is strictly limited to our course participants, is part of our course training and preparation, and not available to any other candidates at the examination site.
Best of Both
Do you need to prep for all four exams? We have discounted the combined packages of both the Knowledge- based and Clinical-based benefits so you can have it all.
COMPACT COURSE
Hey compact learning lovers and out-of-towner's! We invite every stressed-out student to come relax in sunny Florida, to join us at our office in beautiful downtown Orlando. The special compact scheduling accommodates optimal time in both knowledge and skills, while still making room for some Disney World fun, if so desired. This is a combo package of both the knowledge based package and the clinical based packages in smaller units. A certificate of completion is earned with course/package completion. The week is structured as follows:
| First Week |
| Friday |
8am-6pm PreTesting-knowledge based & clinical instrumentation skill assessments |
| Saturday |
Free Time |
| Sunday |
Free Time |
| Monday |
8:00-Advising about weakness & course schedule for the week
9:00am-1:00pm Course AM
Lunch
2:00 -6:00 Course PM |
| Tuesday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Wednesday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Thursday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Friday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Second Week |
| (**) Saturday |
Meet ‘N Greet / Free Time |
| Sunday |
Free Time |
| Monday |
8:00am- 1:00 Course AM
Lunch
2:00-6:00 Course PM |
| Tuesday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Wednesday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Thursday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-5:00 Course PM |
| Friday |
8:00am- 12:00 Course AM
Lunch
1:00-4:00 Course PM
4:00-5:00 Test Taking Tips/Certificate Ceremony/Dismissal |
(**) Students who purchase the Package to include Patient Screening Services will have their Meet ‘N Greet with their clinical patient on Saturday-10:00am - 2:00pm. The student will procure their patient at our dental office so required assessments and patient forms may be completed. Students that do not purchase the Package to include Patient Screening Services will have a free day.
Call us or view the calendar to see our prescheduled dates of the “Compact Course”. We would love to speak with you about this adventure and help lead you to desired hotel and transportation accommodations and entertainment discounts.
Al a Carte Tutoring for Specific Course
Are you struggling with a particular dental subject? We offer tutoring for an array of courses. Do you just need an extra few hours added your previous package purchase? Just click to add the extra hours needed. Call to schedule an appointment with our dental professionals. Services are based on how many hours are assigned to each course.
Click here to view list of available specific courses
Do you just want tutoring for a challenging topic? We offer hourly tutoring. Do you want to start with the knowledge based exams of the required exams (National Board, Prometric) or do you want to focus only on the clinical skills required for the ADEX-CDCA clinical licensure exam? Do you want it all with the best of both? We can help. We even offer patient screening services for preparation of CDCA Clinical Periodontal Examination requirements exclusively for those participants who complete our indicated (**) packages. You would meet and procure your patient using our screening dental office so required assessments and patient forms may be completed. A certificate of completion is earned with each course/package completion.
In summary, it is our mission to help you succeed in your journey. Moreover, you can also begin your journey and be always welcome to contact us to help you understand the new requirements or specifications each dental school, educational institution or federal organization or corporation is requesting. You will leave our offices renewed in knowledge, strength, and trust that you are going to reach your goal.
