All 2007 MCC dental hygiene grads pass all practical and written tests on first attempt
27th August 2007
Earning an associate of applied science degree in dental hygiene is a major accomplishment, but all 11 graduates of the 2007 Dental Hygiene class at Mohave Community College earned extra bragging rights by passing all four of their practical and written tests toward state licensure on the first attempt.
“This is the really successful culmination of three years of education with two years in an intensive dental hygiene program,” said Tracy Gift, director of dental programs at MCC. “There were no retakes, and that is almost unheard of. I know of only one other school to boast of similar success on its first attempt.”
“Our goal when this program was started in 2004 was to make this the best dental hygiene program possible,” said Dr. Michael Kearns, a dentist who was the founding director of the MCC dental programs and who is now vice chancellor of instruction and student services at the college. “This is a credit to the director, instructors and the students, all of whom I know worked very hard for this.”
“This is a phenomenal accomplishment – particular for a program that has had only two graduating classes,” Gift said. “I am really proud of these students.”
The graduating class first took the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, which is an all-day written exam.
Next was the Dental Hygiene Exam, a three-hour test given by the Western Regional Examination Board in Phoenix or Las Vegas and involves work on a real patient.
Third is the Anesthesia Exam, also administered in Phoenix or Las Vegas. The student must pass a 60-minute written exam on issues pertaining to the head, neck and medical emergencies, and each student must administer two injections to a real patient.
The Jurisprudence Test is the final test required for the students to obtain their Arizona license. It is overseen by the state board and is administered in Phoenix. The exam tests students’ understanding of the rules, regulations and laws of the state of Arizona governing dental hygiene, and is administered in Phoenix.
The 11 newly licensed hygienists are Cydney Anderson, Elizabeth Avelar, Natalie Beck, Lacy Davenport, Bianca Fadely, Shellie Farrington, Bobby Jo Holdway, Mahria Miller, Michael Moore, Linda Russell and Ali Ruiz.