Fanshawe’s Dental Hygiene program landed a 100% pass rate on the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board Exam. The closest behind Fanshawe was Algonquin College with a 96% pass rate.
Graduates had a difficult year, with the pandemic putting programming on hold. Their year was extended, but the way Fanshawe adapted still worked.
“We have a long-standing record of being at that 100% year after year. I think the changes that we made, the faculty being so creative and flexible and dedicated, helped to keep that quality of the programming where it always has been with Fanshawe College,” says Kelly Turner, professor and former program coordinator of the Dental Hygiene program.
Fanshawe opened their dental clinic in May, which allowed students to get more hands-on experience with actual clients.
“When we came to January of 2021, [students] had not had an instrument in their hand since March 2020. Some of them hadn’t even seen a real client yet. They were feeling worried and like they’d forgotten things. So we developed an entire refresher course for that winter and they were able to go back into our new simulation area, which is amazing.”
The refresher course allowed them to remember the skills they had learned a year prior. Upon graduating, they were guaranteed jobs, since there is such high demand for dental hygienists right now. Turner says the refresher course they created has the potential to become a “Continuing Education” course once Fanshawe can open its doors to the community.
For students in first and second year (of the three year program), Turner says they were thrilled to hear about the 100% pass rate.
“I think it gives them the confidence to know that Fanshawe is still about quality and that’s what they’re going to get from us.”
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