The best orthodontic courses will fit your scheduling and budget needs while meeting your educational and professional requirements. There are many orthodontics courses offered through universities, colleges, professional educators, specialty workshops, and seminars. Before taking any orthodontics courses, determine your educational goals, as well as how much time and money you can afford to spend on each course.
You can pursue orthodontics courses either full or part time. Individuals with work or family commitments typically pursue courses part time. Some individuals continue into orthodontics after their undergraduate and graduate degrees are completed. Much like other professional graduate programs, full time programs have a set schedule for matriculated students, resulting in a predictable completion timeline.
Full time students have the advantage of devoting their entire time to class and studying. They may take courses online or face to face, as they do not have other obligations during the day. Often, these students have to take out loans to pay for tuition and living expenses. Since they are not working, they usually graduate with a significant amount of debt. A part-time student has time to work, taking only as many classes as he or she can afford.
Both part time and full time students have to choose what type of courses they need. Online, workshop, and seminar courses offer the greatest flexibility in scheduling. Courses offered online typically operate on a schedule similar to that of traditional classroom courses, but you are able to complete most of the work during nights and weekends. You may still have to attend virtual classes, chats, or voice and video conferences, but you may do so from the location of your choice. Online courses do require a student to be self-motivated, well-organized, and very disciplined.
Seminars and workshops usually offer high intensity, short term courses. Whether it is a weekend, week long, or even two week course, these types of classes do not take as long as Internet or traditional classes. They may be more expensive than other types of courses and require your undivided attention. You may also have to pay for temporary living accommodations, since these workshops are often held only in large urban areas.
Face to face classes require the most significant time commitment. They usually last eight to 16 weeks, take place at a specific location, and require additional outside work and research. Many students prefer face to face classes because they allow personal interaction with an instructor as well as live lectures and demonstrations. Some students also feel that having regular class meetings helps them stay on track with class assignments.
When you have decided which type of orthodontics courses will work best for you and whether you will pursue them full or part time, begin your search for courses. The best way to find good courses is to request information from professional societies and certification organizations in the field of dentistry and orthodontics. Take only accredited courses, as unaccreditied courses do not always meet the requirements of professional licensure or certification. Professional magazines and journals often advertise courses. You can also ask other professionals in your field for recommendations or search for courses online.
When you find an orthodontics course, read its description carefully. You need to know if it is offered online, as a workshop, or as a traditional, face to face class. You should determine whether the course is accredited and by what institution. If the description does not include a specific list of topics to be studied during the course, contact the instructor and request a syllabus. Most instructors are happy to share the syllabus with potential students.
If possible, choose a teacher that is well recommended. Talk to other students or instructors and ask them which instructors provide the best courses and why. If possible, see if the instructor of the course you are considering has won any awards or has extensive experience teaching. The instructor can make the difference between a poor class and an excellent one.
