Dental Hygiene department hosts board exams for the first time

Among the many challenges faced and overcome on the TWU campus during the COVID-19 pandemic is dental hygiene board exams.

Students traditionally go off site to take their dental hygiene board exams after graduation, to allow them to begin their career as licensed dental hygienists.

But what do you do when the dental hygiene board exams are limited at other sites? As they have so many times in recent years, the TWU dental hygiene department rolled up their sleeves and found a solution.

“We hosted the Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA) clinical board in our clinic back on July 24 and 25,” said Randa Colbert, TWU Dental Hygiene program director. “It was the first time the program has ever hosted a clinical board exam.”

The whole thing was a huge success and I’m thankful our students were able to take the board in their home clinic.

Randa Colbert

“Seven Examiners came from all over the south and they were highly complimentary of our facility. In fact, they encouraged me to contact the main office and schedule for next year.”

The following Monday, Colbert reached out and requested dates to host in May 2021.

“The whole thing was a huge success and I’m thankful our students were able to take the board in their home clinic,” added Colbert.

And perhaps the best news, all 12 TWU students who took their board exam on site passed and are now licensed dental hygienists.