CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Throughout Virginia, and especially the Charlottesville area, a significant shortage of dental hygienists has developed.
In response, the new Virginia budget includes an additional $20 million for the expansion of career and technical education programs, including dental hygiene, in the Virginia Community College System. The budget also allocates $1 million for a dedicated fund supporting the expansion of dental hygiene program in the Commonwealth.
Among the first planned new programs is expected to be a joint partnership between the existing program at Germanna Community College and newly launched programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College and Eastern Shore Community College. The programs, pending approval from accrediting bodies, intend to begin their first cohorts in January…